Outline

Full Outline:

I. Brief background of Dostoyevsky

     A. Who was Dostoyevsky?

              1. Depression and obsessive gambling

                     a. Motives behind writing Crime and Punishment

                     b. Death of wife

                     c. Financial struggles 

              2. Other works he published 

     B. Psychology behind his characters

              1. Social, spiritual and political forces affect on the psyche of an individual

                 2. Ideologies and concepts behind the characters

                 3. Character development in Crime and Punishment

                         a. Russian Symbolism

                         b. Development of existentialism 

     C. Time period he lived in

              1. Living conditions during the 19th century

              2. Beliefs and customs during that time

              3. 19th century Russia 

II. Raskolnikov

     A. Characterization

              1. Story is told through his point of view

              2. Name derives from the Russian word raskolnik, meaning “schismatic” or “divided"

                         a. Driving character trait is his alienation from society

                         b. Believes he is part of an elite "Superman" echelon

              3. Ego, intellectualism, and pride

              4. His disdain towards the rest of humanity 

     B. Role in the novel

              1. Protagonist and antihero at the same time

              2. Virtues vs vices

                          a. The murders he committed

                          b. Leaving money to help out the family

                          c. The contrast between his two "personalities" 

              3. Guilt vs confession

                          a. Repercussions of staying quiet and not confessing

                          b. Repercussions of turning himself in- jail, death, exile

III. Support for thesis
     A. Psychological makeup
               1. 
               2. 
               3. 
     B. Existential crisis
               1. 
               2. 
     C. Theory of "The Extraordinary Man"
               1. 
               2. 
               3. 
IV. Psychological Makeup
     A. His upbringing
               1. 
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               3. 
     B. His economic state
               1. 
               2. 
     C. His mental state
               1. 
               2. 
     D. His emotional state
               1. 
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     E. Superiority Complex
               1. 
               2. 
     F. Guilt
               1. Proof that he is not an elite "superman"
               2. Cannot be compared to the likes of Napoleon because he has guilt
V. Existential Crisis
     A. His fiancé
     B. His depression
     C. His personal philosophies
     D. Torn between two polar identities
VI. Theory of the Extraordinary Man
     A. Explanation of the theory
     B. Source of the theory
     C. His belief in the theory
     D. How it contributes to his rationalization
VII. Conclusion
     A. Explanation of thesis
     B. Conclusion of analysis