Thesis & Outline

Last week's blog entry:

"I think it would be interesting to discuss and analyze the different and many ways in which Raskolnikov is able to rationalize sin and the murders he committed. Since Raskolnikov sincerely believes that his actions are noble, his crime is justified in his mind. Though he feels immense guilt in what he did, not once does he consider the possibility that what he did was immoral or wrong. I would like to write an essay that explains why he does not necessarily think his actions were "right" or "wrong."

Thesis statement: Though it is evident that Raskolnikov feels immense guilt for the murders he committed, not once does he consider the possibility that what he did was immoral or wrong. Raskolnikov truly believes that his actions are noble and his crimes justified due to his suffering of an existential crisis, his psychological makeup, and his theory of "the extraordinary man."

Outline- rough draft- main topics:

I. Brief background of Dostoyevsky
     A. Who was Dostoyevsky?
     B. Psychology behind his characters
     C. Time period he lived in
II. Raskolnikov
     A. Characterization
     B. Role in the novel
III. Support for thesis
     A. Psychological makeup
     B. Existential crisis
     C. Theory of "The Extraordinary Man"
IV. Psychological Makeup
     A. His upbringing
     B. His economic state
     C. His mental state
     D. His emotional state
     E. Superiority Complex
     F. 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