Raskolnikov

Meanings

1. 1proper nounproper

   The main character of Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment, a poor former student who commits a murder and is tormented by guilt.

   Grammar: Capitalized because it is a name; often used for the character.

   Patterns

   • Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment

   Raskolnikov believes he can justify murder as serving a higher purpose.

   In class we discussed how Raskolnikov changes after the crime.

   The book follows Raskolnikov through the streets of St. Petersburg.

2. 2proper nounproperfigurative

   A name used to describe someone who is racked by guilt or who justifies wrongdoing with a clever theory.

   Grammar: Used figuratively and capitalized, often as a Raskolnikov-like figure.

   Patterns

   • a Raskolnikov

   The critic called the film's anti-hero a modern Raskolnikov.

   Her essay compares the banker to a Raskolnikov haunted by his choice.

   He played the role like a Raskolnikov, pale and restless.

Common combinations

Raskolnikov's guilt

Raskolnikov's guilt grows after the crime.

Raskolnikov's theory

Raskolnikov's theory divides people into ordinary and extraordinary types.

Raskolnikov and Sonya

Raskolnikov and Sonya form the emotional center of the story.

a Raskolnikov figure

The play has a Raskolnikov figure at its center.

Synonyms and how they differ

anti-hero

Anti-hero describes any main character lacking heroic qualities, while Raskolnikov is a particular one.

protagonist

Protagonist is the general word for the main character, with no sense of guilt.

Word family

Dostoevsky proper noun

the Russian author of the novel

Raskolnikovian adjective

resembling Raskolnikov, rare and literary

raskol noun

the Russian word for schism, from which the name comes

Commonly confused: Raskolnikov or Rodion Romanovich?

Practice

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