CP+Discussion+Question+7

7. Discuss Roskolnikov's theory of the ordinary versus the extraordinary man. What is Dostoyevsky's attitude toward this theory? Can you think of modern-day examples of this theory put into practice?

Raskolnikov declares that by nature's law men have been divided into two types of men, ordinary and extraordinary. He believe that the duty of the first group is to be submissive. The second group, those who are extraordinary, are a step above the normal, ordinary people. They have the ability to overstep normal bounds and ignore the rights of those who are simply ordinary. They are the main people, they have a right to ignore and step beyond normal society rules to accomplish the things they believe is there right to do. Extraordinary men are the prime movers. He mentiones men like Newton, Mahomet, and Napoleon as extraordinary men. He tells us that Newton had the right to kill hundreds of men if it was needed in order to bring to the world knowledge of his discoveries. Napoleon and other leaders created a new world. They overturned ancient laws and created new ones. They had the right to uphold their new ideal, even if it meant killing innocent men defending the ancient law. "The first class of people preserve and people the world, the second move the world and lead it to its goal." Despite these big differences in his theory, Raskolnikov declares that both classes have an equal right to exist.

Theory: Two types of men.
 * Extraordinary: Above the law ( superman). Does not have to follow common laws and rules. Feels his morales are higher than common people.
 * Ordinary: Must follow laws, have to follow society's standards.

Modern Day Examples: Hitler, Stalin

Quotes from //Crime and Punishment//: "What was taking place in him was totally unfamiliar, new, sudden, never before experienced. Not that he understood it, but he sensed clearly, with all the power of sensation, that it was no longer possible for him to address these people in the police station, not only with heartfelt effusions, as he had just done, but in any way at all, and had they been his own brothers and sisters, and not police lieutenants, there would still have been no point in this addressing them, in whatever circumstances of life."



"The old woman was a mistake perhaps, but she’s not the point! The old woman was merely a sickness . . . I was in a hurry to step over . . . it wasn’t a human being I killed, it was a principle! So I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over, I stayed on this side . . . All I managed to do was kill. And I didn’t even manage that, as it turns out . . ." (269)


 * He wanted to justify his killing of the woman by trying to convince himself that the woman was just an idea not a perosn. He was starting to doubt his conviction that he was a type of "superman". This was his way of saying that a person was just anidea to someone superior.