"Crime and punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Complexity of a character

In many novels, the complexity of a character is often described within the first few chapters. In the novel, Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the author takes the first few pages to discuss the main character. The main character is extremely proud, cynical, and emotionally detached from humanity and somewhat in a mental state. Traits that may get any one into trouble, especially if put into the right situation.

Throughout the entire passage, the reader can tell that the character a fear of confrontation, with anyone. However, the main clue is at the beginning of the passage when the author states "He had become so...isolated from his fellows that he dreaded meeting, not only his landlady, but anyone at all"(20-23). All he really cared about was himself. The character especially dreaded meeting his landlady. He was so "in debt to his landlady"(15-16) that he tried to avoid her every time he left his house.

Raskolnikov and Marmeladov from Crime and Punishme...

"Portrait of the Writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky", Oil o...

English: Dostoevsky Moscow Russia Esperanto: Dosto...

He seemed to be living a life avoiding everything that he was responsible for.

Within the passage, the character became aware of his fears. The character "[wants] to attempt a thing like that and am frightened by these trifles"(38-39). The reader can assume that the character is planning something, but is not sure to go through with it. He says it himself that he talks too much and because of that he does nothing. That explains a lot about his character. Showing that he is mostly talk and not a lot of action.

Towards the end of the passage, it is certain that the character is planning something. However it is obvious that he is still confused. He wants to go through with something, but "such trifles that always ruin everything"(127-128). He has a fear that the small things...