Reading Novels Like A Professor: Chapter 6 – Men (and Women) Made out of Words, or ...

Reading Novels Like A Professor: Chapter 6 – Men (and Women) Made out of Words, or ...: "Identify and analyze one of the characters in your novel. What techniques does the author use in characterization? What is revealed about th..."

In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, Crime and Punishment, he uses direct and indirect characterization throughout the story. An example of direct characterization is shown at the very beginning of the book. The author identifies the main character Raskolnikov as, “exceptionally handsome, above average in height, slim, well-built, with beautiful dark eyes and dark brown hair” (6). Although the author uses direct characterization throughout the novel to describe detail at a more outward superficial standpoint, indirect characterization is also used to identify more internal attributes. At the beginning of the novel the reader understands that the main character, Raskolnikov, is not very sociable. He would much rather be alone with his own thoughts then be out in public. The reader begins to understand the personality and mind of Raskolnikov through the descpription of the people and city that surrounds him. The main character is very prideful it seems. He has intentionally set himself apart from society due to the fact that he believes he is superior to everyone else. The reader already knows that he is very handsome. Raskolnikov’s looks could possibly be contributing to his very prideful attitude. When the main character first ventured out of his apartment and saw all of the filth that surrounded him in Saint Petersburg he began to have, “An expression of the deepest discussed”(6). This clearly shows us that Raskolnikov is not proud of where he is living nor is he proud of being tethered along with a rancid society. Raskolnikov’s superior view of himself is indirectly shown through his reaction to the filthy city and society that he does not want to be a part of. His purposeful alienation is specifically described within the novel directly, as well as his very positive physical features. This is how the author uses indirect and direct characterization in Crime and Punishment.

-Conner Furr