Abstract

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is not just a story about murder. It is about violence as an idea and an inner struggle. The novel follows Raskolnikov, a poor young man who kills a pawnbroker. He believes he has the right to do it because he sees himself as “above the law.” After the murder, he begins a long journey of guilt, mental pain, and conflict with his own conscience. He also faces the harshness of reality and the kindness of others. This research looks at violence in the novel not just as an act, but as a way to ask deep moral questions: Can violence ever be justified? Is there such a thing as “necessary evil”? The novel does not give clear answers. Instead, it shows an open “mental courtroom” where the human soul is judged by itself. The study focuses on two sides of violence: how Raskolnikov tries to justify it with philosophy, and how this idea slowly breaks down inside him. We also explore how violence affects the self, others, and the idea of justice. The goal of this research is to show how Dostoevsky uses violence to raise deep human questions about good, evil, and moral responsibility.