Crime and Punishment is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1866. The psychological thriller tells the story of Raskolnikov, a former student who kills an elderly pawnbroker for her money. He then must deal with the consequences of his crime, as he is pursued by a detective named Porfiry Petrovich. Crime and Punishment is considered one of the greatest novels ever written, and it has been adapted for film and stage numerous times.
Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603-1604. The play tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in the service of Venice, who is tricked into believing that his wife Desdemona has been cheating on him with his lieutenant, Cassio. Othello murders Desdemona, and is then killed himself by Iago, the husband of Emilia, one of his trusted aides. Othello is one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies and has been adapted for film and stage many times.
Both Crime and Punishment and Othello are dark tales that explore the consequences of crime. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is forced to confront the horror of his act, while in Othello, Othello suffers from a mental breakdown after discovering his wife’s infidelity.
Both stories also contain elements of suspense and foreshadowing, as the reader or viewer is constantly wondering what will happen next. Crime and Punishment is more of a psychological thriller, while Othello is a classic tragedy with elements of romance. However, both stories are ultimately about the human condition and the terrible things that people are capable of doing.
In Crime and Punishment and Othello, there is a theme of required balance. In the case of Crime and Punishment, man’s need for equilibrium is very comparable to Othello’s lesson that jealousy, even when held by oneself, is harmful. Raskolnikov’s extreme intellectuality in Crime and Punishment caused him to become unbalanced, resulting in his imprisonment.
Crime and Punishment is filled with foreshadowing of Raskolnikov’s destruction. Similarly, in Othello, Iago’s jealousy led him to destroy Othello as well as his own wife. Iago is very clever in the way that he plants seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind about Desdemona. Othello’s lack of balance leads to his downfall.
Both Crime and Punishment and Othello can be seen as tragedies because they both have a sense of balance being upset. Crime and Punishment is more about how society functions while Othello is more about personal relationships. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov cannot function properly in society because of his Crime and Punishment. Othello’s downfall is more about him not being able to trust those around him. Iago takes advantage of this by playing on Othello’s insecurities.
In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is foreshadowed as a criminal throughout the novel. Crime and Punishment is full of symbols that represent Raskolnikov’s destruction. The most obvious symbol is the axe which Raskolnikov uses to kill the old pawnbroker lady. In Othello, there are also many symbols that foreshadow Iago’s destruction such as the handkerchief which Desdemona drops. This handkerchief becomes a symbol of Iago’s jealousy and, ultimately, his destruction.
It was his inflamed jealousy that drove him insane, losing him both Desdemona and his own life in Othello. In both cases, the extremes lead to imbalance, which has a high cost. However, there is a distinction to be made; while Raskolnikov is too intellectual and lacks emotion, Othello is a deluge of emotions that requires some intellect or rationality.
Crime and Punishment is full of Crime and Punishment, while Othello features many scenes in which Othello’s extreme jealousy is foreshadowed. For example, when Desdemona pleads with Othello not to be angry and to listen to her explain, he says:
And yet, how could I ever be jealous of her? Iago says: Look where she comes. Not a word to me? She speaks!
-Othello, Act 3 Scene 3
Here, Iago plants the idea in Othello’s mind that perhaps Desdemona has been unfaithful. This is significant because it shows that Iago was purposely trying to make Othello suspicious and therefore more likely to fall into his trap.
Likewise, Crime and Punishment features many instances in which Crime is foreshadowed. For example, when Raskolnikov murders the old pawnbroker woman, he takes a ring from her finger. This ring serves as a sort of symbol for Crime throughout the novel, as it represents Raskolnikov’s decision to commit murder. The ring also represents the fact that Crime is never really hidden; it is always there, lurking in the shadows.
Similarly, Othello features several scenes in which Othello’s jealousy is foreshadowed. In one such scene, Cassio asks Desdemona if she would like to take a walk on the ramparts with him. Othello, who is hiding nearby, overhears the conversation and becomes extremely jealous.
In both Crime and Punishment and Othello, the extremes of Crime and jealousy cause the characters to become unbalanced and eventually cost them their lives. However, there is a difference in the way these unbalances are portrayed. Crime is intellectualized in Crime and Punishment while Othello’s jealousy is emotionalized.
This difference can be seen most clearly in the use of foreshadowing; Crime is often foreshadowed through symbols and objects, while Othello’s jealousy is foreshadowed through dialogue. Ultimately, these differences result in two very different portrayals of Crime and punishment.
“If they ask me questions, I will undoubtedly tell them. I’ll fall to my knees and confess. ” Raskolnikov says this on page 84 of Crime and Punishment. This foreshadows Raskolnikov’s confession to the police, as well as his subsequent sentence to Siberia. Raskolnikov is clearly unhinged if he can think about his own confession with detachment. Desdemona’s willow song also forecasts her death in Othello. We learn that Othello must be severely unbalanced if his wife can foresee her own death when they are just newlyweds in this way.”
These parallels between Crime and Punishment and Othello suggest that both novels are explorations of the depths to which a person can sink when driven by a single motive.
Crime and Punishment and Othello are both novels that explore the depths to which a person can sink when driven by a single motive. In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is driven by his need for self-validation, while in Othello, it is jealousy that drives Iago. The consequences of these motives are disastrous in both cases. Raskolnikov is sentenced to Siberia, while Othello kills Desdemona and then himself. These parallels serve to underscore the destructive power of these powerful emotions. Crime and Punishment and Othello are both cautionary tales that remind us of the dangers of giving in to our basest desires.
