Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a psychological novel from the 19th century in Russia. This novel gives us insight into the social, political, and economic turmoil that Russia and its people were experiencing during that time period. During this time of hardship people made decisions they considered necessary for survival and this novel exposes some of the decisions people had to make to continue living. The decisions made by the individuals in this novel could be the result of desperation or simply an overdose of power and masculinity. The main character Raskolnikov makes his decisions because he has a high level of masculinity and power. When referring to masculinity it describes a man with the traditional characteristics that belong to such, these characteristics include strength, boldness, aggression, avoidance of femininity, pursuit of success and status among other characteristics. (Dictionary reference) During Luzhin's (Dunya's fiancée) first meeting with Raskolnikov (Dunya's brother) while leaving her future brother-in-law's apartment, Raskolnikov cannot contain his anger and disagreement with the arranged marriage . This disagreement of Raskolnikov's is the result of a letter he received from his mother in which she described the difficulties she and her sister had experienced and continued to experience. He also briefly described the unique interest Luzhin had in Dunya. Raskolnikov proceeded to express his feelings regarding the relationship Luzhin had with his sister. "that above all you were happy that she was poor... because it is better to take a wife out of poverty, to then be able to lord it over her... and reproach her for having been his benefactor." (Dostoevsky, pp. ...... middle of paper ...... and, a little old moneylender who was of no use to anyone, to be killed who is worth forty sins forgiven, who sucked the lifeblood from the poor – is it a crime?” (Dostoevsky, pp. 518) Raskolnikov talks freely about the murder he committed and does not see it as a crime and considers it a favor to society by taking the life of the old lady Punishment is a psychological novel that puts a naked a society in crisis and individuals who are victims of the environment and status. The main character Raskolnikov places us in a contrasting judgment as more characters are introduced and their difficulties are also exposed and they do not reach to murder as a solution to theirs problems, so we can put that aside and say that his actions were the result of mental instability or it was his sense of masculinity and power that led him to resort to murder.?