
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment is a novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky in the late 1800s. It tells the story of Rodion Raskolnikov, a former student who commits murder to test his theory that some people are above morality. The book explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the nature of humanity.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1866 · Genre: Philosophical, Political, Social Commentary · 282 words
First lines
All scoundrelism is summed up in the phrase "Que Messieurs les Assassins commencent!"
The man who has graduated from the flogging block at Eton to the bench from which he sentences the garotter to be flogged is the same social product as the garotter who has been kicked by his father and cuffed by his mother until he has grown strong enough to throttle and rob the rich citizen whose money he desires.
Imprisonment is as irrevocable as death.
Criminals do not die by the hands of the law. They die by the hands of other men.
What this Textopian page supports
Crime and Punishment is listed on Textopian as a novel by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1866 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical, Political, Social Commentary, Essay
- Length: 282 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Crime and Punishment by George Bernard Shaw
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Crime and Punishment?
- How does this novel by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Philosophical — The text explores deep philosophical questions about crime, punishment, and societal norms.
- Political — The work critiques political systems and the justice system, highlighting societal hypocrisy.
- Social Commentary — It provides a critical analysis of social structures and the impact of punishment on society.
- Essay — The writing style and structure resemble an essay, focusing on argumentation and exposition.
Tags
morality · guilt · redemption · psychology · existentialism · crime · punishment · society · justice · alienation · philosophy · suffering
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