https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess By now you've read Raskolnikov's confession to Sonya. What does this confession say about his character? en-us 2017-01-26 17:00:22 UTC 2025-11-13 00:33:04 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687750 Rodya's confession to Sonya reveals many things about his character, one being that he isn't strong enough to deal with the burden of the murders any longer. Think 'Ubermensch' and the fact he thinks this way (admits that to her as well) and how him confessing doesn't fit the theory. If he truly believed in that theory, he wouldn't feel guilty about what he did, and wouldn't be pushing it onto Sonya as well. At the same time, I think he may just want someone to feel bad for him - or maybe confessing to her will make him feel better about what he did - but in reality, like Sonya says, the only way to be brought peace is to commit to the public.  ]]> 2017-01-26 17:39:47 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687750 ebrockett https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687794 He kept changing the reasons why he murdered the women.  His excuses bounced around the room like his thought probably were in his own head.  For me, it revealed how maybe the whole truth was too much for him to admit so he lied about it.  It reminds me of how humans tend to change their memories in order for them to fit their current personalities or what they wish for their personalities to be.  One of the crazy reasons to his despicable actions was that he wanted to be like Napoleon, and with this excuse, he continued babbling on about it like a crazy person, almost blaming Napoleon.]]> 2017-01-26 17:39:53 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687794 nrfrenchhorn https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687823 I think the most predominate characteristic of Raskolnikov's confession would be its roundabout manner. It confuses Sonia so much that she says, "[y]ou better tell me straight out... without examples" (Dostoevsky 411). At first he begins by asking Sonia who she would rather kill, Katerina or Luzhin. He also begins by justifying his actions by comparing them to Napoleon instead of being honest. This manner of confession shows that Raskolnikov doesn't really believe he should feel guilty. He starts of asking such questions of Sonia to prove that she's just as guilty as he is. This justifies the guilt he feels. However, he still believes he's an ubermench and that he's like Napoleon. He is above guilt. In truth, Raskolnikov's roundabout confession is just like his on and off guilty feelings and sickness. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:39:56 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687823 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687856 Raskolnikov's confession reveals that he is not superman after all.  He had been so wrapped up in his guilt and misery that it drove him to his knees; he could not handle the burden. Going by the superman belief and the way in which he had confessed, it's fact that he is not untouchable by normal human standards or emotions.  He is so shrouded in his mistake that he had twisted his beliefs to fit the murder and thus his mistakes.  However, I do think that this confession is leading up to his development of character.  He is finally coming to terms with what he had done and talking to someone about it to someone he cares about, which is a rarity because up until this point, he seemed like he hadn't cared about anyone but himself and maybe his mother.  For example, he did not exactly love his sister; he just saw her as another person he knew what was best for.  In all, I think his confession reveals his gradual weakening of the mind and gradual strengthening of morality. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:00 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687856 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687877 The confession reveals that he cannot bear the burden of his vicious secret alone. Instead, he must tell someone and decides to place some of the weight on Sonya. She is now miserable for him. This also interferes with his idea that he is superman and can handle everything on his own.]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:03 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687877 alyssagall1999 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687886 Raskolnikov's confession highlights his muddied mind and how his guilt and beliefs have warped the true reason behind why he committed the murder. He tries to not only convince Sonia, but himself too, that he murdered the pawnbroker because he is like Napoleon and an extraordinary man.  He wants to be able to justify his actions and not feel guilt, but he realizes that he is only an ordinary man, who wanted to prove that he can amount to something. For instance, he spent most of his time thinking, but when he finally thought of an idea, he wanted to take action and show that he can be extraordinary and amount to something. Because everyone, especially his mom and sister, depended on him and wanted him to achieve greatness.  He also came off very childish in his reasoning behind the murder by saying that he simply wanted to see if he could kill
 ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687886 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687890
Raskolnikov's confession shows that he wants to be free of all is guilt. The only way to get rid of that is to confess. He doesn't want to have the burden of his murder hovering over him every minuet of everyday. So, he goes to the one person that he can trust the most: Sonya. That shows that he trusts her enough to tell her the one secrete that has been causing his sickness. Raskolnikov's views are changing. He wants the rebirth that Lazarus had.  ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687890 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687984 To me, Raskolnikov's confession mostly shows how it is easy to do a crime, but it is difficult to live with the sin you have done. It is hard for some people to keep in a lie, imagine having to keep in the fact you were a murderer. As much as you would want to keep that a secret, for your safety, the weight and the guilt will slowly eat at you. The guilt will become too much and you will eventually spill your deepest darkest secret. Once Raskolnikov told Sonya his dirty crime, some weight was taken off of his shoulder, but it didn't disappear completely. The weight left him and went onto Sonya. She now holds his dirty little secret.  This all reveals that, although Raskolnikov cares about Sonya, he cares about his mental state more. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149687984 cfarkas https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688002 I couldn't really get a grip on how he kept on changing his reason. It reveals his all around mind, where his guilty ambitions are corrupting his own persona. Asking her all the questions to know (as if he can figure if it is alright to say) who she'd rather kill. 
We know he wants to confess-but he also loves Sonya and seems to imply a situation to where he can confess himself rightly. 
It explains how he just stand deliberating on the next event- and he's just going through this step by step process because Sonia seems so distraught. He really loves her, and has found someone that he can trust and talk to. Still, he couldn't get it out as much as he wanted to but he had a motive to tell Sonia. Definitely. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:22 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688002 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688044 By confessing to Sonya, Raskolnikov is allowing himself to come face to face with the crime he committed.  In the past, he knew what he had done was wrong, but he hadn't told anyone directly what he had done.  At this point, he feels incredibly guilty for what he did.  He knows his actions were wrong.  In a way, he is looking for semi-approval from someone he loves.  This approval he seeks will calm his nerves, and make him feel as if his crime was not as bad as it truly was.  This is made evident through his perception of Sonya, as he views her as someone who is worthy of justifying right and wrong.  ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:27 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688044 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688067 I think Raskolnikov's confession shows he is a person who cannot lie to those he loves most. Also, he is looking for a way to get forgiveness without confessing to the police and going to jail. But, this does not work out for him because the only way he can successfully get rid of the guilt plaguing him he has to go to the police and confess. Raskolnikov however is still under the delusion that he can get away with everything since he is an extraordinary person. Raskolnikov said, "No! I am not going to them, Sonia!" (Dostoevsky 416).  This shows that even though his back is against the wall he still will not ask for forgiveness. Raskolnikov needs to ask for the forgiveness, but he cannot because he still thinks his theory applies to himself. Until he realizes it does not he will be stuck suffering. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688067 lydiaschade https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688082 Although Raskolnikov was confessing to Sonia, the way in which he did it was still that of a coward. He could not come out and say that he did it, he pieced it together enough for her to eventually draw the conclusion to what he was trying to tell her. This could mean that he was still not ready for the world to know what he had done. He was ashamed of what he did, and he did not know how to face the truth. It also shows that mentally he is gradually becoming more aware of the fact that he will soon have to tell everyone what he did. It is almost as if he is breaking the ice by telling someone he can almost guarantee will not leave him. Part of Raskolnikov wants the truth to be told, while part of him is still extremely scared of the reactions from the people around him. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:34 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688082 emmakettel https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688180 Raskolnikov's confession reveals that  he really does care about Sonya. He cares enough to tell the truth and risk getting in trouble. it also proves that he really does feel guilt for what he has done. He feels remorse and wants to tell someone he cares about. it reveals that he no longer thinks of himself as a superman because he wont be getting away with this crime such as Svidrigailov had with the three murders he has been suspected for.  ]]> 2017-01-26 17:40:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688180 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688398 Raskolnikov's confession reveals that his guilt has been eating him up and that he really isn't the superman he wants to be. After all the times he tried to confess he finally broke through because the guilt was weighing him down. I feel like this humanizes his character because we all feel guilty and when it becomes too much to carry around we give it to someone else. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:41:17 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688398 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688618 Raskolnikov's confession reveals his inability to deal with his guilt alone. He unloads his burden onto Sonya and frees himself from the constant lie he had to keep up with. The fact that he is able to finally confide in her speaks volumes to the level of trust he has placed in her. Comfort or forgiveness from someone he cares for might make him feel as though his actions were justified as he still feels he's above the ordinary man. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:41:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688618 rrigole_flute_99 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688638 I believe Raskolnikov is finally coming to terms with the actions he took. He has found someone he loves, trusts, and deems worthy enough to know his deepest secrets. His character is finally developing from an evasive liar eluding the truth and law to a mature adult who can take responsibility for his actions. Throughout the course of the novel, Raskolnikov planned to confess multiple times, but whenever the time came, he couldn't go through with it. It takes an epiphany to open his eyes- the pain and suffering of Sonya- to realize his is not so great. He knows he will leave her forever and his parting gift to her is to confess the murder of her best friend and the perpertrator.  He says, "'Perhaps it's the last time I shall speak to you [...] If I come tomorrow, I'll tell you who killed Lizaveta" (Dostoevsky 329). ]]> 2017-01-26 17:41:46 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149688638 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149689412 Raskolnikov's confession confirms that he is not amoral, but immoral. His guilt gnaw away at him, which has been suggested by his anxious, frenzied actions. His desire to confess shows that he is doesn't merely dread getting caught and punished, but also his moral standing. He does not want to be the one who beats the old mare. Because Sonya is his Christ figure, he deems his confession to her as the first step to redemption.]]> 2017-01-26 17:43:38 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149689412 https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149692110 Raskolnikov's confession displays a more human side to him. Previously, he had simply been pushing his guilt aside because he was trying to justify the crime he committed. He believed that he was above the law but this guilt was eating away at him and making him even more sick. He wanted to confess to Sonya because she is a person who he cares about dearly and he can no longer justify his lying to her in the same way he tries to justify the crime. ]]> 2017-01-26 17:50:04 UTC https://padlet.com/mgabridge/confess/wish/149692110