I chose to respond to the second question on the list, asking if there is an in between view of life. The rabbi thinks there is a "Moral structure with meaning, and forgiveness, and a higher power," and that it is the basis of life. Judah thinks that the world is harsh without pity or any values. I think there is definitely an in between and that I am in that balance. Turn on the news and you will find that the world is extremely harsh, often on those that do no deserve it. I do not know if I believe in destiny or fate, or that these tragedies happen because there is a higher power or great plan. But I also do not think that the world has no values or pity. I think even the darkest and most twisted humans have some sort of values, and that there are good people everywhere in the world. I believe in the goodness of humans more than I do in a higher power, but I also know that terrible things happen every day.
To be completely honest I have not finished Crime and Punishment yet, but I have actually enjoyed it so far. I found Crimes and Misdemeanors to be much more strange and actually did not like it as much. Raskolnikov commits his crime because he thinks he is doing the world a favor for the world by getting rid of such a mean woman. Judah claimed to have loved his victim and had her murdered for his benefit only. Both have a lot of trouble after their deeds are done, but Judah contemplates turning himself in more than Raskolnikov. The men also tease people with a confession, in Judah's case telling a story of a perfect plot for a movie and Raskolnikov telling the cop he knows what happened and then taking it back. Judah is not driven to the level of madness that Crime and Punishment's murderer is, which is why I do not sympathize with him. I almost like Raskolnikov and want him to get away with it, because I think he is actually crazy and believes what he did was right. Judah was stupid enough to have an affair while he was married and then ended a life because he could not deal with the consequences. He walks away happily with his like nothing is wrong. If I had to chose, Raskolnikov should get the misdemeanor and Judah should receive the punishment.
Emily, I agree with you that there exists a balance between these two perspectives. I like what Professor Levy discussed in the film, which is the idea that the universe is cold and uncaring and it is only through human kindness and magnanimity that we find happiness or pleasure. I feel like this reconciles the two in the sense that there is the element of coldness that we feel/see regularly, but also allows for the kindness which makes life worth living.I found that many of us preferred the book to the film, myself included, and that many of us feel more sympathy for Raskolnikov than for Judah, which I believe comes from our natural inking to have sympathy for the poor and perhaps insane.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I think that a lot of people are in the same position as you with the "in between" view of life. I agree that there is something inherrently good about people and that no one is completely evil, despite the horrors displayed daily by the media. I definitely prefer Crime and Punishment to Crimes and Misdemeanors and, like Peter expressed, I think most of us find Raskolnikov more forgivable than Judah and the motives behind their crimes are, to me, the difference between the book and the film and one major detail which makes the book more enjoyable.
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