Money as a Symbolic Detail in the Novel <i>Crime and Punishment</i>, by F.M. Dostoevsky
The article is devoted to the analysis of such a symbolic detail as money in F. Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment. Semantic meaning of this detail goes beyond traditional understanding of money as a part of economic sphere of life. The article aims to reveal the semantic aspect of the detail in this particular novel by F. Dostoevsky. There are two planes of existence in the fiction: the real one, connected to the God's purpose implementation, and a false one, created in accordance with Raskolnikov's theory. The analysis of narrative situations, the context in which the idea of money is mentioned, makes it possible to identify the borderland of these planes in the semantic field of the detail. Explicit meaning of this artistic detail gives an opportunity to explain the «illogical» actions of the protagonist, to detect the implicit idea of the ruble as a coin to exchange and to comprehend its significance. It is his perception of money that most clearly characterizes Rodion Raskolnikov, reveals his inner doubts between "to have a right" and "to do wrong", his struggle of mind and heart. Moreover, the facts mentioned above, help the author to indicate the degree of Raskolnikov's isolation from the human society, the essence of his wicked actions. Thus, the study of money functioning in this F. Dostoevsky's novel provides an opportunity to understand the spiritual drama of the protagonist more precisely, to present the idea of the work clearly and to perceive the philosophical aspect of the author's perception of the world.