The End of the Innocence: Good within Evil "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart...

Transcription

1 The End of the Innocence: Good within Evil "In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart..." -Anne Frank A man named "Joe" lived in Germany. He had a wife, two kids, and a dog named Spot. Every Sunday he attended church and was active in the local government. He spent countless Saturdays playing with his kids and often was seen mowing his neighbor's lawn. Passers-by always smiled at the sight of "Joe" because to them he appeared kind and "good." But every Monday "Joe" dressed in uniform and strapped on his shiny black boots. A person may think "Joe" is a policeman, and in some ways he is, for "Joe" is a Nazi. As he walks down the street, Jews cringe because to them he enforced evil and was "bad." As time went on, people came to know him as "the Nazi" and before long the "Joe" that loved his family and went to church was forgotten. The next month Joe was sent to the annex in which Anne Frank and her family had hid for twenty-five months. He was one of the soldiers that arrested Anne and her family, making him responsible for their deportation and later their death. The world has forgotten "Joe" and now only remembers "the Nazi." But Anne Frank was right when she wrote, "people are really good at heart"(anne Frank). Behind "the Nazi" was a man who loved his family and his country. Perhaps Joe never lost his decency; it was only hiding behind the evil that overtook him. The same evil overtakes many people in the world whose goodness is forgotten causing them to become labeled as "bad" people. Although people quickly label a person "bad," in reality all humans possess some form of goodness. In Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, characters appear bad but upon closer inspection of their actions and life, goodness can be found. The Best of the Worst "There is so much good in the worst of us..." Robert Louis Stevenson. Among the worst people in the world are criminals-especially murderers. Can these horrible people still possess goodness despite their wrongdoings? Throughout the book, Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Rodion Raskolnikov demonstrates through his actions, choices, and relationships that despite his heinous crime he possesses goodness. Rodion's actions quickly define him as evil. Rodya is deemed a "bad" person when he commits two murders. In the hot apartment of the old pawnbroker, Rodya "pulls the axe out, swings it with both arms and brings the blunt side down on [the pawnbroker's] head"(74). Turning around, Rodya finds that the pawnbroker's sister,

2 Lizaveta has entered the flat. Within moments, "the axe falls with the sharp edge [and] splits all the top of [Lizaveta's] head"(77). As a result of his malicious actions, Rodya becomes characterized as evil. Rodya contradicts his atrocious actions through his countless good deeds. Rodya demonstrates his hidden kindness by continuously providing his money and time in order to help others. While strolling in the park, Rodya notices a "young, fair- haired girl stumbling and staggering from side to side"(45) as she walks down the street. Displaying his compassion, Rodya gives the "completely drunk"(45) girl money so that she can take a cab home. Rodya displays this selfless generosity again when leaving Marmeladov's house. Upon arriving at Marmeladov and his family's flat, Rodya notices their home consists of nothing more than a "poor- looking room about ten paces long [with] nothing in [it] except two chairs and a sofa"(22). Despite being dressed in rags himself, Rodya "puts his hand in his pocket, and snatches up the coppers he had received in exchange for his rouble in the tavern and lays them unnoticed on the window"(24) of Marmeladov's house before exiting quietly through the front door. Rodya's actions expose his compassion. Rodya's physical actions are not the only evidence of his true goodness; his mental decisions bring great insight into his caring nature. In murdering the pawnbroker and her sister, Rodya chooses to use an axe as the murder weapon. The multiple uses of an axe symbolize Rodya's multiple sides. In the shadows of the night, Rodya walked with the axe "hidden under his coat." Rodya's coat hides the axe, just as evilness hides Rodya's goodness. Although, Rodya ultimately uses the axe for evil, by choosing an object with two uses Rodya unconsciously tries to hold onto the goodness he possesses inside. True friends can see the qualities that a person keeps hidden. Rodya's best friend, Razumihin understands Rodya's kindheartedness. Razuhimin confesses to Rodya's mother that Rodya "'has a noble nature and a kind heart but at times he is simply cold and inhumanely callous'"(200). Razuhimin understands Rodya's split personality and accepts that Rodya "'does not like showing his feeling and would rather do a cruel thing than open his heart freely'"(200). Although Rodya "'thinks very highly of himself'"(200), Razuhimin recognizes Rodya's good- natured qualities and admits that Rodya deserves to think highly of himself. Through a true friend, Rodya's goodness is uncovered. Murderous actions quickly classify Rodya as purely evil but the axe's symbolism and his good deeds allow the reader to see that Rodya possesses goodness. The goodness in the hearts of murderers and criminals is masked by the evilness of their actions. The Man Behind the Bottle "To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." -- Homer Simpson (The Simpsons - Television Cartoon Show)

3 The pity smile, everyone in the world knows what it looks like, we are all guilty of using it, and we all know what it means. It's the smile a person puts on his face when he wants to show sympathy for a person, but inside he feels that this person deserves no pity because he is responsible for his position. The people that know these "pity smiles" the best are drunks, receiving them from the passer-bys as they make the long shameful walk home. Drunks try to solve their problems with alcohol; ironically this substance as Homer Simpson said, is "the cause of all of life's problems.". Society does not understand this addiction and feels alcoholics are deserving of the "pity smile" because they must be bad people. This perception is only partially true; many drunkards are truly good at heart but have been entangled by an evil monster called alcohol. In Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Marmeladov illustrates that drunkards possess both good and bad qualities. Marmeladov's alcoholism causes him to be labeled a bad person. Attempting to solve his problems, Marmeladov's good qualities are drowned by his addiction to alcohol. Sitting at the bar of a small tavern, Marmeladov "was drunk, but spoke fluently and boldly"(11) to the men around him. Marmeladov confessed to the men that he ruined his family's life and admits to having the "semblance of a beast"(13). His blunt diction and his choice of words implies that he is aware of his indecent behavior. The connotation of Marmeladov's words forces him to be seen as a bad person. Upon closer inspection Marmeladov's goodness is found. The first hint of Marmeladov's kindness resides in his appearance. Upon first meeting Marmeladov, Raskolnikov notices that Marmeladov's "hands, particularly, were filthy. They were fat and red, with black nails"(11). This description brings insight into the good and evil that Marmeladov possesses. Red is a warm color that represents life, confidence and joy, all qualities that Marmeladov has. On the other hand, black symbolizes death and evil, indicative of Marmeladov's bad traits. Marmeladov's appearance introduces the concept of the good and bad in his persona. While Marmeladov can alter his appearance to portray good or bad, he cannot change the connotation of his name. Marmeladov's name symbolizes his ability to be good or bad. In Russian, marmelad is a sort of sweet candy. Just as too much sweet candy can make a person sick, Marmeladov's kindness dwindles over time and the evils of alcohol take over his life. The meaning of Marmeladov's name brings insight to the idea that Marmeladov possesses decency despite his alcoholism. Marmeladov takes pride in his name especially since he is able to pass it onto his family. Marmeladov's love for his family is clearly shown through his diction. Stopping occasionally in order to appropriately express how he feels, Marmeladov talks passionately about his family. Marmeladov reveals his understanding of the importance of family when he tells the men in the bar "'every man must have somewhere to go'"(12). Although Marmeladov damages his chances of having "somewhere to go," he admits to his mistakes and wishes to compensate for the suffering that he has put his family through. Marmeladov informs the men that he "could not bear the sight of [his family] suffering"(14), so he drinks in order to "'suffer twice as much'"(13). Marmeladov's desperation while describing the declining state of his family is the result of the love he feels for them, love that reveals his true kindness.

4 Upon closer inspection of Marmeladov's story and the diction and symbolism used by the author, the reader is able to conclude that despite his perpetual drunken state, Marmeladov has a kind heart. Despite a person's drunkenness or whatever "badness" he might have, goodness can still be found in his heart. It's Good To Be Bad "The soul that is within me no man can degrade." -Frederick Douglas A successful businessman stops to ask a young lady for directions while driving on the streets of Beverly Hills. The young lady happens to be a prostitute named Vivian. As the man comes to understand Vivian's situation he no longer sees a "dirty" person but a rather "pretty woman." Just as in the movie, Pretty Woman, prostitutes are seen as "bad" and are given little pity despite whatever desperate situation may have driven them to such extremes. While the prostitute in the movie was given a chance from a nice guy, many prostitutes are never given help or a chance to show whatever "goodness" they possess. Similarly to Vivian in Pretty Woman, Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov is a prostitute in Crime and Punishment who is able to demonstrate her goodness. Upon the first mention of Sonya's character, she is introduced as a prostitute. As a result of her immoral occupation she comes across as a "dirty" or "bad" person. While telling his life story to Raskolnikov, Sonya's father announces that his daughter had "to take a yellow ticket"(17) implying that she was a prostitute. Raskolnikov's mother hears that Sonya was "a young woman of notorious behavior"(204) and immediately declares that Sonya is "'the chief cause of the trouble'"(225). The characters quickly acknowledge Sonya's prostitution and deem it as amoral. Sonya's prostitution causes her to be thought of as a sinner and "bad" person. Sonia's "badness" came as result of her trying to do good. Sonia became a prostitute in order to help her starving family. Her father, her stepmother and their children live in "a very poor-looking room about ten paces long"(22) with barely enough money to pay the rent. In an attempt to help her family, Sonia became a prostitute and "gives [step- mother] all [the money] she can"(17). Ironically, Sonia's attempt to do good leads her to be labeled as bad. Sonya quickly breaks the stigma that accompanies being a prostitute through her religion. Despite being a sinner, Sonya believes in God and strongly practices Christianity. Sonya's belief in God is demonstrated through the symbolism of Raskolnikov choosing to confess his crime to her. Raskolnikov felt "he had to tell"(375) Sonia that he murdered Lizaveta to obtain redemption. This event symbolizes that Sonya embodies Christianity since Raskolnikov seeks redemption through her. Sonia further demonstrates both her strong religious faith and her abundant good nature through her actions. Willing to offer advice to Raskolnikov despite his horrible crime, Sonya displays her goodness. After confessing, Sonia tells Raskolnikov to "stand at the cross-roads, bow down, kiss the earth which you have

5 defiled then God will send you life again"(389). Before Raskolnikov confessed to the police, Sonia "made the sign of the cross over herself and over him"(482). Her kindhearted and religious actions enable Sonya to be thought of as a decent person. Sonya offers her advice using soft, gentle words that create a sense of purity. Sonya's diction allows her to reveal her gentleness and displace the misconceptions created by her profession. Sonya "timidly"(221) told Raskolnikov that he should come to her father's funeral then quickly "ceased speaking"(221). Gentle, flowing words such as "timid" and "ceased" are used by the author to promote the softer side of Sonya. Sonya's goodness is seen again in the author's description of her. The connotation and symbolism of Sonya's appearance enables the reader to understand that she is not a bad person. "She could not have been called pretty, but her blue eyes were so clear, and when they lighted, there was such a kindliness and simplicity in her expression that one could not help being attracted"(222). The author insists that Sonia "could not have been called pretty" in order to establish her ability to be imperfect. However, Dostoevsky rejects any ideas that Sonia is completely bad by giving her clear, blue eyes. Like water, Sonia's clear blue eyes emit a sense of purity and redemption. The reader is assured that Sonia possesses innocence when she is said to have "looked almost [like] a little girl-almost a child"(222). Sonia's outward appearance symbolizes the goodness she has despite her impurities. Upon first impressions Sonia is deemed "bad" because she is a prostitute; but upon closer inspection it is seen that Sonia's character exemplifies righteousness. At times, circumstances push people to do things that overshadow their goodness. The End of the Innocence All of these characters possess traits that cause them to be easily targeted as "bad" people; yet their actions prove that good can still exist within evil. Although Raskolnikov's act of murder causes him to be portrayed as "bad," he demonstrates through his actions and the author's use of symbolism that he is still a first-rate person. Marmeladov overcomes the "badness" associated with his drunken state by the diction he uses when talking to Raskolnikov and the symbolism used by the author. Marmeladov's daughter, Sonia surpasses the negative stigma of being a prostitute through good deeds and benevolent diction. These characters represent the drunkard in the bar, the prostitute on the street, and the murderer in the shadows, all of whom are deemed "bad" because of their actions. Yet if one inspects these people's lives from all angles, he will surely find that they were driven to this state by other events or that these people faced extreme conditions. Yet even in the absence of adversity, it is possible to find a thread of decency in even a murderer, a drunkard, or a prostitute. It may be as simple as helping an elderly man cross the street or as grand as donating a large sum to charity. No matter the "evil" or "bad" that a person appears to possess, he is "truly good at heart"(anne Frank).