Louse in the Hay Market: The relationship between the Urban Space and the Consciousness of "Man" in Crime and Punishment

Abstract

In literary works, the construction of urban space serves as both a canvas for the subjective perceptions of the novelist towards society and a mirror reflecting the objective social order of a particular era. Within Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, the city of St. Petersburg in the 19th century emerges as a central backdrop, with the bustling Hay Market serving as a focal point. Dostoevsky adeptly captures the city's darkness and oppressive atmosphere, presenting it as a microcosm of societal complexities. This essay delves into the lives of St. Petersburg's lower-class denizens as depicted in the novel, using Dostoevsky's portrayal of the city's "dark panorama" to examine its broader implications. Rather than merely serving as a backdrop, the city becomes a reflection of human consciousness, encapsulating the author's nuanced understanding of social dynamics and psychological intricacies. Through an analysis of urban space in Crime and Punishment, this paper aims to elucidate Dostoevsky's exploration of the interconnectedness between societal structures and individual psyches.