Salvation through human suffering in crime and punishment “All men must suffer, and salvation cannot be achieved unless this suffering is present” (Boland, p.4). All the characters in the novel experience some sort of internal or external suffering. The main character, Raskolnikov, must grow up and realize it in order to overcome his conflicts and achieve the salvation of inner peace. Dostoevsky's focus and attention is on why suffering must exist and how this suffering can be overcome. This is true because in the six sections of the novel, only one is focused on the crime, and the remaining five are focused on Raskolnikov's journey to overcome his suffering. This is the beginning of the punishment. By identifying punishment, the internal and external conflicts that occur within the novel show Raskolnikov's philosophy in his search for salvation. Raskolnikov, or Rodya, justifies his actions with his extraordinary theory of man. His theory states that “a suggestion that there are some people who can”… “that is, not quite capable of doing so, but they have every right to commit violations of morality and crimes, and that the law is not for them ” (page 254). Rodya wanted to prove that he was extraordinary, that he could commit a crime like murder, but since he did it for the betterment of society, he would feel no sympathy or remorse for his crime. Rodya killed Alyona Ivanonva because she represented evil in society, and believed she was doing the world a favor. Rodya hears a student speak: “Of course he doesn't deserve to live. But that's nature, right? Will not a small crime be canceled out by thousands of good deeds?” (p. 69). These comments make the crime seem even more justifiable. Rodya... half of the card... because they allow us to identify with two different personalities. After confessing to his crimes, Rodya is sentenced to eight years in a Siberian prison. In prison he then begins to find his salvation. While in prison, her mother dies and she never knows her son's fate, this being her salvation from the suffering of worrying about her son. Still in prison, Rodya is attacked by another inmate and is hospitalized. When Rodya wakes up, Sonia is there. He finds his salvation in Sonia. She stayed by his side and showed that she loved him. Rodya had to suffer due to his murderous actions and through his suffering he found love and support through Sonia who was his salvation. All the characters in the novel have gone through some kind of human suffering, and most have found salvation. Salvation was not always something glorious but it always came and put an end to a story.