The introspective and self-scrutinizing nature of Crime and Punishment's Raskolnikov allows us to delve into the existential logics that justify and influence the decisions and courses of action that he executes. It is crucial to explore the workings of Raskolnikov's mind, to understand the motives that push him to commit the heinous murder of Alyona, the pawnbroker. By examining Raskolnikov's psyche, characterization, and decision-making processes, which are characterized by his constant schisms and dichotomies, we can understand how the representation of existentialist ideals as represented by Raskolnikov evolves through the plot of the novel. Raskolnikov's changing attitude, the environment he is surrounded by, and the relationships and encounters he maintains, influence and shape the existential tendencies that Raskolnikov personifies. The existential philosophies described by Raskolnikov range from Nietzsche's embodiment of the Übermensch to Kierkegaard's Christian existentialist theories. To address and further advance important points in understanding the evolution of Raskolnikov's existential psyche, it is crucial that the definitions of Existentialism, Nietzsche's Übermensch, Nihilism and Christian Existentialism (such as prescribed by Kierkegaard) is established. Existentialism will be defined in relation to the idea that “existence precedes essence” for the sake of consistency. According to existentialism, there is no innate and established set of truths, which means that there is no innate established moral sense. Life therefore is intrinsically meaningless in comparison to the vast expanse of the universe around us (Holmes 146). The discussion of existentialism brings out...... middle of paper ... what surrounds it. The schismatic nature of his mind follows him throughout the novel, providing insight into his wavering and indecisive mind which only changes after Sonya humanizes Raskolnikov through her religiosity. In this way, Dostoyevsky openly communicates his belief that Russian ideals, as represented by Christian existentialism, supersede Western ideals, as represented by the nihilistic connotations of Crime and Punishment. Works Cited Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. Crime and punishment. Trans. Constance Garnett.New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2007. Print.Holmes, Clellon John. Existentialism and the novel: notes and questions. Chicago Review, Vol. McDonald, William. “Soren Kierkegaard.” Stanford University. Stanford University, December 3 Pratt, Alan. “Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.” Nihilism. Embry-Riddle University, nd.