I have not read a book of such substance in a very long time. It is a telling commentary on the human condition, considering the nature of conscience, redemption, transcendance and the human spirit. Be warned, my commentary includes lots of spoilers, so don't read any further if you want to get the most out of the book.
I had intended to finish this book much earlier, but the WTC attacks suddenly slowed my progress and presented a surreal backdrop against which to consider the nature of human violence. I found myself constantly alarmed by the state of paranoia and sympathy I was enticed into on behalf of Raskolnikov, the anti-hero. I found myself wrestling with my own sense of conscience and debating inwardly what makes an action unconsionable. An important aspect of the book is the notion of Nietzsche's 'will to power', the abiliy of the overman to recognize his destiny and seize upon it in a manner that transcends societal bounds. Raskolnikov perceives his failure to murder his conscience as an indicator that he cannot reach the state of overman. The wooden crucifix he retrieves from Sonya clearly indicates that not only was he unable to murder 'God', but that in the end he seeks out, and even requires, divine forgiveness for his actions.
I found Raskolnikov's relationship with Sonya to be incredibly profound. The passage in which Sonya reads the account of Lazarus from the Gospel of John is a powerful turning point. Sonya represents not only Raksolnikov's temptress and disciple (think Mary Magdelene), but also his redeemer and caretaker, her Christ to his Lazarus.
In the wake of this week's madness in the real world, I was also struck by Dostoyevsky's indictment of man's inhumanity to man, evidenced by this conversation between Raskolnikov and his sister:
"Brother, brother, what are you saying? I mean, you have blood on your hands!" Dunya cried in despair.
"The blood that's on everyone's hands," he caught her up, almost in a frenzy now, "that flows and has always flowed through the world like a waterfall, that is poured like champagne and for the sake of which men are crowned in the Capitol and then called the benefactors of mankind. Well, just take a closer look and see what's really what!..."
I found the question of Raskolnikov's confession and inevitable isolation and estrangement from society to have a deeply religious flavour- that in order to transcend one's humanity, to become the overman, or the buddha or to receive the final redeption requires first a complete detachment from the world, and even from oneself. In the midst of such detachment Raskolnikov finally understands the meaning of freedom, finally recongnizes his ability to love and is finally rejoined with his lover, achieving in one moment of enlightenment, reunification with society and mastery of his own conscience.