Sämtliche Werke 1-2 : $b Rodion Raskolnikoff (Schuld und Sühne)

In the restless streets of 19th‑century St. Petersburg, a brilliant but impoverished former student wrestles with a daring idea: that certain extraordinary people may transgress ordinary moral law for a higher purpose. The novel opens by placing his inner turmoil against a broader clash of cultural spirits, hinting at a Russian worldview that seeks independence from dominant Western influences while still confronting its own shadows.

Raskolnikov’s theory drives him to a chilling act that plunges him into a vortex of guilt, paranoia, and fleeting moments of rationalization. As he navigates the city’s cold alleys and cramped apartments, his conscience battles the seductive promise of greatness, while the people he encounters—each bearing their own burdens—reflect the moral tapestry of a society in flux. The first act leaves listeners poised on the edge of his psychological descent, eager to hear how his conscience and the world around him will respond.