In Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Rodya, the main character, is torn between his rational and abstract instincts to be above the ordinary population and his emotional and compassionate feelings. He tries to prove he is above the rest by committing a perfect crime but is always haunted by his compassionate feelings proven by flashbacks through out the book. The childhood flashbacks serve as an introduction to the deeply hidden compassion that exists with in him. Both sides pull at him causing enough mental pain to eventually cause Rodya to be unable to cope with the guilt and giving up the thought of being a superman above the laws of a govern society. Even though Rodya thinks he committed the perfect crime, a mental debate involving morals eventually drives him to confess.

In order to understand the significance of Rodya's flashbacks and dreams, one must understand his...