In the novel Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, we discover nearly every character becomes weighed down by the same oppressive force, which slowly deteriorates the social structure in St. Petersburg. A common theme between all of the general struggling in St. Petersburg can be described as a poverty motif. Dostoevsky makes it apparent that every character struggles for even a miniscule amount of money, as long as they can have another meal. Ancillary, because of the great deal of poverty the reader should notice the great deal of crime directly correlated to the poverty.

Our first example introducing the destruction poverty already made is made apparent with the introduction of St. Petersburg. Dostoevsky describes this city as dirty and crowded. In the city, young women prostitute themselves to make money for their destitute families. Additionally, random drunks can be seen sprawled out all over the city, during...