Archetypes of Guilt and Redemption: A Jungian Reading of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment stands as one of the most profound explorations of the human psyche in world literature, addressing the interwoven themes of guilt, moral conflict, suffering, and the possibility of redemption. This paper offers a re-reading of the novel through the lens of Carl Gustav Jung’s analytical psychology, with particular emphasis on the notions of the collective unconscious, archetypal patterns, and symbolic imagery. By engaging with Jung’s archetypes—such as the Shadow, the Anima, the Wise Old Man, and the Self—this study examines how Dostoevsky’s characters, especially Raskolnikov, embody universal psychological structures that extend beyond individual pathology to illuminate collective human struggles. The analysis demonstrates that the narrative functions as a dramatization of archetypal conflict, where guilt becomes both a destructive force and a catalyst for transformation. Through close textual study, the paper uncovers how symbols, dreams, and recurring motifs in the novel mirror Jungian processes of individuation and psychic integration. The exploration of Sonia, Porfiry, and Raskolnikov’s inner journey highlights the tension between fragmentation and wholeness, chaos and order, sin and salvation. In addition to offering a fresh Jungian interpretation of Dostoevsky’s masterpiece, the paper also situates its findings within the broader field of psychological literary criticism, noting intersections with theology, philosophy, and cultural studies. It concludes by suggesting pathways for future interdisciplinary research, particularly comparative studies between Dostoevsky’s works and other archetypal narratives of guilt and redemption in Western and non-Western traditions.