Existential Allen

Reading: Woody Allen's The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose, “Notes from the Overfed” pg 57 – 62.

We discussed Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1866 novel Crime and Punishment. “A young Russian student, Raskolnikov, believes himself to be an extraordinary man--one who has the 'right' to commit and crime. In order to prove his stupid theory correct, Raskolnikov 'needs' to murder the old pawnbroker and her innocent sister. Immediately following the crime, the guilt strikes and poor Raskolnikov becomes ill. Upon recovery, he finds an old school acquaintance, Razumihin, who might be the only non-male-jerk of the whole story. Meanwhile, Raskolnikov is visited by Luzhin, who is engaged to Raskolnikov's sister Dounia. Luzhin, being the male chauvanist pig that he is, is merely marrying Dounia to prove his manly nature and ability to dominate the female species.
As soon as Raskolnikov can walk he takes a little stroll to the police station where he practically confesses to the whole murder. Later, he witnesses the death of the old drunk husband, Marmeladov, who spent the entire family savings on vodka and whiskey only to get run over by a horse. Raskolnikov graciously delivers the dead body to his wife and starving children and for some odd reason, leaves all his money to the family. Raskolnikov returns home to find his sister and mother there who have come to prepare for the wedding. Raskolnikov denounces Luzhin and forbids the marriage. To top it off, Svidrigailov, Dounia's former employee comes to town who had also previously tried to seduce Dounia, and Rask., being the big brother that he is, violently detests the man for this.
Porfiry, the police inspector, is interviewing people about the murder. Raskolnikov goes to the station thinking that he is a suspect and once again practically confesses to the murder. Since this time, Raskolnikov met Sonia Marmeladov, daughter of the drunk, and has taken a liking to her. He feels great sympathy toward her since she had been drawn into prostitution to make money for the family. Raskolnikov feels a closeness to her and promises to tell her who the murderer is.
Raskolnikov again meets with Porfiry. He then goes to Sonia and confesses to her. Unfortunately, Svid overhears the confession and uses this information to try to get Sounia to sleep with him. She refuses and he later commits suicide.
Raskolnikov finally confesses the murder to the police after talking to Sonia and is sentenced to eight joyous years in Siberia. Thinking that it will be a great vacation spot, Sonia joins him there to rebuild his life.” -
There was a group presentation for Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment that was very entertaining, in which the group used sock puppets to discuss what was going on in the book. With so many characters running about all the time, it could make the book somewhat difficult to follow, but the group was able to completely differentiate each sock puppet, both in aesthetics, and in personal characteristics. The group was well put together, well thought out, and they facilitated discussion in a very pleasing manner.

We also watched parts from the Woody Allen movie Crimes and Misdemeanors in which a man decides to have a woman that is insanely enamored with him killed. Much of the movie also goes into Woody Allen's character and how dejected he is the entire movie. Allen's character is constantly getting overshadowed by bigger, more “important” film makers, etc. and he never gets any respect. The character who ends up having a woman murdered goes through pangs of guilt and is very reminiscent of Crime and Punishment, no doubt intentionally so.