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Crime And Punishment Analysis

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Crime And Punishment Analysis
Crime Without Punishment
Crime can be of all kinds, big and small. Punishment can be the internal guilt an individual feels or an external sanction from the law or society. It is common to think that all crime is punished. In reality, many crimes go unpunished by law. Individuals can feel punishment through personal remorse, but in some cases it is possible to overcome this guilt and move on. This is the case in Woody Allen’s film Crimes and Misdemeanors. Allen’s film shows the various unpunished misdeeds of the two main characters, Judah Rosenthal and Cliff Stern. Crimes and Misdemeanors was inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky’s work, Crime and Punishment. Dostoevsky’s main character, Raskolnikov, commits murder and his subconscious forces him to confess to the crime. Allen’s film and its title, Crimes and Misdemeanors, include strategic similarities and differences to illustrate that his main idea counters that of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.
Crime and Punishment follows Raskolnikov’s journey, as he plans and commits murder, almost without incrimination. As the murder …show more content…
His film, Crimes and Misdemeanors, follows the storylines of two main characters and their misbehaviors. The first storyline follows the successful ophthalmologist, Judah Rosenthal. When his mistress threatens to expose their ongoing affair to his wife, Judah does not know what to do. In fear of losing it all, he hires a hit man to take care of the problem. Judah starts to act strange, hallucinate, and feel the guilt on his conscience. By luck, another criminal is arrested for the murder and Judah is relieved. The second storyline is of an unsuccessful director, Cliff Stern. Cliff is stuck in an unhappy marriage and falls in love with a producer he works with. He feels that in his situation, adultery would be justified because he and his wife are unhappy. Cliff and Judah are both in the wrong, but do not get
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