Crime And Punishment

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of this realization that the great sinner began to confess to Sonya. It can be said that, in this confession, Raskalnikov’s strength returns.
However, Raskalnikov’s confession to Sonya is not enough, and Sonya knows it. Sonya "asks only one thing of her beloved: that he should acknowledge the reality of . . . mankind outside himself, and should solemnly declare his acceptance of this new . . . faith by an act of confession to all the people." Sonya tells Raskalnikov to bow down at a crossroads, kiss the earth that Rodia had offended and say aloud "‘I have killed!"
After repenting, Sonya says that Raskalnikov must face the consequences of the actions. Only through accepting guilt will Raskalnikov be healed, but Rodia is unwilling to do so. Raskolnikov is unrepentant and not absolved of guilt, but eventually, Rodia makes up his mind to confess and in a nervous fit, falls to the ground at the Haymarket crossroads and kisses it. But the words "I killed," which had perhaps been ready ...

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