In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky explores the idea of isolation through his main character, Raskolnikov, who distances himself from both society and his peers from the very beginning of the story. Dostoevsky discusses the idea that for human beings, isolation is the petri dish in which radical ideas and even insanity may grow unchecked.
After leaving the university, Raskolnikov lives alone in a small apartment, quickly loses his job, and soon his days are filled with nothing but his own thoughts. He avoids almost all contact with people, acquaintances and strangers alike, and makes no effort at all to connect with his society. This behavior soon becomes a lifestyle for Raskolnikov--a lifestyle that brings dire consequences. As a result of his separation from society, he loses many of his social skills, becoming moody and introverted to an unhealthy degree. Additionally, because he spends so much time in thought, things that are concrete in reality become more like abstract concepts to him. For instance, he ceases to think of human beings as intelligent, emotional creatures and instead sees a person as a set of qualities or characteristics; this allows him to neatly divide humanity into "ordinary" people and "extraordinary" people. The law is another concrete thing that he eventually treats like a mere idea or a vague concept. The combination of all of these consequences is what ultimately leads Raskolnikov to commit the murder; his isolation from society distorts his perception of reality so much that, in his mind, the murder is justified. Dostoevsky demonstrates, through the errors of Raskolnikov, that a connection to society is a vital part of life, as it keeps people grounded in what is real. People left only to their own thoughts can come up with some dangerous ideas that, when left unchecked, may result in dangerous actions.
In addition to isolating himself from society, Raskolnikov also alienates himself from his fellow students and friends. Raskolnikov's departure from the university is one of the leading contributors to his downfall. First of all, leaving school means leaving a place where he is exposed to a wide variety of ideas. Instead, he is left to draw only from his own mind, which is not necessarily a reliable source of information. Also, in an academic setting, there is a certain level of ideological accountability: an illogical or dangerous idea is much less likely to be accepted as fact in a large group of people as it might in a solitary person's mind. Had Raskolnikov presented his idea that some men are above the law in a classroom setting or debate, I believe that his peers would have seen the flaws in his theory or at least pointed out the consequences that it would bring, and Raskolnikov would never have followed through with the murder. To lose peers, however, is to lose some degree of objectivity. Additionally, his departure causes him to lose the company of his closest friends. This is a critical loss. Human beings crave company and relationships. No matter how introverted or shy a person is, he or she still needs a friend. When Raskolnikov leaves his friends, his isolation, even though it is self-inflicted, feeds his insanity and brings him nothing but misery.
Dostoevsky's ideas, though they were written well over a century ago, also have relevance in the world today. His story of Raskolnikov's total isolation and followed by despair and insanity demonstrate the absolute necessity of healthy relationships. Everyone needs someone to talk to, someone who can sympathize with their confusion or problems. What does this mean practically? It means approaching that loner kid who always sits by himself. It means having real conversations with people about their interests, frustrations, likes, and dislikes. It means showing people that you care, even if they seem fine on their own. This is not to say that every quiet or standoffish person you meet will follow Raskolnikov's example and murder someone, but the reality is that a person who is constantly by themselves will eventually develop emotional and social problems. In this way, Crime and Punishment is both a warning and an encouragement to be more aware of the people around you.
