Raskolnikov speaks today: Marxism and alienation in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment and the implications for business ethics education

Article

James, Kieran, Briggs, Susan P. and James, Eunice M.. 2011. "Raskolnikov speaks today: Marxism and alienation in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment and the implications for business ethics education ." International Journal of Critical Accounting. 3 (4), pp. 321-349. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJCA.2011.042927
Article Title

Raskolnikov speaks today: Marxism and alienation in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment and the implications for business ethics education

ERA Journal ID40521
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsJames, Kieran (Author), Briggs, Susan P. (Author) and James, Eunice M. (Author)
Journal TitleInternational Journal of Critical Accounting
Journal Citation3 (4), pp. 321-349
Number of Pages29
Year2011
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN1757-9848
1757-9856
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1504/IJCA.2011.042927
Abstract

In this paper, we explore main themes in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s great existentialist 19th century Russian novel Crime and Punishment. We accept the traditional existentialist and Russian Orthodox interpretations of the
novel’s themes but we also argue that the actions of the novel’s main character, the unemployed young student Raskolnikov, contain within them a Marxist
critique of the corrupting power of wealth (in the sense that Terry Eagleton uses the term 'Marxist critique'). Raskolnikov reveals the contradictions and
selfish motives behind the actions of outwardly respectable aristocrats in the novel. Existentially, Raskolnikov recreates himself anew through his actions.
We argue that the complex social consciousness of Raskolnikov, where he is a living critique of the established society without being seemingly outwardly a
'political person', makes him an eternal type that we may encounter again in our postmodern accounting classrooms. This suggests that, to avoid the 24/7 'Raskolnikov gaze' as educators today, we must join him in recreating
ourselves by helping the less fortunate and exploited. By studying Dostoyevsky in business ethics classes, we will do our business students a great service as they can be introduced through the character of Raskolnikov, to the existential concept of recreating oneself through positive action and helping others.

Keywordsalienation; business ethics; Crime and Punishment; Dostoyevsky; ethics education; existentialism; Marxism; Russian literature; Orthodox Church; Sartre.
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020500102. Business ethics
350101. Accounting theory and standards
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Byline AffiliationsSchool of Accounting, Economics and Finance
University of South Australia
Department of Education, Western Australia
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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