In superstitions, a mirror is thought to be a reflection of one's soul; this is why shattering a mirror was and still is considered bad luck. In Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the concept of the reflected soul is used as an important tool of foreshadowing. However, instead of using a mirror, Dostoevsky uses characters to reflect the nature of others. The experiences of Seymon Zakharovich Marmeladov, a minor character, are used to reflect Raskolnikov's process of guilt and confession. Raskolnikov and Marmaladov share similar experiences in facing their demons. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay When Marmeladov is first introduced, he is described as a scruffy man who drinks away his sorrows: "There were bits of hay stuck to his clothes and in his hair. He probably hadn't undressed or washed himself in five days. His hands were particularly dirty, greasy, red from exposure, his nails black” (Dostoevsky 11). Marmeladov's dirty hands symbolize that he has already stained them with a crime: alcoholism his family in a vicious circle of poverty from which it is almost impossible to escape, to the point that Sonya, his daughter, prostitutes herself for a few rubles, and suffers from the remorse of not being able to free herself from her addiction continuously in his long speech to Raskolnikov; he wants to help his family, but his alcoholism prevents him. Moreover, he struggled with this for a long period of time, as in the tavern, "his speeches seemed to arouse general albeit vain interest. ... Marmeladov was well known here and had acquired his rhetorical talent in many such speeches" ( 11). However, for Raskolnikov, the danger of Marmeladov is new and, accordingly, pitiful. What Raskolnikov does not understand during his time with Marmeladov is that Marmeladov's suffering is a foreshadowing of Raskolnikov's battle with guilt. Their conversation takes place after Marmeladov has suffered from guilt, while Raskolnikov has yet to commit his crime. After brutally killing the two women, Raskolnikov begins to drown in his own remorse. His regret manifests itself as he cleans himself of the blood splattered on his clothes: “Here a strange thought occurred to him: perhaps all his clothes were covered in blood, perhaps they were stained all over, and he simply did not see, did not notice, because his reasoning failed, fell to pieces... his mind was darkened" (91). While Marmeladov's guilt manifests itself through delusions, Raskolnikov's manifests itself through intense psychological illness, and just as Marmeladov's alcoholism does not loosen its grip until he accepts the punishment of death, mental dullness of Raskolnikov does not fully let go until he accepts his punishment and is freed. off to Siberia. Raskolnikov is lucky that his punishment is a prison sentence, as Marmeladov suffers a much worse fate. When Marmeladov is trampled, there does not appear to be much hope for his recovery, as “blood was flowing from his face and head. His face was battered, crushed and mutilated…” (170). With such low chances of survival, Raskolnikov convinces the policeman to bring the mutilated Marmeladov to his family. As he dies, he uses his last breath to ask for forgiveness from both his wife and his daughter Sonya. This scene is similar to the one in which Raskolnikov asks for forgiveness for his sins and enters a police station to confess. Both men..