Like a mosaic of painted glass,
Crime and Punishment ends pouring light into the souls of the characters as well as the reader. In a sense, this novel embodies the creation of stained glass. Like an artist transforming sharp, dangerous, and threatening pieces of glass into an insightful representation of life, Dostoevsky shines a light on the resurrection of Raskolnikov and shares his incredible conversion. Dostoevesky uses the intricate detail in Raskolnikov's relationship with Sonia to expose the shades of emotional color that shine as light hits this parable. Raskolnikov's meeting with Sonia at the closing of the novel reminds me of the parable of "The Prodigal Son." While Raskolnikov ventures far from the man Sonia needs in her life, Sonia takes him back with great joy and gratitude; "They were both pale and thin; but those sick pale faces were bright with the dawn of a new future, of a full resurrection into a new life. They were renewed by love; the heart of each held infinite sources of life for the heart of the other"(Dostoevsky 541). The brightness of the light that shines within their relationship is the sunlight that pours through the cathedral window on a cool winter's afternoon. The light shares this story with those willing to listen. Similar to the parable of "The Prodigal Son," Raskolnikov achieves the revival of new life through suffering; "He did not know that the new life would not be given him for nothing, that he would have to pay dearly for it, that it would cost him great striving, great suffering"(Dostoevsky 542). It is the drive to flourish in that new life that conceals some of the pain picked up along the journey. The father of the prodigal son experiences greif and anguish in the distance from his son. The father overjoys in his son's return home, allowing his greif and anguish to create even greater happiness. Raskolnikov's suffering stain his soul, but stain it beautifully like stained glass. Stains mark the soul of Sonia, yet they shed joy as the light shines.
Photo courtesy of: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Prodigal_Son_CHS_cathedral.jpg/220px-Prodigal_Son_CHS_cathedral.jpg
