Fyodor Dostoyevsky, like most authors, had a distinct way of conveying his message in his novel. In the case of Crime and Punishment, Dostoyevsky employs an irregular plot rhythm to develop the character of the protagonist, Raskolnikov, who undertakes quite a journey. Sounds like most books, right? A man on a journey and transformation. The unique thing that captivated many readers was a murder that occurred early in the novel instead of being the climax towards the end of the novel. No, this novel focuses on what happens after the murder, a glimpse into the mind of a murderer. In order to accomplish this arduous task, Dostoyevsky had to utilize a particular aspect of the novel's structure. Thus, the unique structure of Crime and Punishment enhances the meaning and character development of the novel; in particular, the irregular pacing of the plot and the placement of the murder at the beginning of the novel allow the reader to better understand and even appreciate Raskolnikov's attempt at redemption and the transformation he undergoes thanks to Sonya. Plot pacing that we refer to in Crime and Punishment is the relative time (real time like years, days, weeks…etc.) it takes for events to occur in relation to how many pages and at what speed Dostoevsky unfolds these aforementioned events. By examining the number of pages and the speed at which they unfold, the reader can discover the importance of certain events and what Dostoyevsky highlights throughout the novel and possibly decipher what Dostoyevsky wants the reader to take away from his reading Crime and Punishment. The irregular pace of the plot is evident from the beginning of the novel. We see Raskolnikov's character before his...... middle of paper...... recognizes: "Seven years, only seven years!" » (802) and the seven years of punishment were only the beginning of their happiness. In the beginning of their happiness, there were times when they were both ready to look at those seven years as if they were seven days. The pace of the plot is fast, as Raskolnikov was released despite his imprisonment. He can continue his life. The irregular pace of the plot, a medium pace at the beginning, a slow pace in the middle, and a fast pace at the end, functions as a parallel to the state of mind and chaos of Raskolnikov's life, which Dostoyevsky imagined. was trying to achieve thanks to the uneven pacing of the plot and the placement of the murder at the beginning. Works Cited Dostoyevsky, Fyodor. “Crime and Punishment”. Crime and punishment. Gutenburg, March 28, 2006. Web. February 5. 2014. .