<p>I have to identify Crime and Punishment's climax. I thought it would be when he kills the pawnbroker and her sister, but everyone else in my class (and Sparknotes) says that it is when he confesses to the murder. Thing is, if it is "confesses to the murder" then part of the epilogues would have to be part of the falling actions. Is that reasonable? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>^Why would part of the epilogues <em>have</em> to be part of the falling action?</p>
<p>I think you're getting too worked up over the structural basics. Not every story <em>has</em> to have a rising/falling action. In fact, Kafka's Metamorphosis begins with the climax. These are nothing more than general guidelines designed to help us understand the story...they're not hard and fast rules that every author necessarily has to use. </p>
<p>If you have reason to believe the climax occurs when he confesses, then that's great but don't try and fit the book into these strict rules. Afterall, when Dostoevsky wrote this I'm pretty sure he didn't have it in his mind to pen it according to where he thought the falling action would be. </p>
<p>Thus, if you find you have a view that differs from everyone else's, that's okay and reasonable too. The only important thing is that you keep your mind open to all the different perspectives available. :)</p>