Responsibility for actions in Woody Allen’s Irrational Man

Abstract

Abe, in this film, has a kind of mental constipation going on. He can't write and can't have sex and can't be embraced socially in his world. He is truly reckless, as shown by his encounter with Russian roulette. When he begins to see himself as Raskalnikov in "Crime and Punishment," he commits a murder which he justifies by saying the world is a better place without a harsh judge. He then is  led to try to kill Jill to silence her but falls down the elevator instead.The film thus clearly comments that you may take justice into your own hands like Abe Lucas but you cannot escape the divine justice of God causing you to pay for your murder by falling down an elevator.There is just no luck as is constantly brought up in the film only God’s will  and divine providence. Luck will run out and turn against you and force you to take responsibility for your own crimes and sins.It is truly only God and divine justice forcing Abe Lucas to take responsibility for his murder in the end. .Divine providence or God’s justice is relentless and overpowers any of man’s efforts to take justice into his own hands as with Abe Lucas’ murder of the judge.