Crime and Punishment and the Big Question

Raskolnikov's actions in Crime and Punishment convey the idea that indeed a person's future is determined by their own decisions. It was Raskolnikov himself that decided to kill Alyona and Lizaveta at the beginning of the novel and then to confess to the crime at the end. There was not not another person or other power forcing Raskolnikov to do either of these besides perhaps, his sickness and conscience. There does not seem to be any divine intervention in the novel. However, it only seems appropriate that Raskolnikov meet somebody like Sonia, a christ like figure who is one of the main reasons Rask. finally decides to confess. This brings up the question of whether people can be placed in our lives as a part of our fate. Instead of certain events being destined to happen are there instead certain people who we are meant to have in our lives because they influence us in one way or another.