Dostoevsky (1821-1881) in “Crime and Punishment” (1866) shows Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov as a man of two sides. He is both proud and weak, cold and kind, criminal and repentant. His divided personality is the heart of the novel. In Petersburg streets, in his dark room, with Sonia, Dounia, Razumihin, Porfiry, and others, his divided soul fights until the end.

Proud Thinker vs. Helpless Student: Raskolnikov is an ex-law student. He has no job and no money. He lives in an attic room in Petersburg. His life is miserable. Yet he thinks he is above others. He says to himself, 

“I only wanted to have the daring... and I killed her.”

This shows his proud side. He wanted to prove his theory. But soon we see the helpless man. He has no food. He faints in the street. His friend Dmitri Prokofych Razumikhin sees him sick. His mother, Pulcheria Alexandrovna, and sister Avdotya Romanovna Raskolnikova feel shocked by his pale face. Pride and weakness live together in him.

Killer vs. Protector: Raskolnikov plans the murder of Alyona Ivanovna, the pawnbroker. He says,

“I shall strike her on the head, split her skull open.” 

He kills her with an axe. He also kills her sister, Lizaveta Ivanovna.  This shows the cruel murderer. But soon, we see a very different side. Semyon Zakharovich Marmeladov dies under the wheels. Raskolnikov takes money from his poor pocket. He gives it to Katerina Ivanovna. The same man who kills also shows pity. He is both a killer and a helper.

Cold Intellect vs. Warm Heart: In talks with Porfiry Petrovich, Raskolnikov uses cold logic. Porfiry asks about his theory. Raskolnikov answers sharply: 

“Extraordinary men have a right to commit any crime.”

He speaks like a hard thinker. But when he meets Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov, his heart changes. He weeps before her. Sonia/Sofya gives him a cross. This moment shows his warm heart fighting with his cold brain.

Secret Pride vs. Love for Family: Raskolnikov deeply loves his family. He writes to Pulcheria Alexandrovna and worries about Dounia. He stops Dounia from marrying Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin. This shows his care. But his pride stops him from telling them the truth. He hides the murder from them. He lies and grows distant. His family sees him restless. Pulcheria fears her son has lost his mind. Dounia feels her brother is hiding something dark. His love fights with his pride. This makes him double.

Guilt vs. Desire for Redemption: After the murder, guilt eats Raskolnikov. He dreams of blood. He hears voices. His guilt makes him sick. Yet Sonia gives him new hope. She tells him,

“Say to all men aloud, ‘I am a murderer!”

Raskolnikov finally obeys. He confesses to Porfiry. He goes to Siberia. In prison, he feels a new life. His guilty self dies. His redeemed self begins. This shows his final victory. His guilty half dies. His redeemed half begins.

Raskolnikov is truly a dual man. He is both strong and weak, proud and broken, criminal and repentant. In Petersburg streets, in his dark room, in Porfiry’s office, with Sonia’s Bible, and finally in Siberia, we see two sides of his soul. His split personality makes “Crime and Punishment” not just a story of murder, but a story of the human heart.