This discusses the duality of the characters in "Crime and Punishment."

To be human is to be full of contradictions. In the novel Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the relationship between a young man that commits a murder and his friends and family is explored. The characters that Dostoevsky creates are filled with beautiful contradictions that make them all the more human. The main character, Raskolnikov, is Dostoevsky's focus for his exploration of duality in character. "Raskol" in Russian means "schism" or "split." This name …

…don't they moan? They give up everything . . . their eyes are soft and gentle. . . . Sonia, Sonia! Gentle Sonia!" (240) Because she has two sides, she can understand and love Raskolnikov. Through her Raskolnikov is able to find the path to redemption. Although the contradictions that these characters embody may seem impossible, they are a realistic view into every person. Dostoevsky knows this and uses it to explain, even define, his characters. Everyone is filled with dual motives.