In Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, the protagonist Raskolnikov is a character with a clear heavily ambiguous morality. His thoughts and actions throughout the novel demonstrate both traits- as well as ethical and unethical decisions. His ambiguity creates a complex and nuanced portrayal of a character torn between his own morality and the morality of society. This ambiguity is even seen as a literal duality. In the first few pages of the novel, he is detailed as wearing unkempt clothing, and his environment as being heavily impoverished, yet Raskolnikov is described as, “exceptionally handsome, above average on height, slim, well-built, with beautiful dark eyes and dark brown hair.”(pg 6)
One of the defining characteristics of Raskolnikov's morality is his belief in the necessity of sacrificing one for the benefit of many. Throughout the novel, he repeats his theory of “extraordinary people” who are justified in committing extraordinary acts for the greater good of society, even if these acts are murder. He believes that he is such an extraordinary person, or at least wants to prove to himself that he is one, and this justifies his murdering two women. This belief is unethical and immoral, as it goes against both societal norms and the conventional morality of right and wrong.
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For instance, he is shown to be highly intelligent, passionate, and capable of introspection. He is also shown to have a strong sense of empathy, as he sympathizes with the suffering of those around him. This is shown when he comforts Polenka, talking about beliefs, religion, and love, after her father passed away. Another example is leaving money where he sees suffering. Raskolnikov is also shown to have a strong personal ethic, as he is obsessed with his own sense of personal responsibility and sees himself as obligated to carry out his “mission”, even if it means breaking the