There is a certain duality in the novel even concerning the concept of morality itself. It is somewhat ironic that, although Dostoevsky seems to suggest that a pure faith is more useful than a muddied philosophy, he uses Crime and Punishment to elucidate his own philosophy of morality through the various contrasting events in the novel that explore the topic. Morality seems to be determined by motive far more than action; even the original murder of Alyona Ivanovna is displayed as somewhat acceptable; it is motivated by productive intentions and carried out purposefully. But "fear gained more and more mastery" over Raskolnikov after the "second, quite unexpected murder" (Dostoevsky I.7). This murder is even more immoral because it has no purpose beyond simply concealing the first murder. It is unplanned and unreasoned, and that is one of the main reasons it is the more immoral of the murders.

Another very...
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