As previously noted, Dostoyevsky's writing style merges narrative realism, dramatic scenarios, and deep psychological exploration. He also uses symbolism and imagery not just for their visual appeal, but to highlight particular elements of his characters' psychological makeup. A key symbolic technique he uses is the pairing of specific characters. Early in his writing career, Dostoyevsky introduced the idea of the "double," indicating that a person's personality could have dual aspects. By providing a character like Raskolnikov with several "doubles," Dostoyevsky emphasizes certain features of Raskolnikov's personality through contrasts with these "doubles."

Raskolnikov's symbolic "doubles" include Marmeladov, Razumikhin, Dunya, Sonya, and Svidrigailov. While Raskolnikov is consumed by his theories, Marmeladov acts on impulse. Razumikhin stands in contrast to Raskolnikov's extremism, representing reason (the Russian word razum means "reason"). Raskolnikov distances himself from his family, whereas his sister Dunya is entirely dedicated to them. Similarly, Sonya sacrifices herself for her family, and her humility and faith significantly contrast with Raskolnikov's arrogance and rejection of God. Raskolnikov is physically weakened by his crime and shows no inclination to kill again, unlike Svidrigailov, who indulges in his criminal urges and continues his wrongdoings.

The imagery of blood is prominent throughout the novel. Before committing murder, Raskolnikov has a disturbing dream where drunken men beat "a little grey mare" to death, making the notion of "shedding blood" distressingly literal. The murder of the pawnbroker and her sister with an axe is, of course, a bloody event. As Raskolnikov attempts to avoid detection, he becomes obsessed with the idea that he is covered in blood, fearing it will reveal his guilt. Near the novel's end, Dunya tells him, "you have blood on your hands," to which Raskolnikov defiantly replies that the entire world is soaked in blood. Additionally, the novel frequently pairs blood imagery with references to tears.

Dostoyevsky uses dreams to explore his characters' minds and for symbolic purposes. Critics have long debated the meaning of Raskolnikov's dream about the horse. This nightmare not only mirrors his troubled state of mind but may also symbolize the brutality of murder and the vulnerability of the innocent. In the epilogue set in Siberia, Raskolnikov dreams of a devastating plague that drives people mad, often seen as a depiction of what might happen if everyone abandoned traditional morality and accepted Raskolnikov's "superman" theory. Svidrigailov also has terrifying dreams and claims to have seen the ghosts of his deceased wife and a servant. The night before his suicide, he dreams of a young girl he has harmed, facing the moral consequences of his actions.