The Idiot

The Idiot is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1868-69. The story focuses on the titular character, a good-natured, destitute aristocrat named Prince Myshkin. The novel has been adapted many times for film, theatre, television, and radio. This guide is written using an eBook version of the 2003 Vintage edition, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.

Plot Summary

Prince Lev Myshkin is a young man from one of Russia's oldest, most aristocratic families. After spending several years in Switzerland to receive treatment for epilepsy, he returns to Russia as a penniless, pitiable figure. He rides the train to Saint Petersburg to visit the Epanchin family, distant relatives whom he hopes will be able to help him. On the train, Myshkin meets Rogozhin, who has recently inherited a fortune, and a young clerk named Lebedev. Rogozhin explains his plan to use his new wealth to seduce a young woman named Nastasya Filippovna.

Myshkin visits the Epanchin home and charms his way into a job with the family patriarch, General Epanchin. He meets Madame Epanchin and their three daughters: Alexandra, Adelaida, and Aglaya. Myshkin rents a room from the General's assistant, Ganya. As the General and Ganya talk, Myshkin overhears Ganya discuss his plans to marry Nastasya Filippovna. The plan will be difficult to implement. Not only is the ambitious Ganya actually in love with Aglaya, but he must also deal with an aristocrat named Totsky. Nastasya is Totsky's mistress and, due to her sullied reputation, Totsky has promised Ganya a large sum of money if he marries Nastasya and averts the scandal.

Myshkin moves into his new room. He shares the apartment with Ganya and Ganya's family, including his sister Varya, his mother Nina, his teenage brother Kolya, and his father General Ivolgin. A man named Ferdyshchenko also rents a room in the apartment. Nastasya visits the apartment to rebuke Ganya's family for delaying her marriage to Ganya. They have heard about her reputation and do not want Ganya to be associated with Totsky's mistress. Myshkin intervenes and defuses the situation. He mentions his chance meeting with Rogozhin who, Myshkin says, was right to praise Nastasya's beauty. A drunken assortment of guests arrives, including Rogozhin. Much to everyone's surprise, Rogozhin announces his desire to marry Nastasya, and he promises a large sum of money as a dowry. The proposal causes uproar, and, in the chaos, Ganya tries to slap Varya and hits Myshkin instead. That night, Nastasya will announce whether she plans to marry Ganya, and Rogozhin positions himself as a rival.

The announcement is set to be made at Nastasya's birthday party. Though he has not been invited, Myshkin attends the party. When the time comes for Nastasya to choose her husband, she turns to Myshkin. He advises her not to marry Ganya. When Rogozhin arrives with his large dowry ready, Myshkin shocks Nastasya by making his own proposal to her. He has recently been told about a very large inheritance, he assures her, and he hopes he can save her the trouble of such a difficult decision. Eventually, however, Nastasya politely declines Myshkin's offer and leaves the party with Rogozhin.

For six months, Nastasya seems unsure about her decision. She flits between Myshkin and Rogozhin, changing her mind frequently. When Myshkin receives his large inheritance, the debts and obligations he owes greatly reduce the sum. One day, Myshkin visits Rogozhin in Rogozhin's dark, empty house. They men have a long conversation about the world and spirituality. After Myshkin's departure, Rogozhin tracks him down and tries to stab him. Only a sudden epileptic fit saves Myshkin, who spends several days recovering. He plans to travel to the countryside for the summer and rents apartments in Pavlovsk, where many members of the Saint Petersburg aristocracy will be staying.

A man named Burdovsky introduces himself to Myshkin. Burdovsky claims to be the son of Pavlishchev, the man from whom Myshkin inherited his money. Burdovsky believes that Myshkin owes him part of his father's inheritance. Burdovsky is a liar, whose patently fraudulent claim is easily rejected. Nonetheless, Myshkin wants to help him. Myshkin travels to Pavlovsk, where he begins to realize that he is in love with Aglaya, the youngest member of the Epanchin family. Though she feels the same way, her haughty attitude means that she cannot bring herself to admit to it. While Aglaya mocks Myshkin, the Epanchin family treat their unspoken engagement as a done deal. They plan a dinner party in the couple's honor.

At the dinner party, Myshkin delivers a speech. He speculates awkwardly about religion and class. During his speech, he accidently breaks an expensive Chinese vase. Later, he suffers from another bout of epilepsy. His awkwardness, his clumsiness, and his illness place doubt in the Epanchins's minds about his suitability for Aglaya.

Aglaya ignores her family's doubts. Determined to find out more about Myshkin, she begins a correspondence with Nastasya. In their letters, Nastasya urges Aglaya to marry Myshkin. According to her, Myshkin is a good man. Aglaya asks to meet Nastasya, and, during the course of their meeting, they confront Myshkin and demand him to choose between them. Myshkin must decide whether he should marry Aglaya, whom he truly loves, or Nastasya, to whom he feels an obligation to help. Myshkin briefly hesitates. This momentary hesitation is enough to break Aglaya's heart. She runs away, abandoning any hope of marrying Myshkin. Nastasya and Myshkin are left with one another. Though Nastasya now wishes to marry Myshkin, she cannot commit to him. Just as she is about to marry Myshkin, she changes her mind and elopes with Rogozhin.

Nastasya and Rogozhin run away together. Myshkin follows them back to Saint Petersburg and uncovers a tragic scene. He finds Nastasya dead in the apartment: Rogozhin stabbed Nastasya and then, stricken by remorse, laid out her body on his bed. Myshkin and Rogozhin stay with the body all night.

Rogozhin is arrested and sent to a prison camp in Siberia. The incident causes Myshkin to lose his mind. He returns to Switzerland and checks himself into a sanitarium. Aglaya meets a Polish count and agrees to marry him. When she leaves Russia, however, she discovers that he is a fraud. She is abandoned by him.