The Idiot studyguide

7/25/2019 The Idiot studyguide

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The Idiot Study Guide

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Contents

The Idiot Stud !uide .................................................................................................................. 1

"ontents ...................................................................................................................................... 2

#lot Su$$ar .............................................................................................................................. %

#art 1 "h. I&' ...............................................................................................................................

#art 1 "h. 'I & ......................................................................................................................... 10

#art 1 "ha*ters I&'I.............................................................................................................. 1%

#art II "h. I&' ............................................................................................................................. 15

#art II "h. 'I&II......................................................................................................................... 1+

#art III "h. I&' ............................................................................................................................ 21

#art III "h. 'I............................................................................................................................. 2

#art I' "h. I & ' .......................................................................................................................... 2-

#art I' "h. 'I&II....................................................................................................................... 2

"haracters ................................................................................................................................. %2

/ects#laces ........................................................................................................................... %

The$es ...................................................................................................................................... %

Stle ........................................................................................................................................... 1

3uotes .......................................................................................................................................

To*ics 4or iscussion ................................................................................................................. -

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Plot Summary

The Idiot, the Russian 6riter 7odor ostoevsk, tells the tragic stor o4 #rince 8ev9ikolaevich :shkin. The #rince is a kind, $odest $an and an un4ortunate su44erer o4

e*ile*s. A4ter s*ending ears in an insane aslu$ in S6it;erland, he travels ack to hisnative Russia to 4ind his ancestors. arsa6 to St. #etersurg.:shkin is an a44ale $an and soon egins a conversation 6ith another gentle$an inhis carriage na$ed Rogo;hin. 7ro$ the outset, it is ovious :shkin is e=ce*tionallna?ve. @e talks 4reel o4 his ti$e in an insane aslu$ and does not hold ack the*ur*ose o4 his tri* to Russia. Rogo;hin and another $an, 8eedev, laugh at hi$, utrather than take o44ense, :shkin laughs 6ith the$. Soon Rogo;hin recogni;es :skin4or a good&natured soul and invites hi$ to sta at his house in St #etersurg.

/nce in St #etersurg :shkin i$$ediatel $akes his 6a to the ho$e o4 :ada$ee*hanchin. !eneral e*anchin receives hi$ cordiall and sas he can hel* hi$ out. Asthe *rince 6orks on an e=a$*le o4 his e=cellent hand6riting, the !eneral talks to hisassistant !ana aout 9astassa 7ili**ovna. !ana *ulls out a *hoto o4 her, getting theattention o4 the #rince. The #rince thinks she is the $ost eauti4ul 6o$an he has everseen.

The general introduces #rince :shkin to his 6i4e. @e tells :ada$ e*anchin that the#rince is si$*le, ut once he leaves, :ada$ e*hanchin takes to the #rincei$$ediatel. As in his *revious $eetings, the #rince talks aout his *ast and evenlaughs along 6hen he his eing laughed at. The #rince tells the 6o$an aout

9astassa 7ili**ovnas *hotogra*h in her husands stud, and :ada$ e*hanchinde$ands to see it, saing her husand is kee*ing so$ething 4ro$ her. The #rincerings the *hotogra*h and i$$ediatel :ada$ e*hanchin de$ands to see !ana.>hen he arrives, he denies that he is arranging to $arr 9astassa 7ili**ovna.

!ana invites the #rince to sta at his house. /n the 6a, !ana accuses hi$ o4gossi*ing and tells the #rince he is an idiot. The #rince eco$es so angr that !anaa*ologi;es and the continue onto his house. At the house !ana and his 4a$il argueaout his i$*ending $arriage to 9astassa 7ili**ovna. 7eeling unco$4ortale, the#rince leaves the roo$. As he 6alks into the hall6a 9astassa 7ili**ovna knocks onthe door. @er *resence causes great unease, *articularl 6hen !ana reali;es he no6

has to e=*lain the situation to his 4ather. Cust as he is leading his 4ather to another roo$,the doorell again rings. This ti$e it is Rogo;in. Rogo;hin clai$s he is in love 6ith9astassa and atte$*ts to 6in her 6ith 1+,000 roules. !anas sister 'arvara callsAnatasia 7ili**ovna sha$eless. !ana attacks his sister, ut the #rince hold hi$ ack.!ana turns and strikes the #rince across the 4ace. 8ater 6ith ever one gone !anaa*ologi;es. @e con4ides he is onl $arring 9astassa 4or $one.

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#rince :shkin decides to 6arn 9astassa aout !anas intentions. >hen the #rincearrives at her house, she is holding a *art. The other guests sho6 their dis*leasure athi$ arriving uninvited, 9astassa 7ili**ovna is delighted. She enlivens the at$os*here

6ith a *art ga$e involving the $en descriing the 6orst thing the have done in theirli4e. A4ter the ga$e, she asks the #rince i4 she should $arr !ana. The #rince sas no.

Rogo;hin enters the *art 6ith his 4riends and thro6s 100,000 roules on the tale. @esas the $one is 9atassas i4 she agrees to $arr hi$. The #rince Duickl declareshis o6n love 4or 9atassa. She Duestions 6hether he can *rovide 4or her, and he sho6severone a letter *roving he is aout to inherit a huge su$ o4 $one. Initiall 9atassasas she 6ill $arr hi$ ut then changes her $ind and decides to leave 6ith Rogo;hin.Be4ore she goes she gras the 100,000 roules and thro6s the $one on the 4ire,saing anone 6ho risks their skin to retrieve it can kee* it. She leaves 6ith Rogo;hinand the *rince sets o44 in *ursuit.

The #rince goes to :osco6 to acce*t his inheritance. @e goes ack to St #etersurg -$onths later in Cune. /n the rail6a *lat4or$, he 4eels a *air o4 ees staring at hi$through the cro6d, ut 6hen he turns to see 6ho it is, the have disa**eared. The#rince continues to 8eedevs house. @e asks hi$ i4 he kno6s the 6hereaouts o49atassa. 8eedev sas she is likel to e staing at a su$$erhouse in #avlovsk. The#rince asks 8eedev i4 he can rent his a*art$ent in #avlovsk 4ro$ hi$ and 8eedevacce*ts the o44er.

:shkin visits Rogo;hin. The eca$e close during :shkins ti$e in :osco6 andre4er to each other as rother. The conversation soon turns to 9astassa, and Rogo;hintells the #rince she le4t hi$ on his 6edding da. :shkin sas she cannot live 6ithRogo;hin ecause o4 his *aranoia, ut Rogo;hin tells hi$ the reason is that she is love

6ith the *rince. The talk aout religion and s6a* crosses, and Rogo;hin sas he has

given u* on 9astassa and the #rince can have her.

The #rince 4eels un6ell and kno6s he is on the verge o4 a sei;ure. @e 6anders ack tohis hotel. As he 6alks u* the stairs, Rogo;hin a**ears 6ith a kni4e, intent on killing hi$.@o6ever, the #rince has an e*ile*tic sei;ure and 4alls do6n the ste*s. !anas oungerrother Eola recogni;es the #rince and takes hi$ to 8eedev. 8eedev sas the#rince needs rest and the three o4 the$ travel to #avlovsk.

Initiall 8eedev is *rotective over the #rince, ut eventuall allo6s hi$ visitors. Thee*hanchins are the 4irst to co$e. A nu$er o4 other *eo*le 4ollo6, including Eeller,Burdovsk and @i**olite. Burdovsk clai$s the #rince has cheated hi$ out o4 his

inheritance. In their co$*an Eola reads an article aout the #rince, 6hich slandershis good na$e. The #rince is u*set aout the article. @e tells Burdovsk he is notentitled to the inheritance, ut ecause he has genuinel een tricked, he 6ill give hi$10,000 roules. Burdovsk is angr at the #rinces o44er and gives the $one ack.

As the guests leave, 9astassas carriage *ulls u* outside. She tells Aglaas suitorRado$sk he o6es her $one. Rado$sk denies an kno6ledge o4 the I/Fs, and noone can 6ork out 6h she said it, sus*ecting so$ething underhand is going on. :ada$


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e*anchin visits the #rince to ask 6h he 6rote a letter to Aglaa. She 6ants to kno6 i4the #rince is love 6ith Aglaa. The #rince sas he looks u*on Aglaa as a sister. Inre*l :ada$ e*hanchin sas he 6ill never $arr her daughter.

:ada$ e*hanchin receives a letter stating Aglaa is in corres*ondence 6ith

9astassa 7ili**ovna. The in4or$ation enrages her, and she de$ands to kno6 e=actl6hat is ha**ening. The #rince arrives at the e*anchins house, and Aglaa clai$s heis the onl *erson in the roo$ 6orth anthing. 8ater on, she *roclai$s she 6ill not $arrthe #rince, and the rest o4 the roo$ laugh at her re$ark. 9o6 in a ovial $ood, thedecide to visit the *ark. At the *ark, the #rince sees 9astassa 6alking to6ards thegrou*. Again, she a**roaches Rado$sk and s*eaks to hi$ as i4 the 6ere acDuainted.8ater on, :shkin $eets Rogo;hin. Rogo;hin tells the #rince that 9atassa is tring to$arr hi$ o44 to Aglaa.

The #rince $eets Aglaa in the *ark. She accuses hi$ o4 eing in love 6ith her, ut the#rince denies it. In return, Aglaa sas she is in love 6ith !ana and that the *reviousda !ana had urnt his hand as a $ark o4 his love. The #rince tells her she is lingecause he has seen !ana and his hand is 4ine. :ada$ e*hanchin a**roaches thecou*le and Aglaa runs a6a. In a re4lective 4ra$e o4 $ind, the #rince goes on another

6alk in the *ark and $eets 9astassa. She asks i4 he is ha**, ut e4ore he canans6er, she disa**ears. Rogo;hin then a**roaches and tells the #rince the areheading ack to :osco6.

The #rince declares his love 4or Aglaa, ut she tells hi$ he is an idiot. She clai$s shecan never $arr so$eone like that. At the sa$e ti$e everone kno6s she is ling, and:ada$ e*hanchin decides i4 it is her daughters 4ate to $arr the :shkin, then so eit. The e*hanchins invite the #rince over to $eet so$e i$*ortant *eo*le. At thegathering the #rince initiall sas nothing, ut the all arouse his interest 6hen the chat

aout "atholicis$. The #rince goes on a harangue aout ho6 "atholicis$ is ad e4orehaving a sei;ure. The co$*an leave the e*hanchins saing the do not think an ill$an such as the #rince is suitale 4or Aglaa.

Aglaa arranges a $eeting 6ith 9atassa and invites the #rince along. The t6o 6o$enhate each other and argue itterl. 9astassa clai$s she onl has to sa the 6ord andthe #rince 6ill $arr her. The t6o 6o$en look at the #rince to see i4 it is true and hishesitant re*l sends Aglaa running 4ro$ the house. @e is aout to run a4ter her 6hen9astassa 4aints in his ar$s. A4ter the event, the #rince stas 6ith 9atassa, and thearrange to get $arried.

/n the da o4 the 6edding, 9astassa sees Rogo;hin a$ong the guests and asks hi$to save her. Rogo;hin i$$ediatel takes her to St. #etersurg. F*on hearing the ne6s,the #rince 4ollo6s the$ to the cit. :shkin goes to the sa$e hotel 6here Rogo;hintried to sta hi$, *resu$ing Rogo;hin 6ill co$e to 4ind hi$. @is *resu$*tion *rovesright and Rogo;hin takes the #rince ack to his house and u* to his edroo$. /n theed ehind a curtain, 9astassa 7ili**ovna lies staed to death. The #rince andRogo;hin sta 6ith her od until $orning. >hen the *olice enter the house the 4ind

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the #rince and Rogo;hin in a state o4 deliriu$. The #rince is ad$itted to an insaneaslu$ and the courts sentence Rogo;hin to 15 ears in Sieria.

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Part 1 Ch. I-V

Part 1 Ch. I-V Summary

In a third class carriage 4ro$ >arsa6 to St. #etersurg, three $en *artake in a liveldiscussion. /ne o4 the $en is #rince :shkin. @e is in his earl t6enties and so honestand o*en, he co$es across as an innocent. @e tells his t6o co$*anions, Rogo;hin and8eedev, he su44ers 4ro$ e*ile*s and has s*ent the last 4e6 ears in a hos*ital inS6it;erland. The other t6o $en laugh at his o*enness, ut :shkin takes no o44enseand laughs along 6ith the$. As the conversation continues, :shkin $entions that he isa #rince. The state$ent raises the interest o4 8eedev, 6ho has heard o4 the :shkin4a$il. :shkin sas he is the one o4 the last re$aining, and he is going to Russia to4ind :ada$e e*hanchin, a distant relation.

Rogo;hin tells 8eedev he is one o4 the 4a$ous Rogo;hins. 8eedevs incredulous

res*onse egins a rivalr et6een the t6o $en that lasts the re$ainder o4 the ourne.Rogo;hin tells 8eedev and :shkin that his 4ather has ust died, and he co$ing ackto Russia to clai$ his inheritance. So$eti$e e4ore he had dee*l u*set his 4ather uing 9astassa 7li**ovna earrings 6ith $one his 4ather gave hi$ to *a o44 anaccount. 8eedev *roves to Rogo;hin that he kno6s 9astassha 7li**ovna, andRogo;hin turns even $ore aggressive to6ards 8eedev.

Rogo;hin turns his attention ack to #rince :shkin, inviting hi$ along to $eet9astassa 7li**ovna. :shkin acce*ts the o44er, ut 4irst he has to travel to 8iten.

The #rince arrives at !eneral e*hanchins house in 8iten. The !eneral is a sel4&

$ade $an, 6ho $ade his na$e and 4ortune through shareholding. 9o6 at 5-, he hasthree daughters and a 6i4e 6ho$ he loves.

Initiall the 4oot$an treats :shkin sus*iciousl. In the 4oot$ans ees, he clai$s to ea #rince, et dresses *oorl and carries 4e6 elongings. The 4oot$an insists :shkinsta in the anteroo$.


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The !eneral $ean6hile 4inds a *icture o4 9astassa 7li**ovna, *ro$*ting an ani$atedconversation et6een hi$sel4 and !ana. >hen :shkin 4inishes his 6ork, he asks tosee the *icture and *roceeds to tell the$ o4 his conversation 6ith Rogo;hin on the train.Both !ana and the !eneral kno6 o4 Rogo;hin, ut neither o4 the$ like hi$.

:shkins 6riting e=a$*les i$*ress the !eneral. @e tells :shkin he can 4ind hi$ otha o and a *lace to sta in St. #etersurg 6ith !ana. :shkin again looks at the*icture o4 9astassa 7ili**ovna and sas she has a eauti4ul, et tragic 4ace. !anaasks hi$ i4 he thinks Rogo;hin 6ill $arr her, and :shkin sas es, ut he 6ill $urderher the ne=t da. :shkins ans6er turns !ana *ale.

The !eneral *re*ares to see his 6i4e and three daughters. All his daughters areeauti4ul and *articularl the oungest, Aglaa. She is so lovel the 4a$il have *lans4or her to $arr the richest, $ost *er4ect $an the can 4ind. The !enerals 4riend,Totsk, asks hi$ i4 he can $arr one o4 his daughters. The !eneral kno6s Totsk to e

6ealth and o4 good character. @e o44ers hi$ his eldest daughter, Ale=andra. At 25, sheis sensile, loal and handso$e.

Fn4ortunatel, Totsk has one $aor *role$.


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Part 1 Ch. I-V Analysis

In this o*ening section, ostoevsk introduces the three $aor characters o4 the ook,#rince :shkin, Rogo;hin and 9astassa 7li**ovna, 4oreshado6ing the intense lovetriangle the 6ill develo* through the novel. @e *aints the #rince as an innocent, and,

co$ined 6ith his light co$*le=ion and lue ees, there is alread a suggestion o4 a"hrist&like 4igure that eco$es $ore ovious in later cha*ters. In contrast, Rogo;hin isthe devil, and, in 4act, Rog in Russian $eans horn. @e has a dark co$*le=ion and lackees and his aggressive ehavior on the train is in co$*arison to the #rinces gentlenature. es*ite these di44erences, the share si$ilarities that $ark the$ oth as*otential suitors 4or 9astassa. Both o4 the$ are e=ce*tionall honest and o*en *eo*le.Rogo;hin and 8eedev laugh at the #rince 4or telling *eo*le that the doctors have ustreleased hi$ 4ro$ a $ental institute, ut Rogo;hin unasha$edl tells everone he is onthe 6a to clai$ his inheritance 4ro$ his recentl deceased 4ather, 6ho he had*reviousl 4allen out 6ith. The natural ease in 6hich the oth i$*art the in4or$ationsho6s the individualit that 6ill attract a si$ilar interest in 9astassa.

8eedev re*resents the other side o4 societ, to 6hich the a4ore$entioned characterscan never Duite give the$selves. @e also has a sense o4 hi$sel4, ut he is restrained a need to 4it in. The character o4 !ana *ersoni4ies this need. !ana tries des*eratel toe original, ut it onl leads hi$ to eco$ing so$eone he is not. 8ike so $an o4 theother characters, 4or e=a$*le Aglaa and :ada$ e*anchin, he sho6s res*ect 4or theuniDueness o4 Rogo;hin, the #rince and 9astassa, ut can onl e=*ress it throughanger. In this section, 4or e=a$*le, he accuses the #rince o4 eing an unasha$edgossi*.

The reader does not $eet 9astassa 7il**ovna in this cha*ter, ut the other characters

ring u* her na$e on nu$erous occasions. 7irst, Rogo;hin declares his love 4or her onthe train carriage, and second !eneral e*hanchin and !ana discuss her 6hile thelook at her *icture. The #rince sees the *icture and sas she is the $ost eauti4ul

6o$an he has ever seen. @is declaration that she has a tragic 4ace 4oreshado6s notonl her death, ut also the role she *las as oth the #rince and Rogo;hins lover. As a"hrist&like 4igure, the #rince has a need to cleanse 9astassas soul and hel* her 4indher ha**iness. Rogo;hin understands he can never hel* her in that 6a ut kno6s$arriage to her 6ill 4ul4ill his darker desires. 9ear the end o4 the section, the #rince tells!ana that Rogo;hin 6ill *roal $urder 9astassa, 4oreshado6ing not onl the$urder at the end o4 the ook, ut Rogo;hins 4oreoding and $urderous *resence thatcasts a dark shado6 across the 6hole narrative.


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Part 1 Ch. VI -

Part 1 Ch. VI - Summary

Still chatting a6a to :shkin, the 4our 6o$en ask 6hat he can see in their 4aces. @e isver co$*le$entar o4 Ale=andra, :ada$ e*hachin and Adelaide, ut he avoidsco$$enting on Aglaa. >hen the $ention he has le4t out the $ost eauti4ul girl in theroo$, the #rince sas he kno6s, ut she is so eauti4ul he can scarcel look at her.The *ress the #rince 4urther, and he sas she is as lovel as 9astassa 7ili**ovna. All4our 6o$en sho6 sur*rise the #rince kno6s 6ho 9astassa is and ask 6here he $ether. The #rince sas the !eneral sho6ed hi$ her *icture. At once :ada$ e*hachintells hi$ to 4etch the *icture and to ring it ack to her. The #rince goes ack to the!enerals stud. !ana is u*set the #rince has told the 6o$en and Duestions the#rinces $otives. The #rince a*ologi;es and sas he $eant no har$. The #rinces cal$res*onse *aci4ies !ana and he eco$es 4riendlier, asking the #rince i4 he can deliveran i$*ortant and secret letter to Aglaa. The #rince agrees and leaves the stud 6ithoth the letter and 9astassas *icture.

The $o$ent he sees Aglaa he hands her the letter and reoins the others. F*onseeing the *icture :ada$ e*hanchin insists on talking to !ana, kno6ing instinctivelher husand is arranging $arriages ehind her ack. !ana denies an kno6ledge o4$arriage, and :ada$ e*hanchin tells hi$ she 6ill re$e$er he said that 6hen the$arriage goes through.

!ana and :shkin 4ind the$selves alone. !ana accuses :shkin o4 telling :ada$e*anchin aout the $arriage, ut Aglaas entrance sto*s hi$ 4ro$ going an 4urther.

Aglaa asks the #rince to 6rite so$ething do6n in her alu$, 6hich he gladl does.She then guides the #rince a6a 4ro$ !ana and asks hi$ to read the letter !ana

6rote. The letter asks Aglaa to save hi$ 4ro$ $arring 9astassa. Aglaa tells the#rince she 6ill not e a co$*ro$ise.

As :shkin 6alks ack to !anas house, !ana once $ore turns on the #rince. @esas the #rince is an idiot, and 4or the 4irst ti$e :shkin reacts angril. @e sas he 6asan idiot 6hen he 6as ill, ut he is no6 $uch etter. @e tells !ana he 6ould *re4er to*a 4or his lodgings than to sta 6ith so$eone 6ho thinks so lo6 o4 hi$. !anai$$ediatel a*ologi;es and *ersuades the #rince to change his $ind.

!ana and his 4a$il o6n a oarding house, run !anas $other and sister. :shkinchats to the 4a$il and !ana leaves 6ith a 4riend. /n !anas return, an argu$entegins et6een !ana, his $other and sister aout his i$*ending $arriage to9astassa 7li**ovna. ith no one else aroundto ans6er :shkin o*ens the door to 9astassa. @er *resence sur*rises the #rince so

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$uch he can hardl utter a 6ord, and 9astassa takes hi$ 4or a 4oot$an. She de$ands:shkin to announce her to the 4a$il.

9astassa 6alks through to $eet !anas 4a$il 4or the 4irst ti$e. The scene is notun*leasant, ut the at$os*here is highl 4or$al, and 9astassa gives the i$*ression o4

so$eone 6aiting 4or so$ething ha**en. !anas 4ather unease increases at9astassas *resence. !ana has et to tell his 4ather o4 his $arriage *lans, and9astassa see$s a6are o4 this, caoling the !eneral to tell her a stor. The general tellsa tale o4 ho6 he 4ell out 6ith the e*hanchin 4a$il. @e recalls a ti$e he 6as s$oking acigar out o4 a train 6indo6. An


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Part 1 Ch. VI - Analysis

ostevsk introduces all the the$es and character ver Duickl, *roviding a reathless*ace and a narrative re$iniscent o4 a $elodra$a. In the *revious cha*ter, he4oreshado6s the love triangle et6een the #rince, Rogo;hin and 9astassa, and here

he adds oth !ana and Aglaa to the $i=. !ana is due to $arr 9astassa, utoviousl has 4eelings 4or Aglaa. @e hands the #rince a letter to give to Aglaa, utAglaa is not i$*ressed and she sho6s $ore interest in the #rince. /n the #rinces*art, he co$*ares Aglaas eaut to 9astassa, 4oreshado6ing the choice he 6ill laterhave to $ake et6een the t6o 6o$en.

ostoevsks $elodra$atic stle continues 6hen !ana and the #rince 6alk ho$e.!ana calls the #rice an idiot, and the #rince reacts adl saing he 6ould rather notsta 6ith so$eone 6ho has such a lo6 o*inion o4 hi$. The $ake u*, ut 6hen theget to !anas house, the *ace 4urther increases 6hen an argu$ent reaks out et6een!ana and his 4a$il. Still this is not the end, and the cause o4 the argu$ent, 9atassa

7illi*ovna, knocks on the door, 4ollo6ed Rogo;hin. I4 the reader re$e$ers to take areath, he 6ill reali;e that all the action so 4ar has taken *lace over a 4e6 hours. In 4act,the 6hole 4irst section covers onl one da. Interestingl the *ace o4 the novel slo6sdo6n in 4ollo6ing *arts, ut here it serves to uild the dark at$os*here that $aintainsthe *hiloso*hical and re4lective nature o4 the $iddle *art o4 the ook. >ith the novelstarting so e=*losivel, the reader understands, des*ite the later $eandering *ace, thatit is ust setting itsel4 4or a grand 4inale, 6hich, given this earl section, can e nothingut tragic.

ostoevsk introduces 9astassa 7li**ovna 4or the 4irst ti$e in this section. @e*resents her as the $ost co$*le= character in the ook and $isunderstood

everone. !anas sister, in *articular, thinks she is $ani*ulative and 6ants nothing$ore than to destro her 4a$il. Initiall 9atassa rein4orces this o*inion 6ith her shar*and s$ug re$arks, et each ti$e so$eone re*roaches her, she sho6s her nast sideto e a 4acade. ostoevsk sho6s this est 6hen so$e o4 'aras co$$ents 4orce herto lush. She soon continues as e4ore, ut her la*se sho6s there is a dark anddes*erate 4orce inside her that she cannot control.

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Part 1 Cha!ters I-VI

Part 1 Cha!ters I-VI Summary

The servant announces the #rince. As the guests a6ait his arrival, the gossi* aout hischaracter. !ana states, though he initiall thought the #rince an idiot, he is nothing o4the kind, and once ou get to kno6 hi$, he is a thought4ul individual. So$e o4 theguests are *ut out that the #rince has invited hi$sel4 to the *art. 7erdshchenko thinksthe should $ake 4un o4 the #rince 4or eing so i$*udent, suggesting the 4orce hi$ tosing a ovial song. F*on the #rinces entrance 9astassa states her delight in seeinghi$ and sho6s hi$ to the chair *ositioned ne=t to her.

The *art livens u* in the #rinces *resence, and 9astassa, al6as looking to t6istthings, suggests a ga$e 6here all the $en have to descrie their 6orse ever action.The $en all *ut their na$es on a *iece o4 *a*er and give the #rince the honor o4

dra6ing the$ 4ro$ a hat. 7erdshchenko is 4irst and he recalls a ti$e he 6as at a4riends house and he stole so$e $one the had le4t $one on the side 4orhousekee*ing. A servant 6as la$ed 4or the the4t, and 7erdshchenko recounts ho6 he*ersuaded her to con4ess to the cri$e. @e then s*ent the $one on getting drunk. @is4riend 4ired the servant the ne=t da.

@is stor u*sets everone in the roo$, leading hi$ to ask 6hat did the e=*ect 4ro$such a ga$e. e*hanchin *aints hi$sel4 in a 4ar etter light. @e once la$ed the deatho4 his landlad on hi$sel4. The da she died he had unscru*ulousl thre6 insults at herregarding *a$ent o4 the rent. @e 4elt so guilt, ears later he hel*ed a cou*le o4 oldladies in a nursing ho$e. Totsk tells a tale aout ho6 he stole a 6o$ans a44ections

4ro$ so$eone 6ho trul loved her, 4or no other reason than to share a short inti$ac.The $an ended u* enlisting to 4ight in the "ri$ean >ar, ding soon a4ter in attle. F*onhearing the stories, 9astassa asks the #rince i4 she should $arr !ana. The #rincesas no. Totsk, !ana and e*inchin are indignant, ut 9atassa sas she trusts the#rince and the case is closed. A ring at the door *revents 4urther conversation and9astassa e=clai$s HA&ah @eres $ 6a out.H

Rogo;hin and his 4riends enter the *art. @is *resence disgusts and intrigueseverod, 6hich, in turn, greatl *leases 9astassa. Rogo;hin tells the co$*an hehas co$e into $one and thro6s 100,000 roules do6n onto the tale, saing the$one is 9atassas i4 she consents to $arr hi$. A4ter casuall insulting all her 6ould&

e suitors, 9astassa 6onders 6hether to acce*t the *a$ent and leave 6ithRogo;hin. Suddenl the #rince stands u* and declares his love 4or her. @e asks her to$arr hi$ and sas he does not care i4 she has no $one or i4 she has a disre*utalere*utation ecause he loves her.


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again to leave 6ith Rogo;hin. She sas the #rince is an idiot, and he needs lookinga4ter hi$sel4. She gras Rogo;hins 100,000 roules and 6ith his consent thro6s it intothe 4ire, saing the *erson 6ho risks their skin to 4ish it out can kee* it. She e=*ects!ana to rush 4or6ard i$$ediatel, ut he stands h*noti;ed the urning notesG hisvanit *revents hi$ 4ro$ ste**ing 4or6ard. hen Rogo;hin leaves 6ith 9astassa, the #rince instinctivel4ollo6s the$ out the door. The other characters clai$ 9astassa is $ad, ut, unlike9astassas re$ark aout !ana, this co$es across to the reader as a lack o4understanding.

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Part II Ch. I-V

Part II Ch. I-V Summary

The ne=t da :shkin leaves 4or :osco6 to clai$ his inheritance, staing 4or si=$onths. :ean6hile, in St. #etersurg, ru$ors aound o4 his 6hereaouts. :ada$e*hanchin is u*set 6ith hi$ ecause he le4t so suddenl and does not like to hearanone $entioning his na$e. She clai$s she 6as $istaken aout the #rincescharacter as she has so o4ten $istaken aout *eo*les goodness. !eneral Ivolgin,!anas 4ather, is *ut into detors *rison 4or $one he o6ed his $istress. #titsn and'ara $arr and 'ara eco$es acDuainted 6ith the e*achin sisters, $uch to :ada$e*hanchins disgust. !ana changes 4or the etter and has eco$e $ore 4riendlto6ards his 4a$il, in *articular his ounger rother, Eola. Eola acce*ts his rotherschange o4 heart, and !ana i$*resses hi$ returning the 100,000 roules to9astassa. Eola also eco$es good 4riends 6ith the e*hanchin sisters. /ne da hegives Aglaa a letter 4ro$ :shkin that sas ho6 $uch he needs her as a 4riend.

:shkin returns to St. #etersurg in Cune. As he 6alks through the cro6ded *lat4or$,he 4eels so$eones ees on hi$. @e turns e=*ecting to see a 4a$iliar 4ace ut sees noone ut strangers. @e continues to 8eedevs house. 8eedev has lost his 6i4e si=

6eeks e4ore and is $ourning her death. 8eedev is drunk and talking to his childrenand ne*he6. The #rince and 8eedev talk aout 9astassa, 6ho 8eedev clai$s le4tRogo;hin on their 6edding da. @e sas 9astassa is staing 6ith his sister&in&la6, utshe could also e in #avlovsk. The #rince 6ants to *ush hi$ 4urther on the suect, utdecides 8eedev is too drunk. Instead, he asks i4 he can rent out 8eedevs house in#alovsk. 8eedev acce*ts his o44er.

:shkin visits Rogo;hins house, 6hich he descries as large and gloo$. The t6o $enare sur*risingl 4riendl to6ards each other, and the #rince calls Rogo;hin rother. Astheir conversation continues, it turns out the eca$e ver close in :osco6. The t6o$en talk aout 9astassa. In Rogo;hins o*inion, she has dealt hi$ a ad hand,running a6a 6hen the *lanned to get $arried and e$arking on a44airs. @e recountsa stor 6here he Heat her lack and lueH and then s*ent the ne=t %- hours eggingher 4orgiveness. uring this ti$e, he did not eat, drink or slee* until she agreed to $arrhi$. The da e4ore the 6edding she ran a6a. :shkin sas 9astassa cannot co*e

6ith Rogo;hins *aranoia. Rogo;hin sas :shkin is 6rong, and the root o4 the *role$is that she is in love 6ith the #rince.

A nu$er o4 ti$es during the $eeting, :shkin clai$s he 4eels on the verge o4 ane*ile*tic sei;ure. At one *oint, he asent&$indedl *icks u* a kni4e and Rog;hinsnatches it a6a. et, $o$ents later he *icks it u* again and again Rogo;hin has totake it a6a. :shkin decides to leave, ut he goes the 6rong 6a and Rogo;hin has tolead hi$ out.

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As he takes :shkin through his house, Rogo;hin turns the conversation to religion.Rogo;hin asks :shkin i4 he elieves in !od. @is Duestion leads the #rince into t6ostories. The 4irst one is aout a *easant 6ho $urdered so$eone 4or their chain and

6atch, *raing to !od as he slit their throat. The second stor is aout a $an 6ho soldhi$ his silver cross 4or 20 ko*ecks so he could get drunk. Rogo;hin asks the #rince i4

he can have the cross. The #rince is reluctant, ut Rogo;hin sas he can have his goldcross in e=change and as a token o4 their 4riendshi*. The s6a* crosses, and Rogo;hintakes the #rince to see his $other, 6ho, u*on her sons reDuest, lesses the #rince.Be4ore leaving Rogo;hin sas, Hont e a4raid Though Ive taken our cross I 6ont$urder ou 4or our 6atch.H @e continues to sa the #rince can have 9astassa.

The #rince 6alks to !eneral e*hanchins house ut 4inds no one in. 8eaving his card,he goes to see Eola at the Scales hotel. Eola has gone out and the #rince 6aits 4orhi$ 4or a 4e6 hours, e4ore heading out to catch a train to #avlovsk. Cust as he isoarding, the #rince decides not to go a4ter all. @e thro6s a6a his ticket and headsack into the streets.

At this *oint, the #rince is not 4eeling 6ell and his thoughts eco$e increasingldisconnected. >hile he stands at a sho* 6indo6, he 4eels the sa$e ees on hi$ he 4eltat the train station. @e s*ins around e=*ecting to see Rogo;hin, ut like at the station,all he sees are cro6ds. The #rince talks aout seeing everthing ver clearl e4ore asei;ure. @e runs over his *revious *role$s 6ith 9astassa and Rogo;hin 6ith greatclarit and kno6s instinctivel Rogo;hin is 4ollo6ing hi$. @e 6ants to 4ind Rogo;hin andtell hi$ everthing is oka, ut these are ust thoughts, and his od takes hi$ ack tothe hotel. >hile cli$ing the hotel stairs, Rogo;hin u$*s out intent on killing hi$, utthe #rince has a sei;ure.

Rogo;hin 4lees 4ro$ the scene, leaving the hotel sta44 to discover the #rinces

convulsing od. 8uckil, Eola arrives ack at the hotel and identi4ies his 4riend. /ncethe #rince is conscious, Eola takes hi$ to 8eedevs, and 4ro$ there the three $entravel to #avlovsk.

Part II Ch. I-V Analysis

The $ost i$*ortant *art o4 this section is the $eeting et6een Rogo;hin and the#rince. The earlier *art o4 the section sho6s ostoevsks ra$ling stle and highlightsthe contrast et6een the three $ain characters individualit and the con4or$it o4 theothers. In the *resence o4 the e*hanchins and 8eedev, the narrative is *onderous

and 4ull o4 highro6 ideas that co$e across as $ere *retense. In this res*ect, the lookto6ards the #rince to $ake so$ething ha**en and take the$ a6a 4ro$ theirconventional lives.


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a6are o4 a *otential traged 6ith a descri*tion o4 the uilding that 4its Rogo;hins darkcharacter. Inside the house, ostoevsk con4ir$s the co$*le=it o4 their relationshi* the 6a the address each other as rother and even s6a* crosses. The religiousdiscussions that 4ollo6 sho6, des*ite their di44erences, the are oth naturall inclinedto6ards religion. Rogo;hin con4ir$s his sincerit asking his $other to less the

#rince. @o6ever, 6hen he atte$*ts to kill the #rince in the hotel stair6a, it co$es asno sur*rise. In 4act, it see$s like the natural thing 4or hi$ to do. The oth kno6 it is allgoing to end adl, the #rince earlier *redicting Rogo;hin 6ould $urder 9atassa, andRogo;hin is tring to *ut an end to their $iser.

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Part II Ch. VI-II

Part II Ch. VI-II Summary

The #rince rests at 8eedevs villa in #avlovsk and receives a nu$er o4 visitors. The4irst to arrive is !eneral Ivolgin, then !ana, and e4ore long :ada$ e*hanchin andher three daughters. :ada$ e*hanchin does not *articularl like the co$*an the#rince kee*s and tells hi$ so to his 4ace. The #rince, ho6ever, takes her co$$entlightl, 6hich onl serves to increase her anger.

/n the verandah, the #rince, :ada$ e*hachin, her three daughters, Eola and8eedev *artake in a livel conversation. Eola $entions the *hrase H*oor knight,H

6hich he heard Aglaa sa aloud 6hen she read on 3ui=ote. The #oor Enight is alsoa Russian *oe$, and Aglaa sas she changes the letters A.:., inscried on a rosararound the Enights neck, to A.9.B, though she re4uses to e=*lain 6h. :ada$

e*hanchin 6ants to hear Aglaa recite the *oe$. As she egins, !eneral e*hanchinand a oung $an 6alk onto the 'erandah.

The oung $an is the retired ar$ o44icer Rado$sk. Agala continues to recite her*oe$ and everone listens intentl. A4ter she 4inishes, !eneral e*hanchin introducesthe #rince to Rado$sk. @e greets hi$ cordiall, ut there is so$ething else on the#rinces $ind. @e reali;es Aglaa s6a**ed the letters A.9.B 4or 9.7.B and kno6s inso$e 6a this is signi4icant. :ada$ e*hanchin $ean6hile tells her daughter shekno6s she 6as $aking 4un o4 the #rince, ut she understands 6h.

Suddenl 'era asks 8eedev 6h he does not tell the #rince aout the *eo*le 6aiting

4or the #rince at the 4ront door. 8eedev sas the are not 6orth seeingG it is onl theson o4 #avlishtchev. The #rince see$s to kno6 aout the$ and sas he had alreadasked !ana to take care o4 the$. es*ite *rotests, the #rince o*ens the door 4or the4our $en. Their na$es are Burdovsk, oktorenko, Eeller and @i**olite.

The 4our $en are overe=cited and dis*la anger to6ards the #rince. :shkin sas he6ould *re4er to talk to the$ else6here. At this *oint :ada$e e*hanchin 4inds ane6s*a*er article aout :shkin and hands it to hi$. The #rince sas he 6ill read ita4ter he has s*oken to the gentle$en, ut :ada$ e*hanchin snatches it 4ro$ hishands and gives it to Eola to read.

The article is scandalous containing so $an 4alsities that everone in the roo$ ise$arrassed. It turns out Eeller, one o4 the 4our $en at the door, 6rote it and theconversation once again turns to the 4our $en. Eeller 6rote the article 4or Burdovsk,

6ho 4eels he is due so$e o4 :shkins inheritance $one ecause the #rincesene4actor, #avlishtchev, is Burdovsks 4ather. The #rince o44ers Burdovsk 10,000roules, ut he re4uses. 7inall, the #rince announces !ana has done so$e researcho4 his o6n and learned that #avlischtchev is not Burdovsks 4ather. The #rince does not

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la$e Burdovsk, saing his 4riends have lied to hi$, ut the 4act is he is not entitled toan $one.


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Part II Ch. VI-II Analysis

In this section, the scene changes to #avlovsk, and the novel re*laces its darkat$os*here 6ith sunn 6eather. A4ter his sei;ure, this is e=actl 6hat the #rince needsand it is notale that he eco$es 4ar cal$er. In contrast, the characters are constantl

looking 4or so$ething to do and hang around the #rince e=*ecting things to ha**en. Inthis res*ect, 8eedevs clai$ that he edited the scandalous letter sho6s not necessarilevil doing on his *art, ut the desire to $ake a dull li4e $ore e=citing. :ada$e*hanchin is also guilt o4 this. Throughout the section, she u$*s on ever littleco$$ent, constantl causing a scene, $uch to the e$arrass$ent o4 her daughters.She revels in the role o4 the eccentric, $iddle&aged 6o$an, *articularl sho6n 6hen@i**olite cal$s her do6n saing ho6 $uch @i**olite ad$ires her eccentricit.

In the ackground, 9astassa 7li**ovna is *ulling the strings. 7irst, ostoevsk sho6sthe e44ect 9astassa had on Aglaa 6hen Aglaa changes the initials in the #oor Enight*oe$ to 9atassas initials. 8ater it co$es to light that 9astassa sent Aglaa letters

tring to *ersuade her to $arr the #rince, and here her 6ords see$ to e on the ounggirls $ind. The *oe$ sho6s she has thought aout the #rince and even tried tounderstand things 4ro$ his *ers*ective. @o6ever, she co$es across as na?ve andcon4used. In this regard, she is not a good $atch 4or the #rince, 6hose s*iritual and4orgiving nature needs so$eone like 9astassa, 6ho he can steer a6a 4ro$

6rongdoing. The *rinces earlier letter calling Aglaa his sister and asking her 4or her4riendshi* is $ost likel his true 4eelings to6ards Aglaa. @is 4eelings eco$e con4usedecause o4 his desire to *lease and also ecause he kno6s he is heading 4or greatdanger.

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Part III Ch. I-V

Part III Ch. I-V Summary

As :ada$ e*hanchn $arches the #rince to her house, thoughts rush through her$ind. She 6onders in *articular aout Aglaa, and i4 Aglaa is serious aout either the#rince or !ana. She $entions a letter that so$eone sent, saing Aglaa has een incontact 6ith 9atassa 7li**ovna.

The #rince sits at the e*hanchins tale looking ver *ale. Aglaa sits in the corner,and the #rince can 4eel her lack ees on hi$. Rado$sk argues against Russianlieralis$ and clai$s the lierals are against Russia. @e asks the #rinces o*inion onthe $atter and he agrees 6ith Rado$sk. @o6ever, his serious 6ords lead to the others$aking 4un o4 hi$. Rado$sk clai$s he did not e=*ect a serious ans6er. Ale=andraiasks :shkin 6h, i4 he sees things so clearl, did he let Burdovsk take advantage o4

hi$. :ada$ e*hanchin ste*s into the conversation and tells the roo$ that Burdovskdid not take advantage and the #rince has a letter to *rove it.

At this *oint Eola enters and tells the #rince that @i**olite has arrived at his house.The #rince stands u* to leave, ut the e*hanchins invite hi$ 4or a 6alk in the *ark.

Cust e4ore the leave, the #rince a**roaches Rado$sk and tells hi$ he likes hi$ ins*ite o4 everthing. Rado$sk does not kno6 6hat he is talking aout and laughs. Inre*l, the #rince sas he is not 4eeling 6ell, et he continues an6a in the sa$e vein,*ro$*ting :ada$ e*hanchin to ask i4 this is ho6 his 4its egin. The #rince reassuresher he is not going to have a 4it, ut sas he does not deserve such good 4riends.

Aglaa stands u* and screa$s at the #rince, asking 6h he others to s*eak to the$and that he is 6orth $ore than everone *ut together. She 4inishes her rage saingshe 6ill never $arr hi$. The #rince tells her the thought never crossed his $ind and$uch to everones relie4 Aglaa laughs.

7inall, the head to6ards the *ark and Aglaa insists the #rince 6alks 6ith her. The*ass a green ench and Aglaa sas this is 6here she co$es so$e $ornings at oclock. The state$ent $akes the #rince 4eel unco$4ortale. The reach anentertain$ent co$*le= and sit to 6atch a and. In the near distance, three 6o$ena**roach the$. /ne o4 the 6o$en is 9astassa 7ili**ovna. She 6alks u* to Rado$skand tells hi$ his Fncle has shot hi$sel4. Rado$sks o44icer 4riend sas 9astassa

deserves to e 6hi**ed. 9aasa takes a strangers cane and hits the o44icer aroundthe 4ace. The o44ice goes to hit her ack, ut :shkin ste*s in and gras hi$ 4ro$ehind. At this *oint Rogo;hin a**ears and takes 9astassa a6a. The *olice arrivesoon a4ter and everone goes ho$e.

The #rince 6alks ack to the e*hanchins house and 6aits on the veranda 6hile theargue inside. A4ter a 6hile, Aglaa co$es out 4eigning sur*rise at :shkins *resence.She talks enthusiasticall aout duels and tells the #rince e=actl ho6 to load a gun.

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The !eneral co$es out onto the veranda and reDuests the #rinces co$*an in anotherroo$. >hen the are alone, the !eneral asks hi$ aout 9astassa 7ili**ovna, and the#rince sas she is insane. A4ter their conversation, the #rince o*ens a letter given tohi$ Aglaa. It asks hi$ to $eet her at the ench the 4ollo6ing $orning.

The #rince goes 4or a 6alk in the *ark and $eets Eeller. Eeller tells hi$ the o44icer6ants to 4ace the #rince in a duelG ho6ever, the #rince laughs at such a suggestion. @egoes to the green ench and sits do6n. :o$ents later, Rogo;hin a**roaches and sas9astassa 6ants to see hi$. The #rince and Rogo;hin have a livel conversation aout9astassa and the night Rogo;hin tried to kill the #rince. 7inall, the #rince invitesRogo;hin ack to his house 4or a *art. Rogo;hin sas the #rince is not acting hi$sel4.

The #rince a**roaches his house 6ith Rogo;hin. >hen the get there, the house isalread 4ull. The have heard it is the #rinces irthda and the have all co$e tocelerate. Rado$sk i$$ediatel asks 4or a 6ord 6ith the #rince. >hen the are alone,he tells hi$ the duel 6ith the o44icer is o44, though the #rince never reall kne6 that is

6as on. Rado$sk then asks 4or the #rinces 4riendshi*, 6hich the #rince i$$ediatelgrants.

The #rince and Rado$sk 6alk ack to the *art in ti$e 4or a s*eech 8eedev. @egoes on a drunken discourse aout hu$anit, 6hich then leads into a deate. 8eedevde$ands everones attention again and sas he has a stor to tell. The tale is aout$onks turning to cannialis$ during 4a$ines.

@i**olite 6akes u* suddenl and asks ho6 long he has een aslee*. So$eone tellshi$ seven $inutes. @i**olite sho6s shock at this as he 4eels like he has een aslee*4or hours. @e tells everod he dislikes the #rince, though not as $uch as he did 4ive$onths ago. At this *oint, @i**olite has everones attention and he tells the$ he has a

letter to read. The #rince tells hi$ to read it to$orro6 and @i**olite tosses a coin. Itco$es u* heads, 6hich $eans he has to read it no6.

@i**olites letter starts 6ith a retelling o4 a drea$. @e drea$t he sa6 a Scor*ion in hisroo$. @e screa$ed 4or hel* and his sister ca$e in, took the Scor*ion et6een her teethand it do6n. >hen he 6oke u* the #rince stood over his ed.

9o one is i$*ressed 6ith his drea$ and the #rince tells @i**olite to sto* reading. @eignores his *leas and continues. @e reads out 6hat it 4eels like 6aiting to die. @e sasnothing holds an i$*ortance.

Part III Ch. I-V Analysis

>hile the #rince is at #avlovsk, ostoevsk develo*s his role as a "hrist&like 4igure."ontinuousl the other characters co$e to hi$ 6ith their *role$s, seeking advice. Inthis section, oth Rado$sk and the !eneral talk to the #rince aout 9astassa7li**ovna. Though unusual 4or the #rince, he e=clai$s 9astassa is insane. @o6ever,this see$s to e the onl 6a the #rince can usti4 her ehavior, 6hich the others see

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as *lain vindictiveness. B calling her insane, the #rince is asking his 4riends to 4orgive9astassa as he 4orgives her.

The #rinces 4orgiving attitude is one o4 his $ain characteristics and oth his strengthand his do6n4all. Alread he has 4orgiven 8eedev 4or hel*ing 6rite the scandalous

letter, Burdovsk 4or tring to e=tort his inheritance and !ana 4or treating hi$ soshail at the eginning. This $eans everone thinks the can do or sa anthing inhis *resence.

Initiall in #avlovsk, *eo*le such as 8eeev and Eeller co$e to hi$ asking hi$ 4or4orgiveness al$ost as i4 his 6ords 6ill cleanse their soul. #eo*le such as :ada$e*hanchin eco$e annoed at his attitude and start acting adl to6ards hi$,kno6ing he 6ill 4orgive. 7or e=a$*le, :ada$ e*hanchin is constantl la$ing the#rince 4or Aglaas *role$s, 6hen it is oviousl her daughters naivet is to la$e.@o6ever, in so$e 6as she is not co$*letel 6rong in la$ing hi$. The #rinces4orgiving nature is getting as destructive as Rogo;hins dark te$*er and 9astassas$ood s6ings, allo6ing *role$s to develo* that onl the #rince can sto*. Ironicall 4orsuch a *erce*tive *erson, this is al$ost un4orgivale 4or the #rince to allo6 suchehavior 4ro$ others. At the end o4 this section he $eets Rogo;hin and still, des*ite theatte$*ted $urder, re4ers to hi$ as rother and invites hi$ to his *art. All the ti$e hekno6s i4 does not give u* his 4riendshi* 6ith oth Rogo;hin and 9astassa, so$ethingver ad 6ill ha**en.

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Part III Ch. VI

Part III Ch. VI Summary

@i**olite continues reading and talks o4 $eeting Rogo;hin. Rogo;hin le4t a greati$*ression on @i**olite and he recalls the religious *ainting in Rogo;hins hall6a. /neda, Rogo;hin 6alked into @i**olites edroo$, sat do6n and stared at hi$. @is*resence 6as not e=*ected and 4rightens @i**olite so $uch he cannot s*eak. In the$orning. @i**olite 4inds out it 6ould have een i$*ossile 4or Rogo;hin to enterecause the servants had locked all the doors.

@i**olite sas he has a s$all *istol in his *ocket and his ai$ is to shoot hi$sel4 in thehead at sunrise in #avlovsk #ark. @e sas the letter he has ust read is his last >ill andTesta$ent. Suddenl @i**olite u$*s u* and declares it is no6 sunrise. 9o one kno6s

6hat he is talking aout until 'era runs u* to @i**olite and sas he is going to lo6 his

head o44. hen the #rince Duestions her $otives 4orrunning a6a, she sas she is tired o4 her 4a$il laughing at her. She asks the #rinceaout the love letter he sent her via Eola. The #rince denies it 6as a love letter andre*eats his earlier clai$ that he sent it in search o4 4riendshi*. At this, Aglaa sas shedoes not love the #rince, ut loves !ana. She sas the da e4ore she sat on the sa$eench 6ith !ana, and he *roved his love 4or her urning his hand 6ith a candle. Shesas he ke*t his hand over the 4la$e 4or 4ive $inutes. The #rince tells her he sa6 !anaonl a 4e6 hours ago and his hand is 4ine.

The conversation turns to 9astassa, and Aglaa gets the #rince to ad$it he ca$e to#avlovsk to 6in 9astasa ack. Aglaa sho6s the #rince three love letters 6ritten 9astassa *ersuading Aglaa to $arr the #rince. Aglaa sas i4 9astassa does notsto* sending the letters, she 6ill get her 4ather to ad$it 9astassa into a lunatic aslu$.:ada$ e*hanchin sur*rises the$ a**roaching the ench 4ro$ ehind. Aglaa tellsher $other she is going to $arr !ana and then runs a6a. The #rince is aout toleave 6hen :ada$ e*anchin sto*s hi$.

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>hen the #rince gets ack to the e*hanchin house, :ada$ e*hanchin does notkno6 6hat to sa. 8ike the #rince, she has not sle*t all night and 4eels e=hausted. A4tera short 6hile, the #rince goes ack ho$e to slee* on the veranda. Fn4ortunatel, asuccession o4 visitors interru*ts hi$. 7irst, Eola co$es and gossi*s to hi$ aout the*art and 6here everone sle*t and then 8eedev a**roaches hi$ 6ith 6hat he sas is

a serious $atter.

@e tells the #rince he has lost 00 roules. The #rince suggests that he had too $uchto drink and *erha*s $islaid it. 8eedev clai$s he has looked ever6here and thinksso$eone $ust have stolen it. The idea horri4ies the #rince, and he asks 8eedev 6hohe thinks 6ould co$$it such a cri$e. 8eedev think it is 7erdshchenko and states heis going to 4ollo6 hi$ to St. #etersurg.

The #rince reads the three letters Aglaa gave hi$. hen the #rince reads the letters, the contain no $orethan 6hat the reader 6ould e=*ect.

As $entioned e4ore, the o*ening section has such a dra$atic *ace that the $iddlesections ra$ling stle co$es as a shock, and *erha*s a disa**oint$ent. @o6ever, it isinteresting ho6 this structure 4its in 6ith the #rinces sei;ures. In the 4irst section, thenovel eco$es increasingl 4rantic right u* to the #rinces 4it. Since his 4it, everthinghas cal$ed do6n, and the #rince rela=es in the o*en s*aces o4 #avlovsk. There are*role$s such as Burdovsk, ut these are $ere distractions. At the eginning o4 this

section, @i**olites 4oreshado6s that things are going to *ick u* again 6hen he tells*eo*le o4 his drea$, sho6ing the #rince as a *rotector and Rogoin as an evil 4orce.Aglaa 4urther intensi4ies the narrative sho6ing that her 4eelings to6ards the #rinceare ver real. This all see$s to co$e to a head 6hen he has a sei;ure in 4ront o4 thee*anchin ho$e in the ne=t *art. @o6ever, the 4act this is onl a $ild sei;ures$oli;es the lack o4 intense 4eeling he has 4or Aglaa. >hen he reunites 6ith9astassa and Rogoins cra; 6orld in the 4inal section, he 4alls into insanit.

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Part IV Ch. I - V

Part IV Ch. I - V Summary

'ara co$es ack 4ro$ the e*anchins house de*ressed. She has een going to thee*anchins everda on ehal4 o4 her rother in order to hel* hi$ 6in Aglaas hand.>hen she arrives at her house, she hears her husand and !ana arguing. She entersto 4ind her husand gone, ut !ana still in the roo$. !ana sas he 6ants to thro6 his4ather out, as he is $aking a 4ool o4 the$. That da their 4ather had alread $ade their$other cr. 'ara changes the suect to Aglaa. She sas Aglaa is no6 4or$allengaged to the #rince, and she douts her rother has an chance o4 $arring her. Toher sur*rise, !ana takes the ne6s 6ell. @o6ever, 6hen 'ara $ention their 4ather 6asat the e*hanchins house the *revious da, his anger rises again. 'ara tells hi$ their4ather told the e*hachins that !anas 4a$il 6as no good. This sends !ana into arage. Cust as he is cursing his 4ather, he 6alks in 6ith Eola and @i**olite.

The !eneral is 4urious. @is *assion i$*resses !ana, ut still !ana 6ants the !eneralout o4 the house, and it is onl 4or !anas $others sake he kee*s Duiet. >hen the!eneral 4inishes, he runs u*stairs. @is disa**earance starts an argu$ent et6een!ana and @i**olite. Both $en hate each otherG !ana states that a $an should not actlike @i**olite in so$eone elses house. In re*l, @i**olite states he is 'aras guest andnot !anas.

'ara 4inds a note on !anas desk 4ro$ Aglaa. It asks !ana to $eet her at the greenench 6ith his sister. She is ust 6ondering the signi4icance o4 the note, 6hen the!eneral leaves the house 6ith luggage. 'ara runs a4ter hi$ 6hile !ana stas ehind

and kisses Aglaas letter.

The !eneral starts to s*end ti$e 6ith 8eedev. :ostl the are drinking, arguing andlaughing. Eola e=*resses his disgust at their ehavior, ut the #rince sas the haveal6as ehaved in this $anner. @o6ever, one night the #rince hears the$ arguingloudl, and 6orried so$ething is 6rong, he goes to see the !eneral.

The !eneral egins their conversation asking the #rince 4or advice, ut as he talks,tears 4ill his ees and his s*eech eco$es increasingl disconnected. @e ends theconversation saing he cannot talk to the #rince at this $o$ent. 9o6 even $ore

6orried, the #rince calls 4or 8eedev. 8eeddev skirts the issue and the #rince changes

the conversation to the earlier the4t o4 8eedevs $one. 8eedev tells hi$ he 4ound the$one a long ti$e ago under the chair in his roo$. The #rince sas that this isi$*ossile and Duestions 8eedev 4urther. It turns out that the !eneral stole the $one,ut 4eeling guilt, he cut a hole in 8eedevs acket and *ut the $one inside. The$one 4ell out o4 the acket and onto the chair. The cha*ter 4inishes stating the#rince 6aits an=iousl 4or his $eeting 6ith the !eneral the ne=t da.

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At 12 oclock, the ne=t da, the #rince enters his house to 4ind the !eneral is alread6aiting 4or hi$. The !eneral states he is leaving 8eedevs house ecause o4 theirconstant arguing. @e calls 8eedev a liar, ut the #rince *oint out 8eedevs good*oints, 6hich the !eneral reluctantl acce*ts as true. The !eneral then tells a highli$*roale stor aout ho6 he e4riended 9a*oleon as a oung o. :shkin hu$ors

hi$, ut at the sa$e ti$e he kno6s the !eneral 6ill e angr at the #rince later 4orsho6ing so $uch *it.

/utside the #rinces house, Eola a**roaches his 4ather, 6ho is sitting on the ste*s. @etells his 4ather he should co$e ho$e. @is 4ather looks as though he is 6ee*ing, ut

6hen Eola looks closel, he sees his 4ather is having a stroke.

:ada$ e*hanchin thinks aout her daughter $arring the #rince. She hears 4ro$ herother t6o daughters that the #rince ca$e to the house 6hile she 6as out. The #rinceand Aglaa *laed chess together, and Aglaa eat hi$ ever ti$e. The victor *utAglaa into a good $ood and she i$$ediatel challenged the #rince to a ga$e o4 acards. The #rince eat her ever ti$e and u*on the 4i4th de4eat, she eca$e angr andsaid she hated hi$.

A 6hile later, Aglaa $eets Eola, 6ho has ust 4ound a hedgehog. Aglaa us thehedgehog 4ro$ hi$ and tells Eola to give it to the #rince as a *resent 4ro$ her. F*onreceiving the gi4t, the #rince is delighted and even $ore so 6hen Eola tells hi$ hethinks Aglaa loves hi$.

The ne=t da the #rince arrives at the e*hanchin house at his usual ti$e. Aglaa is notthere ut arrives later in the evening. She de$ands to kno6 i4 the #rince 6ill $arr herand the #rince sas es. @e tells Aglaa he loves her, and she starts asking aout ho6$uch $one he has and i4 he thinks it is enough to su**ort her. She goes on so $uch,

her sisters egin to laugh, thinking it is all a oke. Their ovial $ood annos :ada$e*hanchin, and she escorts her three daughters out o4 the roo$. Soon Aglaa is intears screa$ing she cannot ear the #rince, ut it is no6 ovious to everone she islove 6ith hi$. :ada$ e*hanchin decides i4 it is her 4ate to $arr the #rince, than 6hois she to *revent it. hereas e4ore *eo*le 6ere co$ing to the #rince asking 4or his advice, he is no6

arranging $eetings hi$sel4 and tring to solve *role$s that are not his o6n. In*articular, he eco$es e$roiled 6ith !eneral Ivolgin and 8eedevs argu$ent. It ishard to *in*oint his $otives, ut his $ood has certainl changed 6ith his involve$ent

6ith the eauti4ul Aglaa. Be4ore he sa6 no 6a out 4ro$ his destructive relationshi*6ith 9atassa and Rog;hin, ut no6 that there is *otential 4or genuine ha**iness he isack to his old instinctive sel4.

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In this section, the con4used Aglaa cannot co*e 6ith her love 4or the #rince. /ne$inute she is s$iling and oking 6ith hi$ and the ne=t, she is telling hi$ ho6 $uch shehates hi$. @o6ever, the #rince takes Aglaas strange ehavior into stride and his clearthinking re$inds the reader o4 ho6 ostoevsk descried the eginning o4 an e*ile*tic4it in the second section. @e said that e4ore a sei;ure, an e*ile*tic acts disconnected

and distant. In the *revious section, oth Rogo;hin and Rado$sk co$$ent on the#rinces strange ehavior.

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Part IV Ch. VI-II

Part IV Ch. VI-II Summary

The e*hanchins invite the #rince to a *art to $eet #rincess Bielokonski. Aglaaco$es to see the #rince aout the *art, talking so Duickl, the #rince *resu$es she isnervous aout hi$ $aking 4ool o4 hi$sel4. She sas she not onl 6ants hi$ to $ake a4ool o4 hi$sel4, ut he should reak his $others *riceless vase to sho6 he is clu$s.The #rince sas he 6ill do no such thing, and he does not a**reciate her *utting suchthoughts into his head. In 4act, he 6ill sit as sit 4ar a6a 4ro$ the vase as *ossile.Be4ore Aglaa leaves, she tells the #rince he should sit and sa nothing.

A drunk 8eedev visits the #rince, clai$ing he has ust had a $oral sla* in the 4ace. The#rince Duestions hi$ and it turns out he has ust taken :ada$ e*anchin a letter, utshe thre6 it ack at hi$ and told hi$ to leave. 8eedev is not $aking too $uch sense

and talks aout other letters, including one he sent to :ada$ e*hanchin aout9astassa. @e is also currentl in the *ossession o4 Aglaas letter to !ana, 6hich hehands to the #rince. @e tells the #rince to o*en the letter, ut the #rince sas he 6illgive it straight ack to !ana.

The #rince heads o44 to the e*hanchin *art. It is not a ig *art and the #rince loseshis nervousness 6hen he sees societ *eo*le are not so ad. Initiall he onl ans6ersDuestions *ut to hi$, ut the end o4 the cha*ter, he is eco$ing increasinglco$4ortale and on the verge o4 diving into one o4 his s*eeches.

!eneral e*hanchin introduces the #rince to Ivan #etrovitch. @e is a relation o4 the

#rinces ene4actor, #aviche44, and the t6o o4 the$ egin a conversation. #etrovitchsas #aviche44 converted to "atholicis$ e4ore his death. The re$ark u*sets the#rince, saing that is i$*ossile. #aviche44 6as a religious $an and in the #rinceso*inion, the "atholic "hurch is not "hristian. The #rince continues into a discourseaout religion.


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6rong. The e*hanchins arrive to tell the #rince the are still his 4riend. Aglaa does notsa anthing, ut she s$iles rightl at the #rince u*on arriving and leaving. Cust e4oreAglaa leaves, she $anages to get a $essage across to the #rince via 'era. She 6antsthe #rince to sta at his house until *$.

@i**olite co$es to see the #rince. As usual, he is tring to stir u* troule. @e tells the#rince he sa6 !ana and Aglaa in the *ark. The #rince sas he does not 6ant to kno6and kindl asks @i**olite to kee* Duiet on the suect. @i**olite sas he has o6nusiness to discuss 6ith the #rince. @e tells :shkin he has een us arranging a$eeting et6een Agalaa, Rogo;hin and 9astassa that ver evening.

>hen Agalaa co$es to *ick u* the #rince, he alread kno6s e=actl 6here the aregoing. The 6alk to aria Ale=evnas house. In the house, Aglaa shouts at 9astassa,e=*osing her $an 4aults. 9astassa has ver little to sa in return, and at AglaasreDuest, she anishes Rogo;hin 4ro$ the roo$. Aglaa then asks the #rince 6hich o4the 6o$en he loves. The #rince critici;es Aglaa 4or eing so cruel to6ards 9astassaand Aglaa runs 4ro$ the roo$. :skin ste*s 4or6ard to sto* Aglaa, ut 9atassa4aints in his ar$s.

Rogo;hin revives 9astassa 6ith 6ater. At 4irst, she is con4used, ut 6hen she reali;es6hat has ha**ened, she is ha**. She asks Rogo;hin to leave the house and 4or the#rince to sta.

The #rince arranges to $arr 9astassa. All his 4riends denounce hi$ and accuse hi$o4 causing Aglaas current ill health. Rado$sk co$es to visit the #rince and *oints

6here the #rince has gone 6rong. The #rince e=*lains he tried to run a4ter Aglaa, ut9atassa *revented hi$ 4ro$ doing so. @e tells Rado$sk he is in love 6ith Aglaa andasks Rado$sk to give her a letter. Rado$sk re4uses and leaves.

!eneral Ivolgin dies a4ter a second stroke. @is death reconciles the #rince 6ith his4riends. At the 4uneral, the #rince sees Rogo;hin.

Eeller $eets 6ith the #rince and tells hi$ 8eedev is cons*iring to *ut :shkin into a$ental hos*ital. >hen the #rince sees 8eedev, he o*enl ad$its that 6as the case,ut his atte$*t 4ailed. hen she a**roaches the church in her 6edding dress, everone*roclai$s ho6 eauti4ul she looks. She is ust aout to enter the church 6hen Rogo;hin

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runs to the 4ront o4 the cro6d. 9astassa runs to hi$ and egs Rogo;hin to take hera6a. I$$ediatel Rogo;hin calls 4or a carriage and the head o44 to St #etersurg.

The #rince takes the ne6s *hiloso*hicall, sur*rising the guests 6ith his good hu$or.A4ter the 6edding, he goes ho$e and asks 'era to 6ake hi$ u* in the $orning, so he

can take the 4irst train into St. #etersurg. In the $orning he heads o44, *ro$ising 'erahe 6ill co$e ack that evening.

The #rince goes to Rogo;hins house, ut the servant sas she has not seen hi$.@o6ever, the #rince catches u* 6ith Rogo;hins *orter 6ho con4ir$s Rogo;hin 6as atthe house all night. @e tells the #rince that 9astassa 6as not 6ith hi$. 7ro$ here, the#rince goes to 9astassas 4lat, ut she is not there. @e goes ack to Rogo;hins ho$eand he again has no luck. A4ter going ack and 4orth 4or a 6hile he decides i4 Rogo;hin

6ants hi$, he 6ill co$e and 4ind hi$.

Rogo;hin 4inds the #rince at the hotel and takes hi$ ack to his house. >hen theenter, Rogo;hin tells hi$ to e Duiet and leads the #rince u* to his roo$. The *rince

asks 6here 9astassa is, and Rogo;hin tells hi$ she is on the ed ehind the curtain.Rogo;hin *ulls ack the curtain to reveal 9astassas dead od. The #rince asks i4Rogo;hin $urdered her and he sas es, clai$ing i4 he cannot have her, no one can.The #rince acce*ts Rogo;hins invitation to sta the night eside 9astassas od.uring the night, Rogo;hin shouts, cries and *aces u* and do6n the roo$, 6hile the#rince cal$s hi$ do6n stroking his cheek and s*eaking soothingl. In the $orning,Rogo;hins rother reaks into the roo$ to 4ind Rogo;hin unconscious 6ith 4ever andthe unres*onsive #rince sitting $otionless eside hi$.

Rogo;hin su44ers 4ro$ rain 4ever 4or t6o $onths a4ter6ards e4ore a udge sends hi$to Sieria 4or 15 ears. The #rince goes ack to the hos*ital in S6it;erland. @e

recogni;es nood and s*ends his ti$e staring into s*ace. Aglaa runs o44 6ith a #olish"ount.

Part IV Ch. VI-II Analysis

7ate is the drive 4or all three $ain characters, and the elieve too $uch in eingthe$selves to change it. 7ro$ ver earl in the ook, the #rince sas Rogo;hin 6ill$urder 9astassa, and even 9astassa kno6 this is the case. Be4ore her 6eeding da,she 4ears Rogo;hin is in the garden read to *ounce. Rogo;hin hi$sel4 is so a6are o4his urge to $urder that his dark thoughts co$$unicate the$selves to other characters.

In this section, @i**olite 6arns the #rince that Rogo;hin could $urder Aglaa to getack at the #rince. It is interesting that @i**olite sas this as he is another characterdriven 4ate. @e kno6s he is going to die and conseDuentl has sto**ed tring to 4it in.The other characters, and *articularl the e*hanchins, distant the$selves 4ro$ theun4olding traged, sho6ing their 4ear o4 li4e and anthing that contradicts their secure li4estle. The #rince, Rogo;hin and 9astassa are not $ade 4or such *retense and theirsel4 destruction co$es 6illingl, reali;ing li4e 4or the$ cannot e an di44erent.

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Chara"ters

Prin"e #ev $ikolayevi"h %yskin

:shkin is the $ain character and the HIdiotH o4 the title. The $ain reason the call the#rince an idiot is that he su44ers 4ro$ e*ile*s, and the ti$e he s*ent in a $entalhos*ital has given hi$ little kno6ledge o4 the outside 6orld. 7ro$ the eginning, hedis*las such o*enness 6ith *eo*le, it *ro$*ts laughter in diselie4. In the o*eningcha*ter 6hen he $akes his 6a to St. #etersurg, he tells his ne6 acDuaintance,Rogo;hin, his usiness in Russia and the *role$s he has had recovering 4ro$ hisillness 6ithout once 6ondering i4 Rogo;hin is trust6orth.

The #rinces trust o4 *eo*le and his ailit to 4orgive, even 6hen the reak his trust,*aints hi$ as a "hrist&like 4igure. ostoevsk 4urther e$*hasi;es this characteristic

6hen the #rince $oves to #avlovsk. >hile he is recovering 4ro$ a sei;ure, a variet o4

*eo*le visit hi$ asking 4or $one and advice. The #rince is al6as 6illing to hel*, et inthe end, it *roves his do6n4all.

7e6 o4 his 4riends value his 4riendshi* and $erel look to take advantage o4 his goodnature. @e $oves into 8eedevs ho$e, and 8eedev hel*s his 4riends 6rite ascandalous article aout the #rince in order to e=tort $one. @is onl real 4riend is hisrelative, :ada$ e*hanchin. Fnlike the other characters, she ackno6ledges the #rinceis not an idiot, and the develo* a close 4riendshi*. The #rince o4ten leaves :ada$e*hanchin e=as*erated the 6a he allo6s the other characters to take advantage o4hi$. It eco$es such a *role$ 4or :ada$ e*hanchin that she re4uses to allo6Aglaa to $arr hi$.

Aglaa is one *oint o4 a love triangle that also involves the #rince and Anatasia7ili**ovna (9astassa). The #rince is sincerel in love 6ith Aglaa ut has verco$*assionate 4eelings 4or the 4e$$e 4atale Anatasia 7ili**ovna. @is need to look a4ter*eo*le and set the$ on the right *ath $eans he ends u* arranging to $arr Anatasia.@o6ever, there is another love triangle involving Rogo;hin, the #rince and Anatasia7ili**ovna, 6hich *roves destructive. Anatasia, 6ho cannot co*e 6ith her love 4or:shkin, runs o44 6ith Rogo;hin on the da o4 the 6edding. The #rince runs a4ter the$and $eets Rogo;hin in St #etersurg. Rogo;hin takes hi$ to his house and sho6s hi$Anatasia ling dead in his ed, staed to death. The #rince sho6s his do$inatingcharacteristic o4 4orgiveness staing 6ith the $urderer Rogo;hin and stroking his hair

until the *olice 4ind the$ in the $orning.

The #rinces suseDuent $ental deterioration ends the ook, sho6ing such aninherentl good *erson is not 4it 4or an unkind and sel4ish societ. The 4act the othercharacters call hi$ an Idiot $ore than *roves the lack o4 trust the have in the$selvesand others, 4eeling that the genuine love the have 4or the #rince can onl $ean he isstu*id. ostoevsks title is actuall ironic, and he *resents the #rince as a highl*erce*tive and sensitive *erson. The #rince understands ho6 *eo*le think and 4eel,

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and even 6hen their intentions are not honorale, he al6as res*onds 6ithco$*assion.

Anatasia Fili!!ovna &$astassya'

Anatasia 7ili**ovna (6hose nickna$e is 9astassa) is a 4e$$e 4atale, et ostoevskalso *resents her as one o4 the ooks tragic 4igures, alongside the #rince andRogo;hin. Totsk took her in a4ter a 4ire killed oth o4 her *arents. @e *aid 4or herschooling and raised her in his household. As she gre6 u*, her eaut attracted her toTotsk as a 6o$an and she eca$e his $istress. @o6ever, her un*redictale character4rightened Totsk and, 6orried she 6ould ruin his re*utation, arranges 4or her to $arr!ana. uring the novel, Anatasia *roves too clever 4or her guardian, and eond livingher li4e 4or ust $one and *osition in societ, she runs o44 6ith Rogo;hin.

The other characters sho6 distaste 4or Anatasia throughout. The $en are attracted toher eaut, ut 4ear her *ersonalit, and the 6o$en think she is sha$eless. 'ara

thro6s this e=act insult at her 6hen Rogo;hin o44ers her $one to $arr hi$. @o6ever,she is not at all as she see$s, and eneath her ad ehavior, ostoevsk *aints asensitive and trouled individual. >hen she argues 6ith *eo*le, she usuall 6ins using her dee* kno6ledge o4 *eo*les 6eaknesses or scaring the$ 6ith her instailit.et, ostoevsk adds co$*le=it to her character occasionall sho6ing her truee$otions in the $idst o4 a disagree$ent. 7or e=a$*le near the end o4 the ook, Aglaacon4ronts her 6ith such *assion that Anatasia loses her usual coolness and co$esacross to the reader as 4rightened. Such a dis*la o4 her true 4eelings is too $uch andshe 4aints.

Anatasia 7ili**ovna is an outsider, $isunderstood everone a*art 4ro$ the #rince

and Rogo;hin. In this res*ect, so$e o4 her ehavior is a reaction against this isolation4ro$ societ. 8ike the #rince and even Rogo;hin, societ 4orces her to e 4ear4ul o4 acharacter, the reader could construe as $entall unstale. The onl 6a she can co*e

6ith 6ho she is is through $arring a si$ilarl unstale *ersonalit

Par(yon Semyonovi"h )o*o+hin

In $an 6as, Rogo;hin is the antithesis o4 the #rince. Fnlike the #rince, he has lackees and lack hair, and his s*ontaneit and inner de$ons are in contrast to the#rinces *assive nature. At the sa$e ti$e, no t6o characters have a closer ond. Theirlove 4or Anatasia 7ili**ovna is one reason, ut their o6n love and hate relationshi* isclose to rotherhood. In the $eeting, e4ore Rogo;hin atte$*ts to kill the #rince, theactuall re4er to each other as Hrother,H s6a**ing crosses and talking aout theircloseness during their ti$e in :osco6. In 4act, 6hen Rogo;hin atte$*ts to $urder the#rince, the reader has the 4eeling he is atte$*ting to kill the *art hi$sel4 that he canonl articulate through aggression.

ostoevsk e$*hasi;es this *oint 6ith Rogo;hins religious *aintings, hanging in thehall o4 his other6ise dark and dis$al house. This suggests that like the #rince,

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Rogo;hin is a religious $an, ut his 4eelings 4or !od con4licts 6ith his dark and cruelnature. In the sa$e cha*ter, he introduces the #rince to his ill $other, 6ho lesses the#rince. Turn ack to the 4irst cha*ter 6here Rogo;hin talks aout the a6k6ard relationshe has 6ith his 4a$il, then together these t6o scene e=*ress a religious guilt 4ro$

6hich he cannot esca*e. At the end, 6hen he kills Anatasia 7ili**ovna, he seeks out the

#rince kno6ing he 6ill 4orgive hi$ o4 his sin.

A*laya Ivanovna ,e!han"hin

Aglaa is the oungest and $ost eauti4ul o4 the e*hanchin daughters. @er 4ather and$other have great *lans 4or her, intending Aglaa to $arr the *er4ect $an. @o6ever,Aglaa shares her $others eccentricit and stuornness and 6ants to do as she*leases. Fn4ortunatel, these characteristics $i= 6ith great i$$aturit. 7or e=a$*le,she is dee*l in love 6ith #rince :shkin, et o4ten treats hi$ adl, calling hi$ an idiotand saing she 6ill never $arr hi$. The characters all la$e the #rince 4or losingAglaa, ut it is ecause o4 her inailit to gras* the co$*le=it o4 situation that the

#rince goes o44 6ith Anatasia 7ili**ovna.

Gavril Ardalyonovi"h Ivol*in &Gana'

ostoevsk initiall *resents !ana as a scoundrel. @e 6ants to $arr Anatasia7ili**ovna *urel 4or 4inancial reasons and hits his o6n sister 6hen she Duestions hisdecision. In 4act, he runs his household, 6hich includes his o6n 4ather, 6ith an iron 4ist.@o6ever, as the novel $oves on, ostoevsk sho6s these characteristics as $ere*retense and 6hen !ana does have the o**ortunit to *rove he is a real scoundrel, hecannot go through 6ith it. ostoevsk sho6s this 6hen Anatasia 7ili**ovna thro6s

100,000 roules into the 4ire. Instead o4 taking it out, !ana stares at the $one,eventuall 4ainting.


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#i+aveta Proko(yena ,e!han"hin

:ada$ e*hanchin is a distant relation to #rince :shkin. She i$$ediatel takes to:shkin like a son and hates to see the other characters use hi$. @o6ever, she is vereccentric and stuorn and is Duick to get angr. So$eti$es her disagree$ents $ake

no sense. 7or e=a$*le, she is angr 6ith the #rince 4or not $arring Aglaa, thoughshe tells hi$ he cannot $arr her an6a.

Aleandra Ivanovna ,e!han"hin

Ale=andra is the eldest daughter o4 the e*hanchins. She has a talent 4or $usic.

Adelaide Ivanovna ,e!an"hin

Adlaide is the $iddle child o4 the e*hanchins 6ith a talent 4or *ainting. She is engagedto #rince S.

/i!!olite Terentyev

The oung @i**olite visits the #rince 6ith Eeller and Burdovsk in order to e=tort$one. The #rince takes *it on hi$ ecause he is ding 4ro$ consu$*tion. @i**olitereects the #rinces *it, et still co$es ack to visit. @i**olite dislikes that *eo*le areha** 6hen he is $iserale and ding.

A(anassy Ivanovi"h TotskyTotsk is Anatasia 7ili**ovnas rich guardian. @e once $ade Anatasia 7ili**ovna his$istress, ut no6 he is scared o4 her and the ru$ors she could s*read aout hi$ insociet. @e tries to get rid o4 Antasia arranging a $arriage et6een her and !ana.

#ebedev

@e is *art o4 Rogo;hins gang and later eco$es good 4riends 6ith the #rince, rentingout a roo$ to hi$ in his a*art$ent in #avlovsk. 8eedev is not trust6orth. @e hel*s

6rite a scandalous aout the #rince and later tries have the #rince co$$itted to a$ental institute.

Ivan Petrovit"h Ptitsyn

#titsn is a 4riend o4 the Ivolgins, 6ho eventuall $arries 'arva.

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Ardalyon Ivol*in

>ith his lies and cheating, !eneral Ivolgin is a disgrace to his 4a$il. The one closerelationshi* he has is 6ith his oungest son, 9ikolai. At the end o4 the ook the !eneraldies 4ro$ a stroke.

$ina Aleandrovna Ivol*in

She is the *ut u*on 6i4e o4 !eneral Ivolgin. @er good heart leads her to hel* @i**olite.

Varvya Ardalyonovna Ivol*in

'arva is a strong&$inded 6o$an. She is ver $uch against her rother $arringAnatasia 7ili**ovna, ut encourages hi$ to $arr Aglaa. She $arries #titsn.

$ikolai Ardalyonovit"h Ivol*in

9ikolai is a 15&ear&old o, 6ho eco$es great 4riends 6ith the #rince.

0eller

Eeller is an e=&o=er, 6ho 6rites the scandalous article aout the #rince. The #rincelater $akes Eeller his est $an.

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be"ts2Pla"es

St. Petersbur*

The cit in 6hich $ost o4 the characters live.

Pavlovsk

:ost o4 the character have a su$$er house in #avlovsk. The #rince co$es here torecover 4ro$ his sei;ure.

The hotel stair3ell

This is 6here Rogo;hin atte$*ts to $urder the #rince.

The Silver Cross

Rogo;hin s6a*s his gold cross 4or the #rinces silver cross

)o*o+hin4s kni(e

Rogo;hin uses his kni4e to atte$*t to kill :skin and then to kill 9atassa.

The S"andalous arti"le

Eeller 6rites a scandalous article aout the #rince in order to e=tort $one 4ro$ hi$.

)o*o+hin4s house

The #rince and Rogo;hin talk aout religion, and at the end o4 the ook Rogo;hin$urders 9astassa in his edroo$.

The Train Carria*eIn the o*ening cha*ter the #rince $eets Rogo;hin in a train carriage.

The Veranda

The #rince rela=es and hold *arties on his veranda in #avlovsk.

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/i!!olite4s Pistol

@i**olite tries to shoot hi$sel4 in the head 6ith a *istol, ut he 4orgets to *ut in the ca*s.

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Themes

)eli*ion

Religion *las a ig *art in this ook. :ost o4 the characters see the$selves asreligious and $istrust anone 6ho clai$s to e atheist. ostoevsk sho6s this 6hennihilists visit the #rince, and the characters all turn on the$, clai$ing the are nothingut scoundrels. Interestingl, these nihilists are *art o4 the ounger generation, 6hichthe older characters reect ecause the think their lieral ideas are destroingtraditional Russian values.

@o6ever, it is the #rince and Rogo;hin 6ho e$od religious s*irit. #rince :shkin is a"hrist&like 4igure, evident through the 6a he oth looks and acts. 7ro$ the eginning,ostoevsk descries hi$ as having a light co$*le=ion 6ith a kind and drea$ look inhis ee. As a *erson, he 4orgives everod and has e=ce*tional levels o4

understanding. :ost notal, he 4orgives Rogo;hin 4or tring to $urder hi$. >hen theook $oves into the $iddle section, the characters all co$e to the #rince 4or either4riendshi* or 4orgiveness, as i4 his 6ord 6ill cleanse their souls.

Because o4 their s*iritual elie4s, Rogo;hin and the #rince oth see$ to understandeach other and t6ice the #rince re4ers to hi$ as a rother. >hen the stand ne=t to areligious *ainting in Rogo;hins house, the s6a* crosses, and Rogo;hin then takes the#rince do6n to his $other, 6ho lesses hi$. The do all this 6ith an intense religiouselie4 that none o4 the other characters share.

#ove and %arria*eIn the novel, there are three love triangles. 7irst, !ana 4ights Rogo;hin 4or the hand o49astassa. Secondl 9atassa 4alls in love 6ith oth the #rince and Rogo;hin. Third, the#rince 4inds it di44icult to choose et6een Aglaa and 9atassa. In the end, all three lovetriangles *rove destructive. !ana loses a lot o4 his *ride and con4idenceG the #rincegoes insaneG the *olice i$*rison Rogo;hin 4or $urdering 9astassa and Aglaa runs o44

6ith a #olish count.

It see$s as though ostoevsk is *ro$oting the securit o4 $arriage over the instinctso4 love. @e sho6s that the characters that are $arried, such as the e*hanchins, areha** in their lives and in the$selves. Although ostoevsk clai$s the are in love, itco$es $ore 4ro$ $utual res*ect than either *assion or lust. As a result, the 6ant theirthree daughters to $arr 6ealth, handso$e and kind $en, 6ho can *rovide a secure4a$il li4e. 7or e=a$*le, the do not 6ant Aglaa to $arr the #rince ecause o4 hise*ile*s. In co$*arison, 9astassa 6ill not $arr the #rince ecause she thinks he istoo good 4or her, and that she 6ill ulti$atel destro hi$. She kno6s she is the one 6ho

6ants to e destroed, and in that 6a, Rogo;hin is the *er4ect $atch.

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A""e!tan"e o( the ther

The three $ain characters are all outsiders 6ho struggle to 4it into Russian societthroughout the novel. The #rince 4inds 4riends, ut onl ecause he is such a 4orgivingand kind *erson, and others kno6 the can easil take advantage o4 hi$. 7or e=a$*le,

8eedev hel*s to 6rite scandalous letters aout hi$ and even tries to get hi$ *ut ackinto a $ental hos*ital. In 4act, $ost o4 the other characters vie6 the #rince as aneccentric, rather than one o4 the$. The e*hanchins, 4or e=a$*le, adore his co$*an,ut re4use hi$ *er$ission to $arr Aglaa.

Rogo;hin is a $an 6ho 6ill sto* at nothing to get 6hat he 6ants. @e does have 4riends,ut the do not necessaril sta 6ith hi$ out o4 *ure 4riendshi*, and no dout i4 his*assion got out o4 hand, the 6ould runa6a. 9astassa is the 4e$$e 4atale o4 the ookand at the eginning al$ost ever $ale character 4alls in love 6ith her. @o6ever,9astassas sel4&destructive streak loses her $ost o4 her 4riends.

In general, the other characters are 4ear4ul o4 the three $ain *rotagonists ecause thenever Duite kno6 o4 6hat the are ca*ale. The #rince, 4or e=a$*le, has a hait o4reaking into long, ra*id s*eeches. The tolerate this ehavior, and even encourage it,ecause it entertains their dull and re*ressed lives, ut the are ust as Duick todisregard his as cra;. >ith no chance to 4ind acce*tance, the three $ain charactersincreasingl 4ollo6 their o6n instincts, even though the kno6 the are heading to6ardsdisaster.

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Style

Point o( Vie3

ostoevsk tells the stor o4 the Idiot in the third *erson. The *oint vie6 is at ti$eso$niscient, ut ostevsk $ostl tells the stor through the #rinces ees. This isi$*ortant to the novel ecause it allo6s the reader see that although he is not the HIdiotHo4 the title, he is actuall a dee*&thinking and sensitive individual.

/ccasionall he sho6s the stor through another characters ees, in *articular :ada$e*anchin. This 6orks to sho6 the su*er4icialit o4 a 6orld, o4 6hich $ost o4 the othercharacters are *art. In general, :ada$ e*anchins interest is in her daughters and4inding the$ good and conventional husands. In contrast, the #rince re*resents the

6orld o4 the outsider, o4 6hich 9astassa, Rogo;hin and to a lesser degree, @i**olteand Aglaa are *art. :ada$ e*hanchin re*resents Russian u**er&class societ.

Settin*

The 4irst setting is the train carriage 6here the #rince $eets Rogo;hin and 8eedev 4orthe 4irst ti$e. The carriage is 4ull o4 *assengers, and the #rince sho6s his innocence talking o*enl in 4ront o4 everone. The train is traveling 4ro$ 'enice to St #etersurg.

The "it o4 St. #etersurg is the $ain setting in the 4irst *art o4 the novel and the *lace6here Rogo;hin $urders 9astassa. >ithin St #etersurg, the other settings are thehotel, 9astassas house, Rogo;hins house and the Ivolgins house.

The #rince stas at a hotel during his second visit to St. #etersurg and again in the4inal *art. In the 4irst section, Rogo;hin atte$*ts to $urder the #rince in a hotel stair6a,ut the #rince has an e*ile*tic sei;ure and 4alls do6n the ste*s. The second ti$e hegoes to the hotel on the chance he 6ill $eet Rogo;hin.

Rogo;hins house is a dark uilding 6ith 4e6 6indo6s, and u*on seeing it, the #rince isin no dout that it is the one elonging to his eDuall dark 4riend. The house has t6oentrances. /ne entrance leads to Rogo;hins $others house and another leads toRogo;hins a*art$ent. Rogo;hin takes the #rince to his $other so she can less hi$./ne o4 the $ost signi4icant *arts o4 the house is the religious *ainting in the hall6a.The #rince and Rogo;hin discuss the *icture at great length. It $eans di44erent things toeach o4 the$, re4lecting their o**osing *ersonalities. To Rogo;hin, the *icture signi4iesguiltG to the #rince, goodness.

In the 4irst *art, 9astassa holds a *art in her house. ostoevsk descries her houseas s$all, ut e=*ensive and 6ith everthing she needs inside. At the *art, everonegathers around a tale in the dra6ing roo$, and 9astassa directs the *art 6ithdangerous *art ga$es. At one *oint 9astassa thro6s 100,000 roules in the4ire*lace, ho*ing !ana 6ill dive in and 4ish it out.

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The Ivolgins house is a oarding house, 6here the #rince stas 4or one night on his 4irstvisit. !anas $other and sister run the oarding house ecause the 4a$il has 4alleninto hard ti$es. uring the #rinces sta, the 4a$il has an argu$ent in the kitchen,

6hich 9astassa and Rogo;hin also oin. The $inor characters 7erdshchenko and#titsn also lodge here.

The 4irst *lace the #rince visits in St. #etersurg is the e*anchins house in the 8itendistrict. @e 6aits in the anteroo$ 6ith a servant e4ore introducing hi$sel4 to !ana and!eneral e*hanchin in the !enerals stud. In the stud, the #rince sees a *icture o49astassa. The !eneral then takes the #rince to $eet his 6i4e and three daughters,

6ho are sitting in the dra6ing roo$. ostoevsk *aints St. #etersurg as a dark andre*ressive *lace and the cit 6here all the #rinces *role$s occur. >hen thecharacters are in St. #etersurg, the narrative is $elodra$atic and in the end tragic.

In contrast, #avlovsk is a eauti4ul to6n 6ith o*en s*aces, a *er4ect *lace 4or thecharacters to s*end their su$$er. The 4act that oth 8eedev and the e*hachins o6na house in the to6n gives the reader the i$*ression that it is an e=*ensive *lace 6herethe rich go to un6ind. A4ter his sei;ure, the #rince stas at 8eedevs house, s*ending$ost o4 his ti$e sitting on the veranda. @ere he has *arties and gatherings. :ost$e$orale is his $eeting 6ith Burdovsk, 6ho tries to e=tort $one 4ro$ the #rince. Ingeneral, the house is the *er4ect *lace 4or the #rince to recover 4ro$ his illness. The*rince s*ends a lot o4 ti$e at the e*hanchins house in St. #etersurg, 6here the$other and three daughters s*end $ost o4 their ti$e in the dra6ing roo$. /ccasionallthe characters take a 6alk in the near *ark. @ere, there is a ench 6here the #rincehas a secret $eeting 6ith Aglaa and talks 6ith Rogo;hin. At one *oint, the charactersgo to a concert hall in the *ark called the 'au=hall.

#an*ua*e and %eanin*The Idiot is a translation 4ro$ Russian to ithin this 1th centur, Russian societ, ostoevsks sho6s a hugedi44erence et6een the role o4 $en and 6o$en, $ostl through the dialogue. The

6o$en are o4ten ver e$otional and even hsterical. 7or e=a$*le, a4ter Burdovskclai$s the #rince should give hi$ hal4 his inheritance, :ada$ e*hanchin shouts athi$ and then everone else in the roo$. She leaves the house clai$ing the #rince is a

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disgrace, des*ite the 4act that she kno6s none o4 it is his 4ault. A 4e6 das later, she isack to eing 4riendl again. In co$*arison, the $ens conversation is al6as aoutusiness $atters, and even i4 it is not usiness, the o4ten re4er to it as such, sho6ingtheir need to e u*standing $e$ers o4 Russian societ.

Stru"ture

The Idiot is 5% *ages long, and ostoevsk divides it into 4our *arts, each *art aout150 *ages in length. hile the argue *assionatel aout !anas i$*ending $arriage to9astassa, 9astassa knocks une=*ectantl on the door. ostoevsk 4urther increasesthe tension 6hen Rogo;hin enters. Rogo;hin is !anas love rival, and his *resencesends everthing into disarra, ending 6ith !ana hitting the #rince across the 4ace.8ater on, a cha*ter ends 6ith Rogo;hin knocking at the door o4 9astassas house 6hileshe is having a *art. The #rinces earl arrival had alread charged the at$os*here,and Rogo;hins arrival again thro6s it into disarra. Rogo;hin thro6s $one on thetale de$anding 9astassa $arr hi$, onl 4or the #rince to declare his o6n love 4orher. 9astassa decides to $arr the #rince ut then $inutes later, changes her $indand oins Rogo;hins side. Be4ore she leaves 6ith hi$, she thro6s the undle o4 notes

into a 4ire. >hen the leave the house, the #rince runs a4ter the$.


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5uotes

HTears, *ositivel shone in his ees to6ards the end, et it 6as nothing ut sentences6ithout eginning or end, une=*ected 6ords and une=*ected ideas, ursting out ra*idl

and une=*ectedl and stu$ling over one another.H#.5

HAn unchristian religion in the 4irst *lace :skin egan in e=tre$e agitation and 6ithe=cessive aru*tness. And in the second *lace Ro$an "atholicis$ is even 6orse thanatheis$ itsel4 in $ o*inion... Atheis$ onl *reaches a negation ut "atholicis$ goes4urtherG it *reaches a distorted "hrist.H#.50+

H:shkin 6as so asent&$inded that at 4irst he heard nothing at all, and 6hen the!eneral sto**ed e4ore hi$ 6ith so$e e=cited Duestion, to his sha$e he 6as 4orced tocon4ess that he had understood a 6ord.H#.%%2

H9atasa 7ili*ovna instantl turned to hi$. @er ee 4lashed. She rushed u* to a oung$an, a co$*lete stranger, 6ho 6as standing a cou*le o4 *aces 4ro$ her, snatched athin *laited riding 6hi* out o4 his hand, and struck the o44ender 6ith all her $ight acrossthe 4ace.H#.%%

H>e are constantl hearing co$*laints that there are no *ractical *eo*le in RussiaG thatthere are *lent o4 *oliticians, *lent o4 generals, that an nu$er o4 usiness $en o4 allsorts can e 4ound at a $o$ents notice, ut there are no *ractical $en.H

#. %02

HA&ah @eres the 6a out At last Its hal4 *ast eleven cried 9atasa 7ili*ovna. I egou to e seated, 4riends. @ere is the 6a out Saing this, she sat do6n. A strangelaugh Duivered on her li*s. She sat in silent and 4everish e=*ectation, looking to6ardsthe door.H#. 1

H/ne o4 the$ 6as a short $an aout 2, 6ith al$ost lack curl hair and s$all, gre,4ier ees. @e had a road and 4lat nose and high cheek ones. @is thin li*s 6erecontinuall curved in an insolent, $ocking and even $alicious s$ile.H

#.1

HThe o6ner o4 the cloak 6as a oung $an, also 2- or 2, aove the average in height,6ith ver thick hair, 6ith sunken cheeks and a thin, *ointed al$ost 6hite eard. @isees 6ere large, lue and drea$G there 6as so$ething gentle, though heav looking intheir e=*ression.H#.2


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H:skin 6as sitting eside hi$ $otionless on the 4loor, and ever ti$e the delirious $anroke into screa$ing or ale, he hastened to *ass his tre$ling hand so4tl over hishair and cheeks as though soothing hi$. But no6 he could understand no Duestionshe 6as asked and did not recogni;e the *eo*le surrounding hi$.H#. 5

Hont e a4raid Though Ive taken our cross, I 6ont $urder ou 4or our 6atch he$uttered and indistinctl, 6ith a sudden strange laugh.H#.20

HThe #oor Enight is the sa$e on 3ui=ote, onl serious and not co$ic. I didntunderstand hi$ at 4irst, and laughed, ut ho6 I love the the #oor Enight and 6hats$ore, res*ect his e=*loits.H#.2%2

HI sa6 our *ortrait this $orning and I 4elt as though I recogni;ed a 4ace that I kne6. I4elt ou had called to $e alread... I shall res*ect ou all $ li4e. 9atasa 7ili**ovna.H

#.15

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To!i"s (or Dis"ussion

In 6hat 6as can the #rince e seen as a "hristlike 4igureK

In 6hat 6as does Rogo;hin re*r

The Idiot studyguide

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