Summary Everyone except Nastasya Filippovna is aghast at the entrance of Rogozhin and his noisy, drunken followers; strangely, Nastasya seems satisfied. Indeed, she tells her guests that they will all be witnesses to “this final scene.” Rogozhin has brought the 100,000 rubles he promised and, pale and trembling, he places […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 15-16Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 13-14
Summary At Nastasya’s, Myshkin is admitted by a maid, who displays no surprise at his shabby appearance; she announces him, there is a buzz of gossip at the prince’s arrival, and Nastasya Filippovna goes to meet him. Myshkin whispers a few words of admiration to her but she protests; she […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 13-14Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 11-12
Summary After the scene in the Ivolgin drawing room, Myshkin goes to his room and is followed by Kolya. Varya soon arrives and says that matters are a bit calmer though Ganya is very upset, and Kolya leaves to care for his father. Both Kolya and Varya have taken a […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 11-12Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 8-10
Summary If family matters are not pleasant at the Epanchin household, neither is all well at the Ivolgin household. It is readily evident to Myshkin that Ganya is ashamed of having to take in boarders. And it also seems that Ganya’s father is a source of embarrassment to him, for […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 8-10Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 5-7
Summary General Epanchin has rightly calculated his wife’s reaction to Prince Myshkin; she is most disturbed to learn that the last of her family is penniless and, moreover, that he is an “idiot” (his own words); immediately she forgets all about Nastasya Filippovna and the general’s gift of pearls. The […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapters 5-7Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 4
Summary After rousing our interest about the mysterious business Myshkin hopes to transact — hopefully, with General Epanchin’s help — and before we are introduced to Nastasya in person, Dostoevsky says outright that further background is needed in order that his story be clear. First, we are briefly introduced to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 4Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 3
Summary General Epanchin is rather curt to his visitor, assuming that he has come for money, lodging, or both. Myshkin confesses that he expected such a reception and prepares to leave. He seems so genuinely pleased, however, to have at last met the general and to have talked with him […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 3Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 2
Summary Myshkin arrives at the Epanchin home and is admitted, though reluctantly, by the doorman. He is then passed by the doorman to the footman, who is astonished at Myshkin’s appearance and dubious about his business with the general. He warms to the stranger, however, and becomes engrossed in Myshkin’s […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 2Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 1
Summary Russian winters are notoriously severe and train travel is especially trying during the cold, snowy months. Outside the train windows are only bleak sheets of landscape; inside, the seats and the wood paneling are chilly and frosted. The air is icy and one simply sits and waits — jogging […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Part I: Chapter 1Character List
Main Characters Russian Names: The middle names of all male characters end in “vitch” and of all female characters in “ovna.” This simply means “son of” or “daughter of” the father whose first name is converted into their middle names. For example, Varvara and Gavril’s father is named Ardalion. Therefore, […]
Read more Character List