Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin Character Analysis in The Idiot

Aglaya is the youngest daughter of General and Mrs. Epanchin, and most beautiful of her sisters, Alexandra and Adelaida. She is bright, lively, and rebellious, with big ambitions. She often finds life with her family frustrating, and at one point plans to run away from them. When the novel begins, she has already turned down an offer of marriage from Ganya, a handsome young man who works for Aglaya’s father and is motivated by her extravagant dowry. Aglaya becomes attached to Myshkin, but repeatedly claims that she doesn’t love him, laughs at him, and is often quite cruel to him. She does so because she, like Myshkin, is very innocent, and has trouble processing the strong feelings she has for him. Thus, she and Myshkin try to have an adult relationship and an engagement, but their affections for each other prove to be on-again, off-again at best. Aglaya becomes paranoid that Myshkin still loves Nastasya, and eventually abandons Myshkin altogether on the basis of that relief. She ends up marrying a fraud who poses as a wealthy Polish exile, converts to Catholicism, and becomes estranged from her family.

Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin Quotes in The Idiot

The The Idiot quotes below are all either spoken by Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin or refer to Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“I’m always kind, if you wish, and that is my only failing, because one should not always be kind. I’m often very angry, with these ones here, with Ivan Fyodorovich especially, but the trouble is that I’m kindest when I’m angry. Today, before you came, I was angry and pretended I didn’t and couldn’t understand anything. That happens to me—like a child.”

Related Characters: Mrs. Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchin (speaker), Alexandra Ivanovna Epanchin, Adelaida Ivanovna Epanchin, Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin, General Ivan Fyodorovich Epanchin

Page Number and Citation: 57

Explanation and Analysis:

“It’s clear that it made no difference to this ‘poor knight’ who his lady was or what she might do. It was enough for him that he had chosen her and believed in her ‘pure beauty,’ and only then did he bow down to her forever; and the merit of it is that she might have turned out later to be a thief, but still he had to believe in her and wield the sword for her pure beauty. It seems the poet wanted to combine in one extraordinary image the whole immense conception of the medieval chivalrous platonic love of some pure and lofty knight; naturally, it’s all an ideal.”

Related Characters: Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 249

Explanation and Analysis:

“I want to be brave and not afraid of anything. I don’t want to go to their balls, I want to be useful. I wanted to leave long ago. They’ve kept me bottled up for twenty years, and they all want to get me married. When I was fourteen I already thought of running away, though I was a fool. Now I have it all worked out and was waiting for you, to ask you all about life abroad.”

Related Characters: Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin (speaker), Prince Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin

Page Number and Citation: 429

Explanation and Analysis:

How did she dare write to her, he asked, wandering alone in the evening (sometimes not even remembering himself where he was walking). How could she write about that, and how could such an insane dream have been born in her head?

Related Characters: Prince Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin, Nastasya Filippovna Barashkov, Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin

Page Number and Citation: 452

Explanation and Analysis:

“You are innocent, and all your perfection is in your innocence. Oh, remember only that! What do you care about my passion for you? You are mine now, I shall be near you all my life . . . I shall die soon.”

Related Characters: Nastasya Filippovna Barashkov (speaker), Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin

Page Number and Citation: 454

Explanation and Analysis:

Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin Character Timeline in The Idiot

The timeline below shows where the character Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin appears in The Idiot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Social Hierarchy, Authority, and Rebellion Theme Icon

...nobility. She and her husband have three daughters: Alexandra (age 25), Adelaida (age 23), and Aglaya (age 20). Although they are only noble through their mother, they are very rich and... (full context)

...friends with General Epanchin, wants to marry the eldest Epanchin sister, Alexandra, who is 25. Aglaya is acknowledged to be the most beautiful of her sisters, and Alexandra and Adelaida have... (full context)

Passion, Violence, and Christianity Theme Icon

Aglaya comments that Myshkin is similar to Evlampia Nikolavna, an official’s wife who renounces material goods... (full context)

...thinks that there might be a way to live more “intelligently” than most people, and Aglaya comments that Myshkin may have found it, considering he just said he was happy throughout... (full context)

...the story earlier to the valet, and when Mrs. Epanchin comments that this is strange, Aglaya replies that Myshkin is a “democrat.” Myshkin is interested in the idea of portraying the... (full context)

...peace. Then the sound of the guillotine, at which point the condemned man “knows everything.” Aglaya insists that Myshkin now tells them about when he was in love, but he explains... (full context)

...might be smarter than all three of her daughters put together. Myshkin now turns to Aglaya and says that she is so extraordinarily beautiful that no one is afraid of her.... (full context)

...angry with him at the moment, and asks the prince to deliver a note to Aglaya from him without anyone seeing. Having written the note, he mutters to himself: “One word... (full context)

Myshkin finds Aglaya alone in the doorway to the dining room and gives her Ganya’s note. After, all... (full context)

...of telling the Epanchin women he was getting married, and calls Myshkin “a shameless blabber.” Aglaya returns to the room, at first not even noticing that Ganya is there. Ganya tells... (full context)

Aglaya comments that the note is clumsily written, that Ganya has a “dirty” soul and that... (full context)

Alone again, Ganya asks Myshkin not to “blab” about what happened with Aglaya. Myshkin, annoyed, assures him that he won’t. Myshkin goes to his room to freshen up.... (full context)

...She declares that she could never “ruin” an innocent like Myshkin, and that he deserves Aglaya instead. Rogozhin is overjoyed, shouting: “She’s mine! It’s all mine!” (full context)

...and intelligent suitor, Evgeny Pavlovich R., begins visiting them, this time taking a liking to Aglaya. Although he is known as a heartbreaker, he has earned the affection of Princess Belokonsky,... (full context)

...time with the Epanchin daughters, who “gradually grew to love him,” with the exception of Aglaya, who found him annoying. Mrs. Epanchin even grew fond of him, despite the fact that... (full context)

Kolya once gave Aglaya a short, pleading note from Myshkin, in which he told her he needed her and... (full context)

...Lebedev will rent him the dacha, and Lebedev agrees. He then mischievously tells Myshkin that Aglaya will likely be visiting her friend Darya’s dacha often, “with a purpose.” Myshkin dismisses this,... (full context)

...his baby daughter Lyubov, and he theatrically explains that his wife died six weeks ago. Aglaya starts asking Lebedev about his thoughts on the apocalypse, and he answers her with great... (full context)

...Myshkin’s assertion that he’s doing better. Kolya mentions the “poor knight” and Don Quixote, which Aglaya has lately been talking about. Kolya says he recently heard Aglaya say that “there is... (full context)

Aglaya is furious, but Kolya continues, saying that Aglaya asked Adelaida to draw a portrait of... (full context)

The young man accompanying General Epanchin is 28 and handsome, with dark, witty eyes. Aglaya ignores both of them and recites the poem anyway. Myshkin correctly guesses that the young... (full context)

Everyone is caught up in the conversation now, and Aglaya warns Myshkin that he should speak to the men now, because they are trying to... (full context)

...wanted to see her reaction. As an argument begins to erupt again, General Epanchin and Aglaya urge Mrs. Epanchin to come home with them immediately, but she insists that Myshkin is... (full context)

...Epanchin sarcastically thank Myshkin for such a wonderful visit; Adelaida takes Myshkin’s hand sympathetically, but Aglaya hisses at him that if he doesn’t “drop these loathsome people,” she will hate him... (full context)

...walk, and overall the visit is very pleasant, though none of them discuss Mrs. Epanchin, Aglaya, or what happened the day before. Just before they go, Prince Shch. asks who the... (full context)

...say what. She also mentions that Mrs. Epanchin is in a terrible mood and that Aglaya has had a fight with the whole rest of her family. Ganya and Varya then... (full context)

...the truth, but as soon as Lebedev begins to do so, starting with the words “Aglaya Ivanovna,” Myshkin goes bright red and tells him to shut up. Later that night, Kolya... (full context)

Myshkin observes that perhaps these stories indicate that Ganya’s hopes of marrying Aglaya may be fulfilled after all, and Kolya calls him “a terrible skeptic.” However, Kolya then... (full context)

...to ask for forgiveness because he is entirely to blame. She asks if he sent Aglaya a letter a few months ago, and then demands to see it. Myshkin, who is... (full context)

...Myshkin promise he’s not married to “that one” (Nastasya). Finally satisfied, she tells Myshkin that Aglaya doesn’t love him. She then tells him that she believes God sent him to them... (full context)

...She bans Myshkin from visiting their house, but Myshkin informs her he’s already been banned—by Aglaya. He shows a bamboozled Mrs. Epanchin a letter from Aglaya indicating that she does not... (full context)

...that Adelaida will soon be married, yet remains worried about the other two, and especially Aglaya. Meanwhile, she wonders if Alexandra, who is now 25, is “a nihilist, or simply a... (full context)

To her horror, Mrs. Epanchin received an anonymous letter about Nastasya “being in touch with” Aglaya. She remains terrified that Aglaya might be in love with Myshkin. Currently, the Epanchins are... (full context)

...laugh, although he also knows that he is loved by the Epanchins. At this moment Aglaya furiously bursts out that her family members do not deserve such kindness. She demands to... (full context)

Kolya suddenly shouts: “The poor knight!” Addressing Myshkin, Aglaya shouts that she will never marry him, “a ridiculous man.” Myshkin points out that he... (full context)

...to be back in the solitude of the Swiss mountains. He finds himself staring at Aglaya’s face, until she tells him it’s creeping her out. She whispers to herself, “Idiot!” Alexandra... (full context)

...He then whispers something to Prince Shch., leaving the prince looking shocked. A little later, Aglaya comes out of the house to find Myshkin sitting on a chair on the terrace.... (full context)

Myshkin and Aglaya argue about how deadly duels actually are. Aglaya asks him if he owns any guns;... (full context)

...suicide, General Epanchin refuses to believe that’s true. He then reveals that Evgeny proposed to Aglaya a month ago, and she rejected him. He says that Aglaya, who he calls a... (full context)

Now alone, Myshkin reads the note from Aglaya. In it, she asks him to meet her in the park at 7 a.m. the... (full context)

...Walking off, Myshkin talks to himself about the strange events of the day. He kisses Aglaya’s note, feeling a mix of sadness and joy. It is now almost midnight, and there... (full context)

...Rogozhin grins and says that Nastasya has told him that Myshkin is in love with Aglaya; having seen the two of them together today, Rogozhin is now certain it’s true. (full context)

Rogozhin says Nastasya hopes Myshkin will marry Aglaya and wants to see him happy. Myshkin is horrified by this. Rogozhin says that Nastasya... (full context)

...cares to read it. He has given one copy to Myshkin and the other to Aglaya, and arranged for his skeleton to be donated to the Medical Academy. (full context)

...up to follow her. However, at this point is woken up by the laughter of Aglaya, who is standing over him. (full context)

Bewildered, Myshkin says he thought there was another woman there, which shocks Aglaya. He then realizes that it was just a dream. He tells her about Ippolit’s failed... (full context)

Aglaya announces that the reason why she brought Myshkin here is to “propose that you be... (full context)

Aglaya tells Myshkin that she hates the elite social world in which she has been brought... (full context)

Aglaya says that Ganya burned his hand in front of her to demonstrate his love. After... (full context)

Myshkin repeats that Nastasya is “insane.” However, when Aglaya asks him what to do so she stops receiving the letters, Myshkin begs her to... (full context)

...about Nastasya again. He wakes up feeling anguished and reads the letters from Nastasya that Aglaya gave him. Reading the letters are like a “strange and unnatural” dream. The narrator reflects... (full context)

In one of the letters, Nastasya calls Aglaya “perfection” and confesses her love for her. She says she would kiss the ground on... (full context)

...he walks in anyway and meets Alexandra, who informs him that it is half-past midnight. Aglaya and Mrs. Epanchin are both not feeling well and are already in bed. Myshkin leaves... (full context)

...house. When he begins to calm down, Varya tells him that it’s official: Myshkin and Aglaya are engaged, and Adelaida’s wedding has once again been pushed back, so that the two... (full context)

Varya says that Aglaya laughs at Myshkin all day in order to conceal her true feelings. She then lets... (full context)

...leaves without saying anything more. Once he is gone, Ganya shows Varya a note from Aglaya, asking him to meet her in the park at 7 a.m. the next day and... (full context)

When Varya told Ganya about Myshkin’s engagement to Aglaya, she exaggerated the extent to which it was actually confirmed. In reality, the information she... (full context)

Alexandra and Adelaida, meanwhile, support the idea of Aglaya marrying Myshkin. Mrs. Epanchin blames their open-mindedness on the “cursed woman question.” She goes to... (full context)

...sisters explain that Myshkin turned out to be an excellent player of the game. Although Aglaya cheated, she still could not beat him. She became rude, then furious, and stormed out... (full context)

...immediately switched from a state of utmost misery to carefree joy. Kolya assured Myshkin that Aglaya was in love with him, and Myshkin blushed. Mrs. Epanchin, meanwhile, “succumb[s] to a hysterical... (full context)

...he hasn’t formally proposed to her, but that he loves her. Following further prompting from Aglaya, he clarifies that he is asking to marry her, and “commotion” ensues. Mrs. Epanchin cries... (full context)

Alone with Myshkin, General Epanchin asks him to explain. Myshkin replies that he loves Aglaya deeply and has done for a long time. The Epanchin women call out for the... (full context)

...lively that evening, talking at length about serious issues as well as telling amusing stories. Aglaya listens to him and barely speaks at all. Later, Mrs. Epanchin laments that it is... (full context)

The day before the gathering, Aglaya speaks with Myshkin alone. She mocks Mrs. Epanchin’s obsession with high society and its “rules,”... (full context)

...stay quiet the whole evening. Myshkin notices that he often sees flashes of darkness on Aglaya’s face. He admits that the presence of a certain person still haunts them, but Aglaya... (full context)

...him. Lebedev’s answer is highly unclear but seems to indicate that the letter was from Aglaya and addressed to Nastasya, or possibly Rogozhin. Myshkin is horrified. Lebedev eventually shows him the... (full context)

...Lebedev for interfering in this business and showing the letter to Mrs. Epanchin, thereby violating Aglaya’s right to “correspond with whomever she likes.” Eventually Lebedev departs, and Myshkin is left feeling... (full context)

Looking around him, Myshkin cannot recognize the terrible scene that Aglaya warned him about. In fact, he is quite charmed by the event. In reality, all... (full context)

...dignitary, who is their benefactor, even though he would not be happy to learn that Aglaya was engaged to someone to whom he had not been introduced. Meanwhile, Prince N. prepares... (full context)

...as possible from the Chinese vase and had sat in the opposite corner from it. Aglaya’s words had convinced him that he would break it. However, while talking about Catholicism he... (full context)

...and screams, and Myshkin is unspeakably mortified. Mainly, however, he is struck by disbelief that Aglaya’s sarcastic prediction actually came true. As the broken pieces are cleared away, he notices Aglaya... (full context)

...a child, and cannot express himself in the right way, which is why he promised Aglaya that he would stay silent. However, he has concluded that there is no point in... (full context)

...the guests leave, they express mixed opinions about Myshkin. Mrs. Epanchin concludes that Myshkin and Aglaya cannot possibly get married. However, when Aglaya says that she will never marry him and... (full context)

...Myshkin to come and see them if he starts to feel better. Myshkin notices that Aglaya looks pale, as if she hasn’t slept well. After they leave, Vera comes with a... (full context)

...down for the final time today and die. He then says that earlier he saw Aglaya meeting with Ganya in the park. He remarks on Myshkin’s lack of surprise, but then... (full context)

...Varya had to drag him away. Ippolit himself was there to arrange a meeting between Aglaya and Nastasya. He says that the night before he dreamed that Rogozhin smothered him to... (full context)

...he is losing his grip on reality. Things only become clear again that evening, when Aglaya comes to the terrace of his dacha, looking pale. She tells Myshkin she can see... (full context)

Aglaya tells Nastasya that although she doesn’t like her, she hasn’t come to argue. She says... (full context)

...starts crying, and taunts that Myshkin would marry her if she asked him to, while Aglaya would be left alone. She tells Rogozhin to leave, and declares that if Myshkin doesn’t... (full context)

...having provoked a scandal at “an honorable and well-known house,” was abandoned by his fiancée (Aglaya), lured away by a “well-known tart” (Nastasya), and agreed to marry her in Pavlovsk despite... (full context)

There are rumors that Myshkin loves Aglaya but is actually a nihilist himself, which leads him to want to marry a “fallen... (full context)

There are rumors that the Epanchins have ended their friendship with Myshkin, while Aglaya is in a “terrible state” and is hiding at Nina’s. However, when Aglaya sees that... (full context)

Evgeny tells Myshkin that Aglaya was sick for three days after what happened at Darya’s. General and Mrs. Epanchin have... (full context)

...entirely at fault, but also explains that he didn’t actually take any action at Nastasya’s. Aglaya ran away, Nastasya fainted, and afterward, he was banned from seeing Aglaya again. He adds... (full context)

When asked by Evgeny, Myshkin confirms that he loves both Nastasya and Aglaya, and that he somehow needs to make Aglaya understand the truth. He demands that they... (full context)

...Myshkin is left feeling terrified. This escalates when Ippolit suggests that Myshkin might even murder Aglaya out of jealousy. This conversation happens the night before Myshkin’s wedding. The last time they... (full context)

...them all with the taste and wealth of her finery.” Secretly, she also hopes that Aglaya will see her, too. She and Myshkin leave each other, but at 11 p.m. that... (full context)

...he goes to Switzerland. After a whirlwind romance with an exiled Polish count in Paris, Aglaya marries him, against the wishes of her parents. The next time Evgeny goes to Switzerland,... (full context)

...express their sincere gratitude to Evgeny for taking care of Myshkin. They then explain that Aglaya’s marriage turned out to be a disaster. The “count” was not actually a count at... (full context)

Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin Character Analysis

Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin Quotes in The Idiot

Part One, Chapter Five Quotes

Part Two, Chapter Six Quotes

Part Three, Chapter Eight Quotes

Part Three, Chapter Ten Quotes

Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin Character Timeline in The Idiot