Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev Character Analysis in The Idiot

Lebedev is a comic character, a clerk who prides himself on knowing all the society gossip. Even in the midst of tragic things that happen to him, such as the death of his wife, he maintains a silly manner and a habit of drinking excessively. However, he also has some profound insights into certain philosophical issues, such as socioeconomic inequality and capital punishment.

Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev Quotes in The Idiot

The The Idiot quotes below are all either spoken by Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev or refer to Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev. 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:

“Nihilists are still sometimes knowledgeable people, even learned ones, but these have gone further, ma’am, because first of all they’re practical. This is essentially a sort of consequence of nihilism, though not in a direct way, but by hearsay and indirectly, and they don’t announce themselves in some sort of little newspaper article, but directly in practice, ma’am; it’s no longer a matter, for instance, of the meaninglessness of some Pushkin or other, or, for instance, the necessity of dividing Russia up into parts; no, ma’am, it’s now considered a man’s right, if he wants something very much, not to stop at any obstacle, even if he has to do in eight persons to that end.”

Related Characters: Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 257

Explanation and Analysis:

Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev Character Timeline in The Idiot

The timeline below shows where the character Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev appears in The Idiot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Social Hierarchy, Authority, and Rebellion Theme Icon

...who is himself friends with General Epanchin. The clerk, who mentions that his name is Lebedev, proudly says that he “knows everything.” For a moment Rogozhin thinks that Lebedev is implying... (full context)

Passion, Violence, and Christianity Theme Icon

Kolya opens the door and about 12 or 13 people, including Lebedev, Rogozhin, and two women, come in. They all seem tipsy, though not terribly drunk. Rogozhin... (full context)

...that they’re engaged. Flustered, Ganya accuses him of being drunk and tells him to leave. Lebedev whispers to Rogozhin, who then brashly places 18,000 roubles on the table, saying it’s for... (full context)

...General Epanchin asks if they should tie Nastasya up, as she is certainly insane now. Lebedev tries to get the money, but Nastasya stops him, saying it’s only for Ganya. (full context)

...back, he feels a pair of sinister eyes staring at him. He goes straight to Lebedev’s house from the train station. The house is surprisingly nice, and he finds Lebedev inside,... (full context)

Lebedev starts speaking somewhat nonsensically about a case that’s been in the papers of a family... (full context)

The nephew observes that Lebedev has become extremely paranoid about being robbed and calls him a “drunken mumbler” who has... (full context)

Lebedev continues to tell somewhat fantastical stories and Myshkin eventually gets up to leave, saying he... (full context)

...any serious injuries. Once Myshkin is awake, Kolya arranges a carriage to take him to Lebedev, who takes receives him utmost kindness. Three days later they go to Pavlovsk. (full context)

Lebedev’s dacha is small but pretty. Though he looks fine again, Myshkin is very weak, and... (full context)

...he and Myshkin knew each other, as they used to live in the same town. Lebedev’s dacha is mere steps away from the Epanchins’. Mrs. Epanchin, who has become convinced that... (full context)

Mrs. Epanchin seems rather horrified that Myshkin is staying at Lebedev’s, and offers for him to come and stay at her family’s dacha instead. At this... (full context)

...military. Myshkin feels uneasy. Evgeny brings up Pushkin again, and Vera soon appears holding the Lebedev family’s copy of Pushkin’s poetry, which she presents to Mrs. Epanchin. Vera then turns to... (full context)

...they are trying to “besmirch” him. Someone asks if the young men are nihilists, and Lebedev comments that “they’ve gone further than the nihilists” because they actually act on their beliefs.... (full context)

Burdovsky repeats the word “demand,” turning bright red. Although Lebedev supports Myshkin in this whole affair, he feels a bit of “family pride” after Doktorenko’s... (full context)

During the conversation over tea, Mrs. Epanchin tells Myshkin that she’s just heard Lebedev “corrected” the article about him. Lebedev admits it’s true, explaining “I’m mean,” and Mrs. Epanchin... (full context)

...be done with Ippolit, and Myshkin offers for him and his friends to stay at Lebedev’s. Now Mrs. Epanchin demands to know if Myshkin himself is sick or not. At this... (full context)

...he doesn’t. He and Adelaida depart. Myshkin is troubled, but briefly distracted by conversations with Lebedev’s children. His affection for them has grown immensely. Myshkin and Ganya have also become very... (full context)

Now alone, Myshkin is troubled by this news. That evening, Keller comes to Lebedev’s house, wanting to tell Myshkin his “whole life’s story.” Myshkin indicates that it might be... (full context)

Keller says he is shocked that anyone calls Myshkin an idiot. Lebedev enters, and Myshkin asks him about his involvement in the whole affair regarding Evgeny. He... (full context)

At 7 p.m., three days after the soiree, Mrs. Epanchin comes to the terrace of Lebedev’s house and immediately tells Myshkin that she has not come to ask for forgiveness because... (full context)

...now “believes more in the prince.” Kolya then informs everyone that Ippolit has moved into Lebedev’s dacha on Myshkin’s invitation. Myshkin reprimands Kolya for telling the others this. (full context)

...he says he’s ready for a fight, and even suggests thy get drunk on champagne. Lebedev recently sold Myshkin 12 bottles of champagne at a “bargain” price. (full context)

Myshkin and Rogozhin approach Lebedev’s dacha and see a lively crowd gathered on the terrace, drinking champagne. Myshkin is confused... (full context)

...spiritual aspect of human existence. They then move onto a discussion of cannibalism instigated by Lebedev, who claims that in the twelfth century, famines forced poor people to eat “sixty monks... (full context)

Lebedev agrees, saying that at this time the clergy were 60 times fatter than everyone else.... (full context)

Everyone laughs, but Keller remains serious and accuses Lebedev of “attack[ing] enlightenment” in favor of medieval backwardness. Toward the end of this conversation, Ganya... (full context)

During Lebedev’s speech, Ippolit fell asleep on the sofa, but he now suddenly wakes up and looks... (full context)

...present might actually want to see Ippolit shoot himself, which Ippolit insists is the case. Lebedev says that if Ippolit hands over his gun, he can stay the night in his... (full context)

...a cap for the gun until he faints. He is carried into Myshkin’s study, and Lebedev calls for a doctor. (full context)

Lebedev enters and addresses Myshkin in an unusually formal, polite manner. He says that 400 roubles... (full context)

Lebedev narrows down the suspects based on their movements during the party to General Ivolgin, Keller,... (full context)

General Ivolgin, meanwhile, comically demanded that Lebedev search him in order to prove that he didn’t steal the money. However, Lebedev noticed... (full context)

Myshkin says he wants to support Lebedev, but begs him not to involve Nina or Kolya. He also wants to be sure... (full context)

...been extra grouchy and sensitive. In the three days before he became very close with Lebedev, but then suddenly had a huge fight with him. It seems as if there is... (full context)

Lebedev returned from his trip to St. Petersburg the same day he left. For two days,... (full context)

After, Lebedev comes. He, along with Keller and Kolya earlier, all seem to want to congratulate Myshkin... (full context)

Myshkin asks why Lebedev didn’t tell him that he found the money, and Lebedev explains that he actually put... (full context)

Lebedev says that he will “find” the wallet again the next day, but first wants to... (full context)

...the perspective of an old soldier. Ivolgin then gravely informs Myshkin that his friendship with Lebedev is over, because Lebedev has lied to him and disrespected him. Myshkin points out that... (full context)

Myshkin scolds Lebedev for interfering in this business and showing the letter to Mrs. Epanchin, thereby violating Aglaya’s... (full context)

...state of profound distress but will not go to see his father. Later that day Lebedev arrives, weeping and blaming himself for Ivolgin’s stroke. Seeing how upset he is, Nina assures... (full context)

...he kisses her hand she becomes embarrassed and leaves. Before leaving, she tells him that Lebedev had earlier gone to see General Ivolgin, who is likely about to die. Later, Lebedev... (full context)

...getting engaged to Nastasya. The wedding is set to be quick and expensive, with Keller, Lebedev, and another friend in charge of planning. Keller will be Myshkin’s groomsman, while Burdovsky, at... (full context)

...runs away. At this point everyone feels “indignant” toward Myshkin, even Kolya, Vera, Keller, and Lebedev. About a week after the incident at Darya’s, and the day after the Epanchins have... (full context)

...public, people point at him and whisper. Myshkin feels eyes on him again, and tells Lebedev he feels that Rogozhin is watching him. Lebedev notes that Rogozhin was at the church... (full context)

...against him, and even want to put him in jail. The day before Myshkin’s wedding, Lebedev comes to “repent.” It turns out that he had been conspiring to stop the marriage... (full context)

...answering people’s stunned and often rather invasive questions in a simple, open manner. Back at Lebedev’s, a huge crowd gathers, and tea is served. Everyone expresses their opinions, some of which... (full context)

The teacher’s widow went straight to Darya in Pavlovsk, and the two women then called Lebedev, who arranged for the St. Petersburg police to enter Rogozhin’s apartment. Rogozhin suffers from “brain... (full context)

Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev Character Analysis

Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev Quotes in The Idiot

Part Two, Chapter Seven Quotes

Lukyan Timofeevich Lebedev Character Timeline in The Idiot