Mrs. Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchin Character Analysis

The wife of General Epanchin and the mother of Aglaya, Alexandra, and Adelaida. Myshkin is distantly related to her, and goes to stay with the Epanchin family when he returns to Russia after being treated for epilepsy in Switzerland. A caring woman, Mrs. Epanchin has a tendency to react hysterically to minor issues and greatly exaggerate her problems. She becomes very close with Myshkin, although at certain points in the novel she pushes him away, because the way he behaves jars with the elegant, proper, high society lifestyle she craves for herself. She is also terrified of the idea that Myshkin will marry Aglaya, since those around him believe that his innocence renders him unfit for a romantic relationship. Mrs. Epanchin’s friendship with Myshkin ends up having a profound effect on her. This is best demonstrated by her calm, kind reaction near the end of the novel when Myshkin accidentally breaks an expensive Chinese vase that was given to her as a gift.