Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Idiot, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Innocence v. Foolishness
Money, Greed, and Corruption
Social Hierarchy, Authority, and Rebellion
Absurdity and Nihilism
Passion, Violence, and Christianity
Summary
Analysis
Myshkin tells the Epanchin women that throughout his time in Switzerland, he taught children. He angered the adults in the community by refusing to keep certain things secret from the children, which emerged from his belief that children should be allowed to know everything. The children once saw Myshkin kiss a very poor woman named Marie, who he describes as terribly pitiful. Marie cared for her sick, elderly mother, but everyone in the community was cruel to her, laughing at her and abusing her. Marie was sick with tuberculosis, and by a certain point was too ashamed of her ragged, sickly appearance to be seen in town. When Marie’s mother died, the local pastor publicly blamed Marie for the death.
There are more obvious Biblical allusions within this passage. Particularly on account of her name, Marie could represent Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’ followers. Marie’s illness could also represent the people with leprosy who Jesus miraculously cured. Whereas Marie is ostracized and denigrated by the rest of the community, Myshkin is kind to her and touches her, which causes a great scandal. This is similar to the way that Jesus embraced and touched those who were ostracized.
Themes
Myshkin wanted to help Marie, and thus sold a diamond pin he owned and gave Marie the eight francs it was worth. He kissed her then, but explains that it was not because he was in love with her, but rather because he felt empathy for her. The children, who had been spying on them, clapped and laughed, and before long everyone in town knew about it. The children started teasing Marie brutally and thus Myshkin intervened, explaining that Marie was very unfortunate. As a result, some of the children were kinder. Yet their parents were angry that Myshkin had been talking to the children as if they were adults. They forbade the children from speaking to Marie, but they still snuck out to see her, giving her presents and telling her they loved her.
Myshkin’s special connection to children further emphasizes his similarity to Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus famously says that the Kingdom of God “belongs” to little children. At the same time, Myshkin’s story does not portray children as perfectly pure beings. As their treatment of Marie shows, they can be exclusionary and cruel. Yet the story also shows that children have a fundamental goodness and moral instinct that survives even the oppressive and corrupting actions of adults.
Themes
Somehow, the children managed to buy Marie a whole outfit. She got sicker and sicker, and it became clear that she was dying. Despite her weakness, whenever the children came to visit her she would become overjoyed. Myshkin explains that thanks to the children, Marie “died almost happy.” At her funeral, the children covered her coffin with flowers, and each year they lie fresh flowers on her grave. After the funeral the pastor and schoolteacher banned the children from seeing Myshkin, but the children managed to send him notes anyway, and they became even closer in the face of the ban. Before Myshkin left, Schneider stated that he believed Myshkin was essentially a child himself.
The reaction of the adults to Myshkin’s connection with the children deserves particular attention. Although Myshkin’s impact on the children is obviously positive and loving, the adults in the community are highly suspicious of it. This is perhaps because Myshkin inspires the children to rebel against their parents and the schoolteacher (even though this rebellion takes the form of generosity and kindness). This is not the first time in which Myshkin will be framed as a disruptor of existing social hierarchies.
Themes
Myshkin calls the children his “comrades,” and says that they always made him happy. He was devoted to them and thought that he would stay in the village forever and never return to Russia. Now that he is returning, he wonders if people in his homeland will view him as a child and an “idiot,” as many did in Switzerland. When the children found out he was leaving, they wrote him sad letters, and they came to wave him goodbye at the train station.
Part of what drew Myshkin to the children is the fact that they did not judge or exclude him for being an “idiot,” but felt that he was one of them. Myshkin does not appear to be ashamed of being likened to a child, but is nervous about whether people back home in Russia will still perceive him as an idiot, highlighting a difference between the two.
Themes
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Suddenly, Myshkin switches to describing the face of each Epanchin woman. He notes that Adelaida has a “happy” and “kind” face. Alexandra’s face is beautiful, but perhaps contains secret sadness. Her face reminds him of Holbein’s Dresden Madonna. Finally, he observes that Mrs. Epanchin’s face shows that she is “a perfect child… despite your age.” He says that he hopes they don’t mind him making such observations, and that he has a special purpose for them.
In another context, describing the faces of people you have just met might be seen as a strangely direct or even rude thing to do. However, the Epanchin women clearly recognize that Myshkin has a certain kind of wisdom, even if he also has aspects of foolishness. As a result, they do not balk at his descriptions.
Themes
