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
The narrator states that everyone complains that there are no “practical” people in Russia. Inventors and geniuses tend to be perceived as “fools,” and parents are likely to wish for a more conventional life than a life led by a genius. The narrator then turns to discussing the Epanchins, who suffer from the misguided belief that other families are not as dysfunctional as they are. Recently Mrs. Epanchin has come to blame herself for everything that is going wrong in her family. This in turn makes her feel even worse. In reality, the Epanchins are a widely respected family. People think highly of both General Epanchin and his wife, although Mrs. Epanchin remains crippled by insecurity.
The narrator’s observation that geniuses tend to be perceived as fools obviously relates to the misguided way in which people perceive Myshkin. While Myshkin is not a genius in the sense of being a great scientist or inventor, his insight into human psychology and innovative way of being arguably make him a genius of some kind.
Themes
Mrs. Epanchin loves her daughters, but she is convinced that it is her fault that they are not married yet. She is also worried about her daughters becoming nihilists, and feels suspicious about how they have reacted to “the woman question,” including by cutting off their long hair. She finds some peace in the knowledge 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 fool.” Still, as Adelaida’s wedding approaches, Mrs. Epanchin gets a break from her troubles. Meanwhile, everyone has been discussing how beautiful and charming Aglaya is. Yet Mrs. Epanchin remains seriously worried that Myshkin is going to ruin everything.
Mrs. Epanchin’s concerns about nihilism and “the woman question” highlight a generational divide in Russia at this time. Nihilism is a form of rebellion against existing social norms and structures, including strict gender roles. For this reason, it appeals to young women, and is related to what Mrs. Epanchin calls “the woman question”, which today readers can interpret to be an early form of feminism. Because her daughters are more rebellious and critical of the strict roles assigned to them, Mrs. Epanchin feels she doesn’t understand them.
Themes
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 sitting with Evgeny, Prince Shch., and Myshkin; everyone is there except General Epanchin, who is still in St. Petersburg. Kolya arrives. An argument is taking place, and there is tension among the group. Evgeny blusters that he is not critiquing liberalism in general, but rather Russian liberalism, which is inherently of a non-Russian character. He even goes on to say that Russian literature is non-Russian, although he excludes certain writers, including Pushkin and Gogol.
During this time, there were tensions between certain forms of cultural patriotism and a more pro-European position. Some Russians embraced the influence of Western European culture, whereas others believed that it was vitally important that Russia returned to its own unique culture. Evgeny appears to be taking the latter view by positioning liberalism as an ideology that is inherently anti-Russian.
Themes
Evgeny notes that the conversation began with socialists, and his assertion that “we don’t have a single Russian socialist.” He argues that the supposed socialists that exist in Russia are actually liberals, all of whom come from the landowning or clerical classes. Everyone laughs, and Myshkin remarks that he doesn’t have a position regarding Evgeny’s argument but is enjoying listening to it. Evgeny continues, establishing that liberalism is necessarily an “attack on the existing order of things.” He argues that Russian liberalism goes further, as it is attack on not just the order but “the things themselves,” including the actual nation of Russia. For this reason, Russian liberals usually hate their country and its customs.
From a contemporary perspective, it is strange and almost amusing to read Evgeny’s claim that Russian socialists cannot exist, and that socialism is somehow incompatible with Russia. However, there is some truth in what he is saying, in the sense that some people would argue that socialism cannot coexist with any form of patriotism, Russian or otherwise. Under this view, socialism is always an inherently internationalist project, with no interest in national boundaries.
Themes
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Evgeny argues that patriotism is actually stigmatized among liberals. Myshkin comments that Evgeny is surely correct to some degree, but that his opinion likely only tells part of the story. Evgeny tells a story about a defense attorney who claimed that his client’s poverty made it natural or inevitable for him to kill six people. He asks the prince about this case, and Myshkin replies, not realizing that Evgeny is joking. Everyone laughs at him. However, when Myshkin starts talking properly, everyone stops laughing and listens intently.
By taking Evgeny literally, Myshkin arguably betrays sympathy for the line of argument that poverty can cause people to commit crimes (even as he might not entirely agree with the attorney’s rather extreme argument). This is a highly progressive and, some would argue, truly Christian view.
Themes
Myshkin says that he has spent time in prisons and become “acquainted” with criminals. He notes that there is a stark difference between those who are aware that they have done wrong and those who don’t see themselves as wrongdoers. This latter category is always made up of young people who have fallen “under the influence of perverse ideas.” Evgeny points out that Burdovsky surely falls into this category, but Mrs. Epanchin interjects to say that Burdovsky recently apologized and 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.
One aspect of the social world in The Idiot that is particularly remarkable (and perhaps unusual from a contemporary perspective) is the extent to which the characters believe that ideology holds incredible power. Often, when a character acts in a certain way, their actions are explained by the ideology to which they subscribe (e.g. nihilism, patriotism, atheism, “the woman question,” etc.). This could imply that, as a reaction to the shifting culture in Russia, characters are eager to adopt a belief system that allows them to feel a sense of certainty and belonging in lieu of a strong national identity.
Themes
Kolya says that Ippolit’s health is better than it’s been in months, but the other still express their disapproval of him staying with Myshkin. Annoyed, Myshkin tells them that they should forgive Ippolit because he is about to die. He also indicates that they should seek Ippolit’s forgiveness themselves. When Evgeny objects that he never harmed Ippolit, Myshkin laments that he doesn’t understand. Mrs. Epanchin loudly insists that they all go listen to music before another argument begins.
For Myshkin, forgiveness is not a single, particular transaction intended to make up for any specific wrongdoing. Rather, it is a principle and orientation through which he relates to the whole world. In Myshkin’s view, everyone always needs to be forgiving each other and seeking the forgiveness of others.
Themes
