Idiota

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-81), Russian writer. He made his debut with the novel The Poor People (1845), already through which he became known as a master of psychological analysis. His fascination with the human psyche and his belief in the dualistic nature of the world found resonance in his subsequent novels: The Saturnian, White Nights, Crime and Punishment, Besieges, The Brothers Karamazov. A significant influence on his works, including Memoirs from the House of the Dead and The Diary, was his activity in the circle of Pietrashevts, for which he was arrested and sentenced first to death and then to exile; traces can also be found in the pages of The Idiot (1868). The Idiot of the title is Prince Myshkin, who differs from average and 'normal' people. He is distinguished by his extraordinary goodness, sometimes bordering on naivety, compassion, nobility and wisdom, qualities that only a few can appreciate. To the majority, he is just an idiot, unfit for life, not clever enough and selfish enough to cope with society. The novel begins when the protagonist returns to Russia after a long stay in Switzerland, where he has spent most of his life treating hypersensitive nerves. He finds a distant relative, General Yepanchin, and tries to start a new life in a new environment, but becomes embroiled in various intrigues, is abused and ridiculed. Dostoevsky modelled Prince Myshkin on Christ, a good and spiritual man who must confront the evil present in other people and in the world. Aglaia also likens Myshkin to Don Quixote, and his goodness to a battle against windmills. The battle seems lost, because can one man save the world?