The Idiot Criticism
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky, written between 1867 and 1868, explores the struggle of Prince Myshkin to maintain his pure ideals amidst a morally deteriorating Russian society. Myshkin, characterized as a "positively good man," symbolizes Christ-like innocence and goodness. His intentions to influence society with values of honesty and humility clash with a world steeped in avarice and moral corruption, ultimately leading to a tragic culmination. The novel begins with Myshkin's return to Russia from Switzerland, where he was treated for epilepsy—a detail reflecting Dostoevsky's own struggles with the condition, as noted by Dennis Patrick Slattery. Upon his arrival, Myshkin's naive demeanor and actions unwittingly set off a chain of tragic events, culminating in murder and societal disarray.
Despite Dostoevsky's ambitious theme, The Idiot received criticism for its perceived structural flaws and undeveloped characters. Some critics, however, argue for its thematic depth. Robert Hollander suggests that the novel's narrative structure is intentionally aligned with the Book of Revelation, offering a cohesive interpretation of the chaos within the story. Others, like Janet G. Tucker, emphasize the complexity of Myshkin's character beyond the simplistic Christ-like figure, positioning him as a deeply tragic character with both spiritual and human flaws.
The novel's themes extend beyond individual characterization, tapping into broader allegories of moral decay and societal collapse, as alluded to by Simon O. Lesser. Despite initial criticism, The Idiot remains a subject of scholarly interest for its rich symbolism and Dostoevsky's exploration of existential and spiritual dilemmas.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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Saint and Sinner—Dostoevsky's Idiot
(summary)
In the following essay, Lesser examines Myshkin's inner struggle in The Idiot, claiming that Dostoevsky's intention was to demonstrate the stupidity and shortcomings of his character and the tragedy these flaws caused.
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The Apocalyptic Framework of Dostoevsky's The Idiot
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In the following essay, Hollander argues that critics who have commented on the aesthetic failure of The Idiot have not considered that a thematic interpretation of the novel based on the Book of Revelation does indeed bring the characters and events together.
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On the Composition of Dostoevsky's The Idiot
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In the following essay, Guerard analyzes Dostoevsky's Notebooks, evaluating the changes that the writer chose to make in developing the final published version of The Idiot.
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The Role of the Reader in The Idiot.
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In the following essay, Miller discusses how Dostoevsky intended The Idiot to influence the reader and identifies the various levels on which the novel can be read.
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Overlapping Portraits in Dostoevskij's The Idiot
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In the following essay, Woodward maintains that the character and conduct of Prince Myshkin, while baffling at times, reflect a deliberately contrived method of characterization by the author.
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Prince Myshkin, the True Lover and ‘Impossible Bridegroom’: A Problem in Dostoevskian Narrative
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In the following essay, Burgin analyzes the ambivalent nature of Myshkin's love for Nastasya Filippovna, arguing that it is not so much a character defect as it is “a problem of Dostoevskian narrative and the limitations of the novelistic genre as a vehicle of Dostoevskian truth.”
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From Switzerland to Petersburg: The Descent
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In the following essay, Slattery considers the spatio-temporal imagery of The Idiot to demonstrate how Dostoevsky mixes fantasy with reality in his novel.
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Dostoevsky's Idiot: Defining Myshkin
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In the following essay, Tucker discusses the character of Prince Myshkin in The Idiot, asserting that he is much more complex than most critics have defined him.
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Introduction to The Idiot, Part 2: The Novel
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In the following essay, Knapp presents a general survey of The Idiot, discussing the significance of the major characters' names, the work's artistic and literary sources, and the novel's shifting geographic setting.
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Flights from The Idiot's Womanhood
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In the following essay, Straus examines Dostoevsky's conception of femininity and feminism by comparing the principal female characters in The Idiot with the female characters in the author's other works.
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Seized by the Muse: Dostoevsky's Convulsive Poetics in The Idiot
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In the following essay, Slattery surveys the impact that Dostoevsky's epilepsy had on his literary career, particularly as seen in The Idiot.
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Saint and Sinner—Dostoevsky's Idiot
(summary)
- Further Reading