Portrait as a means of characterizing F.M. Dostoevsky’s heroes in the novel “The Idiot”. article on literature (grade 10) on the topic

About the novel - F. Dostoevsky “The Idiot”

The novel itself turned out to be so realistic that many themes that worried people of that time - love, the meaning of life, religion - can easily be traced in it. Moreover, love is revealed not only from the position of a man and a woman, but also the attitude towards all humanity as a whole.

Dostoevsky in his novel is close to the personification of the decayed morality of both the nobility and the intelligentsia. It shows how low a person has fallen in pursuit of money. Such a non-person is ready to commit a crime, stepping over all the canons of morality.

A summary of Dostoevsky’s novel “The Idiot” allows you to get acquainted with the main plot in a relatively short time.

There are two options for retelling - for a more detailed acquaintance with the novel and a very brief, brief summary for the reader's diary. You just need to choose the option that you need for your immediate purposes at the moment.

F.M. Dostoevsky "The Idiot" - films

It is also worth mentioning the domestic film adaptations of the novel.

The first film based on the novel was made in 1910 and is naturally a silent adaptation. The director of the film is Petr Ivanovich Cherdynin.

In 1958, the second Russian film adaptation was released. The creator of the film is Ivan Aleksandrovich Pyryev (who also directed the magnificent screen version of The Brothers Karamazov). The picture already has color and sound.

film The Idiot (1958)

The role of Prince Myshkin was played by a very young Yuri Yakovlev. But only one episode of the film was released, based on the first part of the novel. Yuri Yakovlev refused further filming due to a nervous breakdown after filming the first episode. Pyryev refused to take another actor for the role.

After 45 years, another film, “The Idiot,” appeared on Russian screens. The film was directed by Vladimir Bortko, who assembled an impressive cast: Evgeny Mironov, Vladimir Mashkov, Olga Budina, Inna Churikova, Oleg Basilashvili and many others.

But in my opinion, the 2003 film was not very successful. Too much remains unsaid and unshowed, which spoils the entire integrity of the story. To a viewer familiar with the source material, the film will seem rather boring. Thus, there is a risk that he will not watch the series to the end.

In conclusion, I would like to quote an excerpt from Dostoevsky’s letter to the same A.N. Maikov about how this novel ends:

“If there are readers of The Idiot, they may be somewhat surprised by the unexpectedness of the ending; but, upon reflection, they will of course agree that it should have ended this way. In general, this ending is a successful one, that is, actually as an ending; I'm not talking about the merits of the novel itself; but when I finish, I’ll write something to you as a friend, what I think about him... <...> The ending of “The Idiot” will be spectacular (I don’t know, is it good?)... I have no idea about the success or failure of the novel. However, everything will be decided by the end of the novel...” (to A. N. Maikov, December 1868, from Florence)

I hope we have intrigued you with Dostoevsky’s novel “The Idiot” by briefly retelling the content of the work and revealing significant events from the author’s life. We will be glad to see your opinion in the comments. Read books - it's interesting!

The list of significant novels by Dostoevsky includes many of the author's outstanding works. One such novel is The Idiot. At first, critics and writers did not receive this novel very well, and the writer himself gave a rather harsh description of his creation. Now this work is considered a classic of world literature, and the main characters of “The Idiot” continue to arouse the genuine interest of the reader, trying to understand what hidden meaning is embedded in the images of his heroes.

F. Dostoevsky “The Idiot” - a summary for the reader’s diary

The novel, which was written by F.M. Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" tells about a certain Prince Myshkin - a good-natured and loving man. The society around the hero does not perceive his simple-heartedness as a positive and worthy quality and classifies it as a flaw.

Title: Idiot.

Author: F.M. Dostoevsky.

Genre: novel.

Year of writing: wrote written by F.M. Dostoevsky "The Idiot" in 1867-1869.

Myshkin meets people around him with whom he would like to communicate and love, but every time he encounters some obstacles. The girl whom the prince decides to marry suddenly runs from the crown into the hands of a man who almost immediately kills her.

The incident leaves a strong impression on Myshkin, causing him to end up in a Swiss clinic for the second time with a diagnosis of “idiot.”

Characters

Reviews of Dostoevsky's The Idiot were overwhelmingly positive. The main characters of the novel are well known to all connoisseurs of Russian literature. The main character is Prince Myshkin. In Dostoevsky's The Idiot, we are presented with a Russian nobleman who returns to Russia from Switzerland, where he has been treated for epilepsy for the past four years. The author describes him as a young man of short stature, blond hair and blue eyes. He is smart, pure in soul and thoughts, that is why in society they call him an Idiot. This does not bother Prince Dostoevsky at all.

Another central character is Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova. In the novel “The Idiot” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, we read a description of a pretty woman from a noble family. At the same time, she is in the position of being kept by Afanasy Ivanovich Totsky. With her position, Barashkova evokes pity from Prince Myshkin. Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" describes in detail their relationship, what the main character sacrifices to help her.

Finally, the third main character is Parfen Semenovich Rogozhin. In the novel “The Idiot” by F. M. Dostoevsky, he is described as a dark-haired and gray-eyed 27-year-old merchant. He is passionately in love with Nastasya Filippovna, receives a large inheritance, which he is entirely ready to spend on the object of his passion.

Among the other heroes of Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot,” it is necessary to highlight the Epanchin family. It consists of Myshkin’s distant relative Lizaveta Prokofievna, her husband General Ivan Fedorovich and their three daughters - Alexandra, Adelaila and Aglaya.

The Ivolgin family also plays an important role among the characters in Dostoevsky's The Idiot. This is retired general Ardalion Alexandrovich, his wife Nina Alexandrovna. The hope of their family is their son, an ambitious middle-class official Gavrila, whom many call Ganya. He loves Aglaya Ivanovna, but for the sake of money he is ready to do anything, even to go down the aisle with an unloved woman. He has a younger brother, Kolya, 16 years old, as well as a sister, Varvara, with her husband, Ivan Petrovich Ptitsyn, who works as a moneylender.

Among the other key characters in Dostoevsky’s “The Idiot,” the reader needs to remember Ferdyshchenko, who rents a room from the Ivolgins, deliberately playing the role of a jester, millionaire Totsky, who raised and supports Nastasya Filippovna, Kolya’s consumptive friend Ippolit, retired lieutenant and boxer Keller, a heavy drinker and obsequious official Lebedev.

The main characters of the novel are F. Dostoevsky “The Idiot”

Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin is a 26-27 year old prince of noble origin, a good-natured and very trusting man, with a quiet and meek look. He was in Switzerland for treatment, diagnosed as an “idiot.”

Parfen Semenovich Rogozhin is a merchant’s son, about 27 years old, a man with a smug and fiery look, who fell in love with Nastasya Filippovna and killed her.

Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova is a very attractive girl of noble origin, who was previously Trotsky’s kept woman.

Main characters

The youngest daughter of General Epanchin. A girl of progressive views, she does not like an aristocratic environment, Aglaya strives for heroism, for new trends in life. He dreams of breaking out of his society and starting a new life.

Other characters in the novel "The Idiot"

Alexandra Ivanovna Epanchina is a kind and reasonable woman with a strong and decisive character, who studies music and is just over 25 years old.

Adelaida Ivanovna Epanchina is a 23-year-old girl who is an excellent painter.

Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchina is a 20-year-old person of attractive appearance, too pampered, behavior like a child, in love with Myshkin.

Ivan Fedorovich Epanchin is a 56-year-old wealthy man with influential connections, a representative of the class of soldiers’ children.

Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchina is a distant relative of Myshkin, the mother of Adelaide, Aglaya and Alexandra.

Ardalion Aleksandrovich Ivolgin is a retired general, father of Ganya and Varya, who loves to drink and fantasize.

Nina Aleksandrovna Ivolgina – wife of General Ivolgin, mother of Ganya, Varya, Kolya.

Gavrila Ardalionich Ivolgin (Ganya) is a young man of 28 years old with a beautiful appearance, an official, in love with Aglaya.

Varvara Ardalionovna Ptitsyna is Ganya’s sister.

Nikolai Ardalionich Ivolgin (Kolya) is Ganya’s younger brother.

Ferdyshchenko , “a gentleman of about thirty,” rented a room from the Ivolgins.

Afanasy Ivanovich Totsky is a millionaire, “about fifty-five years old, of an elegant character,” who supported Nastasya Filippovna.

Lebedev is “a clerical official, about forty years old.”

Ippolit is Lebedev’s nephew, Kolya’s friend.

Minor characters

In addition to the heroes playing the first role, secondary characters are also mentioned in the novel; without their presence, the storyline would not be so entertaining. The most notable personalities are:

• Totsky is an unscrupulous and selfish person who lacks any moral principles. It was this man who made Nastasya Filippovna a kept woman, and then completely destroyed her life.
• Hippolytus is a young man who has not yet had time to live life. He is terminally ill with consumption. The young man wants to commit some important and significant act, but those around him do not understand this impulse, so they consider him an eccentric.
• Ferdyshchenko is a poor and impudent official. He is a cynical buffoon who loves to drink and party; his surroundings also do not take him seriously.
• General Ivolgin is the head of a large family, but he does not inspire respect among his many relatives. Family members do not consider him a role model, since he is always drunk. The general has a mistress to whom he likes to show off.
• General Epanchin is another military man, but he achieved everything on his own, without the help of influential relatives or friends. But this character also has his weaknesses - he has a passion for card games.

Among the secondary characters there are also some very interesting and colorful people. They definitely deserve the reader's attention.

F. Dostoevsky “The Idiot” - summary by chapter

PART ONE

Chapter I

End of December. At exactly nine o'clock a train arrives in St. Petersburg, in which Parfen Rogozhin, Prince Lev Myshkin and the official Lebedev happen to be traveling in a third-class carriage.

Myshkin talks about his return from Switzerland, where four years ago he was sent to be treated for a strange illness. From which he was never cured. He was supported there by Mr. Pavlishchev, who had already died by that time.

And he goes to St. Petersburg to visit his distant relative, General Epanchina. Myshkin only has a small bundle of all his things, and that’s all.

Rogozhin said that he ran away from his angry father to Pskov to his aunt. And a month ago my father died. And now Parfyon has inherited a large capital of 2.5 million. Rogozhin also told why he and his father quarreled. He managed to buy Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova diamond pendants with his father’s capital. For this, dad got angry, and Parfyon himself was forced to run away.

Chapter II

Upon arrival, Myshkin immediately goes to the Epanchins. The servant who met him at the entrance did not want to report his arrival to the general. Myshkin was forced to wait in the reception area. The prince was so simple and frivolous that the footman took him for a fool.

Gavrila Ardalionich enters, and they are summoned together to the general’s office.

Chapter III

Myshkin tells the general that he came to them just like that, because he is their distant relative.

Epanchin reminds Gana about the upcoming evening, where Nastasya Filippovna must give her final answer regarding marriage. Ganya is not happy about this marriage, since his relatives consider Nastasya a dishonest woman.

Myshkin, looking at the portrait of Nastasya Filippovna, said that he had already been told about her on the train. Ganya asked if Myshkin himself was ready to take Nastasya as his wife. Myshkin said that he would probably get married, but in a week he would kill her.

Chapter IV

Totsky wooes Alexandra. This is a man of high society, with profitable connections and a decent fortune. But he also had an unpleasant episode in his life, when 18 years ago he took in the daughter of the landowner Barashkov, who had gone crazy.

When the girl turned 12 years old, Totsky hired a governess for her. They began to teach the girl the arts and literacy.

After a short time, Totsky began to visit Nastya in the village. And five years later he decided to get married. Nastasya Filippovna was against marriage. Then Totsky sent her to St. Petersburg.

Now he decided to marry her to Ganya, giving Nastasya 75 thousand rubles in addition for this marriage.

Chapters V–VII

Thanks to Epanchin, Myshkin meets his wife and daughters. Everyone is touched by his stories. The prince talks about a man who was sentenced to execution. And then, 20 minutes later, they pardoned me. During these 20 minutes, the person changed his mind and thought about the value of life.

Myshkin admitted that Aglaya is very beautiful. Almost like Nastasya Filippovna.

Chapter VIII

Ganya invited Myshkin to his apartment on the 3rd floor. Ganya’s father, retired general Ivolgin, his mother, sister and 13-year-old brother, a high school student named Kolya, lived in the apartment. Ferdyshchenko also lived with them and rented housing from them.

Father Ivolgin always lied to everyone. He told Myshkin that he had been babysitting him and that he knew his father well.

Ganya’s mother and sister were worried whether Nastasya Filippovna would agree to marry their Ganya. And then Nastasya herself appears in their apartment.

Chapter IX

Ganya turned white with excitement and introduced everyone to Nastasya Filippovna, although he was very afraid of this meeting of his relatives with Nastasya. The father again began to besiege everyone with his implausible stories, which greatly amused the guest and the lodger, but confused his household.

Chapter X

Lebedev and his comrades and Rogozhin arrive at the Ivolgins. Everyone was pretty tipsy. Rogozhin asks whether Nastasya Filippovna and Ganya are really engaged, adding that Ganya will even pay 100 rubles. you can buy it. Rogozhin promises to bring 18, 40 and as much as 100 thousand no later than the evening for Nastasya Filippovna.

Chapter XI

Ganya is left alone with Myshkin. Ganya admits his decision to marry Nastasya, but Myshkin doubts whether the girl will marry him.

Chapters XII – XIII

Myshkin appears at Nastasya Filippovna's birthday party. Her apartment is decorated simply superbly, the rooms are luxuriously decorated. Only the guests who visited Nastasya were of very dubious reputation.

When Myshkin came to her, Totsky, Epanchin, Ganya and Ferdyshchenko were already there. And a few more guests.

Ferdyshchenko suggested a game - talk about yourself and your bad deeds. It was his turn to tell the story first.

Chapter XIV

Ferdyshchenko admitted that a long time ago he stole three rubles and then drank them away in a restaurant. The maid was caught stealing and severely punished.

Then Epanchin told how at the age of 35 he visited a retired second lieutenant. When he moved out of the apartment, he heard rumors that she had not given his plate back. He ran towards her screaming. He yelled at her so much that the old woman died right there on the chair.

Totsky told about a quarrel between one lady and her admirer because of his reason, since before the ball he got her camellias, which she passionately desired, but the admirer could not find.

Nastasya Filippovna asked Myshkin a question about her marriage to Ganya, to which Myshkin expressed his disagreement.

Chapter XV

Rogozhin arrives, and with him a crowd of drunken men. He brings 100 thousand rubles. Nastasya Filippovna admits to Gana that she only came to him to mock him, that, in her opinion, he can kill anyone for money. That she fully supports Rogozhin on this issue.

Chapter XVI

Myshkin receives a letter from Moscow from his aunt, who bequeathed him a huge capital. Nastasya Filippovna immediately decides to marry him.

Rogozhin tells Myshkin to refuse to marry the girl. Myshkin says that he is ready to take her, regardless of her past behavior. But Nastasya Filippovna suddenly turns her decision in favor of Rogozhin, so as not to “ruin the baby.”

Nastasya Filippovna takes a wad of Rogozhin’s money and turns to Gana with the words that she will now burn it in the fireplace, and he must get it out of the fire. Then the money will be his.

She throws money into the fireplace. Ganya does not dare to get them, but everyone starts shouting for him to get them. Ganya wanted to leave, but fell unconscious.

Ganya took out the money with tongs and said that it was now hers.

PART TWO

Chapters I–II

Myshkin goes to Moscow to resolve inheritance matters. There he learns about Nastasya Filippovna’s escape from the aisle and her disappearance in the capital, although before that she had definitely reassured Rogozhin.

Chapter III

Arriving in St. Petersburg, Myshkin visits Rogozhin. Nastasya Filippovna lives with the prince in Moscow for some time. Myshkin says that he truly loves her, and he is not Rogozhin’s enemy at all.

Rogozhin thinks that Nastasya Filippovna is simply afraid to marry him.

Chapter IV

Rogozhin and Myshkin exchange pectoral crosses, then Rogozhin asks his mother for a maternal blessing for Myshkin.

Parfyon shows the prince a picture of the Savior taken down from the cross.

Chapter V

Nastasya Filippovna leaves for Pavlovsk. Myshkin finds out about this. He sees Rogozhin everywhere. Arriving at the hotel, the prince sees Rogozhin there. Myshkin falls into epilepsy, otherwise Rogozhin would have stabbed him with a knife.

The prince is found by Kolya, he is taken to Lebedev’s dacha in Pavlovsk.

Chapters VI – IX

The Epanchins learn about Myshkin’s illness and go to visit him. All my friends gather there - Ganya, Varya, Kolya.

Almost immediately, four young “nihilist” men arrive. With them is Pavlishchev’s son, who demands that Myshkin give him part of the inheritance. Although, according to Gavril Ardalionich’s investigations, the fellow is not even Pavlishchev’s son.

Chapters X – XII

Myshkin learns from Ganya that Nastasya Filippovna has been living in Pavlovsk for four days. Lizaveta Prokofyevna was sure that Myshkin went to St. Petersburg to marry Nastasya Filippovna. She told about Ganya’s relationship with Aglaya.

PART THREE

Chapter I

One day Myshkin got together with his friends and the Epanchin sisters. The conversation started about crimes. Myshkin said that every criminal knows about his criminal inclinations, knows that he is acting disgustingly, but does not repent at all.

Chapters II – III

During the walk, Rogozhin approaches Myshkin. The prince thinks that Rogozhin is jealous of Nastasya Filippovna, and that is why he wanted to assassinate him. Parfyon thinks that Nastasya loves the prince.

Chapters IV – VIII

During the morning conversation between Lebedev's nephew and Myshkin, an argument arises that beauty will save the world. Suddenly the nephew shouted that the prince was in love.

Myshkin went to the park, where he accidentally fell asleep while reminiscing about Switzerland. He woke up when he heard Aglaya standing over him and laughing. The girl confessed her love to him.

Chapters IX–X

Myshkin received a message from Nastasya Filippovna, where the girl confessed to him her fiery feelings. About Rogozhin, she mentioned that he had a razor in his desk. The girl wrote about their common wedding, and that she did not hide it from Rogozhin. She admits that she would kill him, but he would get ahead.

In the evening, Nastasya Filippovna meets Myshkin in the park. The girl on his knees asks if he is happy now. Myshkin tries to calm her down. But Rogozhin comes and takes the girl away. Then he returns and wonders why the prince didn’t answer her. Myshkin admits that he does not feel happy.

PART FOUR

Chapters I–IV

Ivolgin Sr. comes to Myshkin to talk. The prince listens to what the general tells him about with all care.

Having visited the Epanchins, Ivolgin caused a stir there, for which he was expelled in disgrace. And the next day you get a heart attack.

Chapter V

There has not yet been any talk about the wedding of Myshkin and Aglaya. But one evening Aglaya herself asked Myshkin if he would marry her, to which he said yes.

Ivan Fedorych talks with Aglaya and realizes that she has feelings for the prince. The relationship between Myshkin and Aglaya is strange. At times the girl laughs at him as if he were a jester.

Chapters VI–VII

The Epanchins organized a dinner for representatives of high society. There was a conversation about the deceased Pavlishchev. They did not forget to mention that Myshkin was once his pupil. One of the guests remembered that he knew Myshkin at an early age, as well as his nannies, which brought the prince into emotion. He immediately joined the conversation. His speeches were excited. Especially his statement about Catholicism, which, according to him, is worse than atheism.

Myshkin was so excited and carried away by the conversation that he accidentally dropped and broke a Chinese vase. After talking, Myshkin rose sharply and immediately fell in an epileptic fit.

Half an hour later those present began to leave. After what happened, there could be no talk of marriage.

Chapter VIII

Ippolit facilitates the meeting of Aglaya and Nastasya Filippovna. Aglaya goes to the meeting together with Myshkin. The girl immediately begins to attack Nastasya Filippovna, they begin to quarrel. First, Nastasya Filippovna tells Aglaya to get out together with her escort. But then he begins to bully himself, saying that as soon as she says a word, the prince will immediately leave Aglaya and even marry her.

Aglaya started to run, Myshkin followed her. Nastasya tries to detain the prince by grabbing onto him. But suddenly he falls unconscious. When she came to her senses, she realized that she was delirious and was driving Rogozhin away from her. Myshkin paused to calm her down.

Chapter IX

A couple of weeks later, a rumor spread around the city that the prince wanted to leave Aglaya and marry Nastasya Filippovna. The Epanchins leave Pavlovsk.

Talking with friends, Myshkin admits that he considers Nastasya Filippovna crazy and is afraid of her.

Chapter X

General Ivolgin dies from a second attack. Ippolit threatens Myshkin that he will kill Aglaya if he gets along with Nastasya Filippovna.

Myshkin and Nastasya Filippovna set a wedding day and come to the church. Nastasya Filippovna has no face. Suddenly she rushes to Rogozhin, who has just appeared at the church, and begs him to take her and save her.

Rogozhin grabs her and takes her away in a carriage. Myshkin didn’t even seem surprised by this turn of things, saying that he had assumed so.

Chapter XI

The next day, the prince goes to St. Petersburg and goes to Rogozhin, but according to the maid, he is not at home.

The prince hides near the house and begins to watch, when he suddenly notices Rogozhin’s face in the window. Then he goes to Nastasya Filippovna, but she is not at home.

Myshkin tried several times to get to Rogozhin, but nothing worked out for him. Rogozhin himself called the prince, meeting him on the street. He ordered to follow him at a distance.

Entering Rozhin’s office, Myshkin saw that Nastasya Filippovna was lying dead on the bed, covered with a white sheet. Myshkin trembled all over, as usually happens to him before a seizure.

They spent the night in Rogozhin's room. In the morning people came for the killer. He was in a severe fever and had no memory. Myshkin, sitting next to the delirious Rogozhin, for some reason stroked him, as if he wanted to console him. The prince could no longer think of anything and did not recognize anyone. He became an "idiot".

Chapter XII.

After two months of treatment for brain inflammation, Rogozhin went to trial and investigation. He was sentenced to 15 years and sentenced to hard labor in Siberia.

Myshkin again ended up in a Swiss hospital as an “idiot.”

Aglaya got married, worked her way up the career ladder and “became a member of some foreign committee for the restoration of Poland.”