The Idiot

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky follows Prince Myshkin, a gentle and compassionate man who returns to Russia after years abroad. His honesty and innocence place him in a society driven by money, pride, jealousy and social ambition. As he becomes involved with a complex group of characters, including Nastasya Filippovna and Aglaya Yepanchin, his ideals collide with intense emotions and conflicting desires. Dostoevsky uses the story to explore innocence, morality, love, faith, society and human psychology, creating a profound nineteenth-century novel filled with moral and emotional complexity.