Dostoevsky Collection: The Idiot

Author: (Russian) Dostoevsky
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The Idiots is one of the important works of the great Russian writer Dostoevsky in the 19th century. The novel depicts a beautiful noblewoman, Natasha, born into the aristocracy, who is constantly tormented by the landlord Totsky in the 1860s. Later, Totsky offers a large sum of money to marry her to the shameless Ganja. On the night of the heroine's birthday ball, the young Duke Meshkin, who is regarded as an idiot by people, suddenly appears and proposes to marry Natasha unconditionally, which deeply moves her. On the day of the wedding with the Duke, although Natasha deeply loves him, she runs off with the playboy Rogozhin and is eventually killed by him. The novel provides a broad portrayal of Russian upper society after the abolition of serfdom and touches on complex psychological and moral issues. The noble and tolerant Duke Meshkin is unable to influence those around him or bring them prosperity. The futile efforts of this Don Quixote-like character reveal the author's disillusionment with the fantasy of saving the world through faith and love.