The Idiot

The characters in the novel wrestles with the philosophy of atheism versus belief in God. Which side, if either, wins in the end? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

The novel takes place in Saint Petersburg and Pavlovsk. What is the purpose of the two different locations? What do they represent?

General Ivolgin lies constantly. To what extent can his lies be considered a satire of the society? Does he reveal any hidden truths?

Describe the differences between wealth and status in The Idiot. Can a character be poor and noble? Can they be wealthy and lower class? What does this signify about society in 19th-century Russia?

In what ways does Rogozhin function as an antithesis to Myshkin? How does they embody different perspectives on the world?

Are the Ivolgin and the Epanchin families more alike than they are different? What are the key factors which differentiate the two families?

Nihilists appear in Part 2, Chapters 7 and 8. What is nihilism and how does it fit into the political landscape of 19th-century Russia? Does the novel have a political message? If so, what is it?

As someone on the fringes of the Saint Petersburg elite, how does Lebedev's character provide insight into the functions of high society?