I think Dostoevsky is most evident in this story, writing in many of his own traits (epilepsy, being treated as an idiot, not fitting in anywhere in society).

This book is frustrating, it's kind of a sobstory about how Dostoevsky views himself. And I have little sympathy for Myshkin. On paper, he becomes less credulous and sympathetic with every chapter, but I think what makes this book "good" is that he remains sympathetic despite being a total wimp.

Part I: The Importance of Being Earnest – 7.5

• Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin: the 25-year old epileptic/invalid protagonist who descends from a respected noble Russian lineage, returning from his time in Switzerland where he was recuperating from his epilepsy. He is severely emotionally retarded (my observation)
• Parfyon Semyonovich Rogozhin: head over heels in love with Nastasya Filippovna, who has also just come into a sizable inheritance from his late father
• Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova: celebrity, harsh, and mocking – was being sexually groomed as an orphaned child by Totsky – and is thusly skeptical of all men
• Lebedyev: kind of just a slag and a gosspi. Becomes a groupie of Rogozhin's as soon as he learns that he's got money.
• Lizaveta Prokofyevna: Very distant relative of Myshkin's, wife of General Epanchin
• General Epanchin:
• Gavril Ardalionovich Ivolgin (Ganya): Epanchin's assistant, also in love with Nastasya Filippovna
• Totsky: Aristocrat friend of Epanchin. Groomed Nastasya Filippovna while he was her guardian. Wants to get her off his hands so he can pursue one of Epanchin's daughters.

Myshkin meets Rogozhin on the train from (Swizterland to) Warsaw to Petersburg. Rogozhin explains that he's on a mission to win the hand of Nastasya Filippovna.

Myshkin makes his way to to General Epanchin's house to call on his relative Lizaveta and deal with a small matter of business. While he waits, he converses with the General's assistant, Ganya, who is very suspicious of Myshkin's stated purpose and need for an audience with the Mrs. General. They discuss the practice of beheading in France (which Myshkin views as barbaric). Myshkin is so earnest and sincere seeming, even laughing along with Ganya's mockery of his claimed status, that Ganya lets him through despite his suspicion. Ganya shows Myshkin a portrait of Nastasya Filippovna, and Myshkin is struck by her beauty.

Myshkin gains audience with Lizaveta who introduces him to her and the General's daughters:

• Alexandra - to be wed to Totsky, though she doesn't know it yet
• Adelaida
• Aglaya - Fond of Myshkin, "as pretty as Nastasya Filippovna" according to Myshkin

They want to hear about Switzerland, but Myshkin doesn't have much to say since he was essentially rehabbing the whole time he was there. He tells them a story about a donkey (that they don't care for), how he saw the purity of a stand-in Samaritan woman named Marie who he loved purely and kissed (once) before she died. Myshkin demonstrates his purity by soul reading all of them just off their faces.

• General Ivolgin - Ganya's father, a drunk
• Varya - Ganya's older sister (doesn't like Nastasya)
• Ptitsyn - Varya's fiancé
• Kolya - Ganya's younger brother

Myshkin leaves for an apartment also occupied by Ganya's family and a dude called Ferdyschenko. Myshkin learns that Ganya's proposed marriage to Nastasya Filippovna is disliked by the rest of his family. They start arguing about it when none other than the bride-to-be shows up. Ganya is embarrassed and struggles through introductions with his unimpressed family. Nastasya Filippovna laughs at his shame, which drives him to a rage. Myshkin tries to intervene and is threatened by Ganya. Ivolgin stumbles in and Nastasya Filippovna provokes him as he starts compulsively lying. Rogozhin shows up with a party of troubadours in wake ready to openly bid for Nastasya's hand, bidding up to 100k rubles. Varya demands that the Nastasya be taken from their apartment. Ganya seizes her, and then she spits on him, which Nastasya loves (again, cold woman). Ganya turns to hit Nastasya when Myshkin intervenes again, this time Ganya does hit him which silences the room. Myshkin (can see the purity of her/everyone's heart) tells her that he mockery is not who she truly is. The crowd disperses ahead of the second act surrounding Nastasya's birthday party later that evening.

• Pavlishchev - Myshkin's late benefactor

Everyone's at the party, even Myshkin, who wasn't invited. Ferdyshchenko, the court jester/party's comedic relief suggests a party game where everyone tells an unflattering story about themself. Totsky tells a long and boring story about petty theft or something. Bored, Nastasya asks Myshkin about who she ought to marry: Rogozhin or Ganya. He says not Ganya, and she agrees, much to the dismay of the Epanchin's, Totsky, and Ganya. At this point, Rogozhin shows up with his posse of miscreants, as well as the 100k rubles he promised. To maximally twist the knife in Totsky's gut, she agrees to marry him, but then on the way out, Myshkin humbly offers his own proposal. When Nastasya inquires what on earth they'll live on (relative to Rogozhin's 100k kiddy), the Prince produces a paper proving his own massive inheritance. Nastasya still declines, and throws Rogozhin's 100k in the fire, telling Ganya they're his if he's willing to scrounge the ashes for them, then leaves with Rogozhin, and Myshkin in tail.

Part II: what a horrible night for a curse – 7.5

Months go by, with Nastasya continuing to refuse to settle down, effectively leading both Rogozhin and Myshkin on. Both are suffering as a result, tension rises between the two suitors. Myshkin takes this time to go to Moscow to deal with some business/his his inheritance, and when he returns he is appalled to learn that Rogozhin has been violent towards Nastasya, going to far as to threaten to cut her throat. They have a long talk, exchange crosses with one another, and part as brothers. Myshkin leaves for his hotel in Petersburg, where he is ambushed by Rogozhin who stabs him. Simultaneously, Myshkin suffers an epileptic seizure.

• Yevgeny Pavlovich Radomsky - one of Aglaya's suitors

Myshkin recovers, and visits Lebedyev in Pavlosk (because he knows Nastasya is also vacationing there, as well as the Epanchins). The Epanchins come to call on Myshkin, along with Yevgeny. Aglaya is clearly still hot for Myshkin which is amusing for everyone but he and Yevgeny.

• Burdovsky - grifter, claims to be illegitimate son of Pavlishchev, bad at talking
• Ippolit Terentyev - young, has tuberculosis, troubador
• Doktorenko - nihilist troubador
• Keller - officer, troubador, wrote a scathing article about Myshkin and Pavlishchev with the help of the town gossip, Lebedyev

The visit is interrupted by Burdovsky and his own troubadors, claiming a right to part of Myshkin's inheritance per the tell-all that Keller has produced. The unsuspecting wingman, Ganya, comes to Myshkin's defense proves the claim to be false. Kindred Myshkin offers them some money nonetheless. Lizaveta, disgusted by the grifting, lampoons both Myshkin and Burdovsky et al. Ippolit is delighted by the feud, and Lizaveta grabs his arm which nearly kills the consumptive teenager. He explains that he's near death and monologues about how he is in need of their love and friendship in his final days, causing Lizaveta to cry. Ippolit then backpedals himself, and lambasts the Prince for some reason (despite offering nothing but charity to the group), causing everyone leave – most of whom now think less of Myshkin than before they arrived. Only Yevgeny seems in good spirits, until Nastasya Filippovna pulls up in a magnificent carriage to inform Yevgeny that Rogozhin has acquired all his debts. Yevgeny didn't even know about whatever debts she referred to, and is now suspicious of Nastsya

Part III: Much Ado About Nothing - 7

Myshkin feels compelled to go apologize to Lizaveta (for some cucked reason), where he falls increasingly in love with Aglaya who reciprocates, though she is easily angered by how much of a pushover he is. The Epanchin family goes for a stroll with Myshkin, where they run into Nastasya, who once again does an emotional hit-and-run on Yevgeny to inform him that his wealthy uncle has shot himself just that morning. The Epanchin's leave (weak stomach for these very uncomfortable scenes. A nearby friend of Yevgeny says that Nastasya ought to be whipped; in response she finds a horse whip and strikes him with it. Myshkin prevents him from retaliating, and gets beat up for his simpery. Rogozhin eggs on the sharp-tongued officer before leaving with Nastasya in tow. The officer gets Myshkins information before leaving, telling him they can settle the matter like men (Chekhov's traffic stop).

Myshkin returns to the Epanchin's dacha where he is lectured by Aglaya for not knowing how to operate a pistol. General Epanchin asks to speak with the Prince, who leaves with a note from Agalaya. Epanchin complains about Nastasya's effect on the family, and how she knew about Yevgeny's uncle. He leaves Myshkin who then examines the note that Aglaya left him with, which is a note telling him to meet her somewhere the next morning. As he ponders the clandestine note, Keller comes to offer to be his second in a duel that will inevitably follow from the encounter with the officer the next morning. Keller leaves, and Rogozhin now appears, telling Myshkin that Nastasya wants to see him – trying to play matchmaker between he and Aglaya. Myshkin is puzzled again by Nastasya's ability to be in everyone's business, but is mostly happy. He even forgives Rogozhin for FUCKING STABBING HIM. He invites Rogozhin to a birthday dinner the following evening.

Returning to Myshkin's place, a large party has already unfolded. Everyone is there, again, including Yevgeny, who asks for his advice about Aglaya. Everyone is happy, until Ippolit pulls out a letter which he insists on reading aloud to everyone. It's his sob story/suicide note announcing that he'll be shooting himself the next morning. It takes over an hour for him to get through it, and most people are bored and ambivalent lol. He escapes the restraints of the only few people who seemed to be listening, pulls out a pistol and tries to shoot himself. Nothing happens, and he faints. Everyone assumes it was a play for attention and continues to ignore him.

After the party, Myshkin mozies to the meeting place where Aglaya asked to meet him that morning. He awakens from a nightmare about Nastasya to Agalaya's laughter. Apparently Nastasya is also in love with Aglaya, which she thinks is a proxy for her love for Myshkin. She presses the Prince about his own feelings for Nastasya – he thinks she's insane, and only feels sympathetic for her, though he did initially come to Pavlosk in search of her. Aglaya responds very sanely by flipping out on him. She leaves, and later Nastasya pulls up, asking if Myshkin is happy. She announces she's eloping with Rogozhin, who then escorts her from the scene.

At some point, Lebedyev visits Myshkin and asks him if he has any idea who might have stolen the 400 rubles from his coat pocket at his party. He slept in the same room as General Epanchin, Ferdyschenko, and Keller and confronted each of them only to later realize that the money was in the floor beneath the chair that he left his jacket on. This was all a ploy to cause derision between Myshkin and the Epanchin family.

Part IV: Enter, the Dog House - 6.5

Leading into this chapter, we get a bunch of meta-commentary from Dostoevsky where he apologies for how boring several of the characters are, namely Ganya, and how he will use this final part to try to round out some of the more insufferable characters.

General Ivolgin goes on a lengthy drunken tirade (probably lies) about how Napoleon was impressed by his honor when he was a young Russian officer during his invasion. He ends up having a stroke in Kolya's arms.

Aglaya is now angry with Myshkin. Her parents try to steer them together, but Aglaya refuses, and is outright rude to him (she pulls a bunch of practical jokes on him, including sending him a hedgehog and asking how it was received?? as if he ought to be pleased). Myshkin is still so whipped that he overlooks her lashings, as is upset that she's angry with him. The Epanchin's decide to introduce the Prince to their aristocratic circle and setup a dinner party with other well-to-dos on his behalf. Aglaya, worried that he won't fit in, sarcastically tells him to be even more eccentric than he is, to pontificate, and even break some thing. Myshkin (still happy, though anxious) tries to bring up the matter of Nastasya, which causes Aglaya to storm off.

Whoever can suffer is worthy to suffer

• Ivan Petrovich - friend of the late Pavlishchev

At the dinner party, Myshkin is naively impressed. A friend of his late benefactor mentions that towards the end of his life, Pavlishchev turned everything over and went to the Church. Recalling his instructions from Aglaya, and worried for his inheritance, the Prince launches into an anti-Catholic rant. Everyone is appalled, which he takes as a good sign, and becomes increasingly caught up in his own tirade, and eventually breaks Lizaveta's good vase. Everyone's shocked, then starts joking about his health. He pivots to a discourse on the Russian aristocracy (liberalism). He's so autistically unaware that this is inappropriate, and works himself into another epileptic seizure. The dinner party is a failure.

Ippolit visits the Prince as he recovers, letting him know that Lebedyev and Ganya have been plotting against Myshkin, by bringing up Nastasya to provoke Aglaya. The young consumptive, with the help of Rogozhin, has set up a meeting between the two women. With Myshkin in hand, Aglaya goes secretly to the arranged meeting place. It becomes clear that Aglaya has not come in good faith, and verbally attacks Nastasya as soon as she arrives. Nastasya's banishes Rogozhin, and implores Myshkin to stay with her (terrible move in front of Aglaya). Myshkin, naive lad, reprimands Aglaya for lashing out, and consoles Nastasya. Aglaya runs off fuming. He tries to follow, but Nastasya attempts to stop him, then faints. He stays with her (DOG HOUSE!!).

Myshkin gets engaged to Nastasya. People don't like this, they side with Aglaya. He is ostracized by Lizaveta and the rest of the Epanchins. Myshkin confides in Yevgeny that Nastasya is a broken soul and he must fix her else she'll die. Yevgeny tries to talk some sense into him, but Myshkin remains convinced that he loves both women simultaneously. He's convinced he can make Aglaya understand. Yevgeny refuses to facilitate such an insane conversation (good!).

On the day of the wedding, as Nastasya is being escorted to the church (ironic) by Keller and Burdovsky of all people, she spies Rogozhin and hysterically begs him to take her away. He's also so cucked that he does. Myshkin is fine with this, and goes about the rest of his day. The next day he decides to go to Rogozhin's house, but no one is there. He returns to the same hotel in Petersburg where Rogozhin ambushed him, where ofc Rogozhin is waiting (after giving him the ring around all day), and tells him to come back to the house. Once there, Rogozhin shows him that he stabbed Nastasya in the heart. The two men standoffishly cherish the evening they can spend with her (despite being dead), with Myshkin worried that Rogozhin might also kill him at any time. Lebedyev dispatches some folks who kick down the door and arrest Rogozhin who promptly enters a brain fever. Myshkin is distraught.

Rogozhin is sentenced to 15 years of labor in Siberia. Myshkin does eventually go mad, and is returned to Switzerland by Yevgeny. The Epanchin's leave Russia, and Aglaya elopes with a wealthy polish exile (none of which end up being true about him), who successfully turns her against her family.

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