Reader discussion: The Idiot

Public reader discussion about The Idiot in the WeRead Catalog by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Which translation of The Idiot by Dostoevsky should I read?

By cocoa7429

Ugh, I can’t even figure this out because every time I try to look it up it’s just conflicting stuff. One group says P&V is the best, and another group says it’s the worst. I also saw people saying Avsey is good, but when I looked at a few excerpts it didn’t feel anything like Dostoevsky to me. I did like Mcduff’s translation of Brothers… so maybe I should just stick with that again? But I was kinda thinking I’d try something different this time. If you’ve read it, what translation did you end up with, and what would you recommend?

The Idiot (Elif Batuman)

By brookGolden

Did anyone else feel kind of let down by *The Idiot*? I’m only halfway through and I’m seriously thinking about stopping, which I basically never do. The writing seems solid enough and there are a couple of moments with really good, vivid comparisons, but overall it feels like the themes are pretty run-of-the-mill and most of the characters aren’t grabbing me. The one exception is Svetlana—I actually think she’s pretty funny. Maybe I’m just out of the part of my life where neurotic, confused college-student stuff hits the way it used to. Does this thing get better if you come back to it, or should I just admit it’s not my kind of book?

Useful Idiots: Frank Guan reviews "The Idiot" by Elif Batuman with helpful links to lots of other reviews of "The Idiot" | The Point Magazine

By String72

The book doesn’t really give you a whole lot in terms of plot or much back-and-forth between characters, but it somehow makes up for it with how sharp and observant the writing is. The parts by the water—like that Massachusetts lake trip and the Danube voyage—feel really carefully watched, the kind of detail that makes you just sit there and pay attention. And Selin’s got this knack for turning what she’s seeing into exactly the right kind of words; it’s there constantly. She admits she’s inexperienced, but she comes off stubborn in a good way—smart, and honestly pretty funny. From the start you’re getting jokes and little comic asides, and the style will be familiar if you’ve read The Possessed. The weird part is that the book’s “stuckness” doesn’t come from her being weak; it’s kind of because she’s so strong. The more she clings to her own ideas about becoming a writer and being able to live outside the usual lies, the less the story seems to test them or really push them further. And as a result, almost everyone else (even Ivan and Svetlana) just doesn’t stick. Whatever they’re doing or how intense they feel, they end up meaning basically nothing in the world of the book, where it all keeps coming back to Selin. This paragraph really captures why I can both like the book and feel frustrated by it at the same time.

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

By castleBalance

I just wrapped this up and, weirdly enough, I think it might end up being one of my all-time favorites. Dostoevsky’s always been a top author for me, and I’ve been slowly going through his stuff lately, so I was already on board going in. But I’m curious—if you’ve read *The Idiot*, what did you think? I keep getting stuck on the themes he’s pushing, and especially on what happens to Prince Myshkin in the end. Also, the way he keeps pointing back to Hans Holbein’s *The Body of the Dead Christ in the Tomb* was really fascinating to me. Is there anything else you noticed or thought about with that painting?

Dostoyevsky - A Review of The Idiot

By tenderharbor

This book feels like a really good match for *Crime and Punishment*—and honestly it’s one of those that just hits on what it means to be human. I know Dostoyevsky was going for the whole “pure, Christ-like” innocent kind of guy with the idiot character, someone who hasn’t been ruined by sin and all the ugly stuff. But reading it, I didn’t really get that impression. Instead, he comes off more like someone who’s been messed up by the world but in a way that lets him actually understand it. He’s not acting like a saint who’s totally above everything—he’s lived through things, he’s aware, and he talks like he’s taken in more than just blind goodness. And when he’s around Russian society, it feels like a lot of what he’s seen just gives him a view beyond petty personal struggles, not some untouched innocence. It also kind of lands two different takes together. *Crime and Punishment* is basically “if you can’t live honestly, you can’t live right,” and this one feels more like “if you haven’t lived, you can’t really live honestly.” Either way, I’d say it’s worth it. 6 stars.

Notes From The Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

By greencat

I first read this in uni, like 2015, and I remember liking it. I’m picking it back up now just to refresh my head and wow… it’s weirdly too relatable. I keep going back over pages like I can’t believe how much of it hits, and I’m trying to convince myself I don’t have anything in common with this guy except the bitterness. But the bitterness is so raw and the whole “brutal reality” vibe keeps slapping me in the face, and suddenly I’m like… wait, why does this feel like me? It’s kind of a messed-up paradox. Like my thoughts are being spelled out for me, and I hate it. So far the excerpts are honestly making me feel a ton of stuff. The stuff about not knowing how to even be spiteful or anything, and then the bit about people kind of bragging about their diseases, and that whole explanation about how the “enjoyment” is basically from realizing you’re degraded and there’s no way out—it’s unsettling in a really personal way. What do you all think about the book?

I'm not enjoying reading 'the idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky' so far, am I missing something?

By carbon_cricket1992

I’m only about a quarter of the way in (page 79 out of 390), but I’m honestly not impressed. I was really excited because everyone kept saying it’s one of the best books ever and I’ve gotten so many recommendations. So far it feels super straight-line and kind of messy—like scenes just show up and then move on, without much build-up. The author doesn’t really set anything up, so it’s hard to feel invested. There’s one mystery about Nastasya Philipovna’s past, but other than that it’s been pretty boring and I’m not that curious about what’s coming next. It honestly makes me sad because I can’t figure out why everyone likes it so much, and I feel kinda dumb for not getting it. I really want to understand what people are seeing and how I’m supposed to enjoy it—does anyone have any advice?

I just finished reading Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Idiot and I'm not quite sure what to make of it.

By keycarries1997

I’ve been looking back at this book for years. I first found it from my mom’s collection and tried a couple times to get through it, but I always ended up giving up right around when Ganya’s family shows up. A few months ago I decided to actually finish it, using an audiobook this time, and I did… but now I just feel really worn out. And for some reason the characters keep popping into my head in this annoying way. Am I the only one who thinks the whole thing is kind of confusing, or did I totally miss what it was going for?

The Idiot: Part 2 Chapter 7 Discussion

By Superuser

I’m a little stuck on the whole Aglaya thing—people keep saying the poem was meant to be nasty, but Myshkin seems to think she wasn’t trying to humiliate him. Does that not kinda contradict itself, or am I missing what’s going on? Also, Radomsky’s arrival felt off somehow. The prince notices it immediately and it messes with the whole mood of the company. And then those young nihilists show up—what did they feel like to you? Like they just want a debate, or are they trying to get at something more? I’m also curious about anything else anyone noticed, especially about how everyone’s ready to jump in as soon as the first person talks.

The Idiot: Part 1 Chapter 6 Discussion

By Superuser

I’m really not sure what to make of Myshkin’s whole “tell kids everything” attitude. It sounds kind of nice in theory, but I can’t help wondering if it’s a bit too much sometimes. Also, Marie’s story kind of bugged me—the way everyone in town turned on her was pretty rough to read, and it didn’t feel subtle at all. And then Myshkin somehow gets the children to change their minds about her… I’m not totally sure how much I buy that, even though I get what he’s trying to do. What surprised me more is that he basically says he knows people think he’s an idiot, but he doesn’t seem too worried. I don’t know, I’d probably care a lot more. And I also noticed how he’s always looking at people’s faces like he can read their character—he does it with the general’s wife and the daughters too. Thoughts on whether that’s even fair?

Should I read Dostoevsky's The Idiot first or The Brother's Karamazov

By Tiny-Atom50

I started The Brothers Karamazov a couple months back, but I bailed after about 150 pages because it started getting kind of confusing (I think it was around that Grand Inquisitor part). After that I switched to Crime and Punishment so I could ease into his writing. Now I’m stuck—should I read The Idiot next, or go ahead and finish Karamazov?

What do you guys think about Prince Myshkin's view on execution? (The idiot - Dostoevsky)

By basilcomet77

It just feels like being killed by a sentence is way worse than being attacked by some random criminal. If someone’s getting robbed at night in the dark woods, even though it’s terrifying, there’s still that little hope that they might get away right up until the end—like people have run off or begged for mercy even after they’ve been hurt really badly. But with an execution, that last shred of hope is basically gone, and all you’ve got left is the certainty that there’s no way out. I can’t imagine anything more awful than knowing that you can’t possibly escape death.

What is so great about The Idiot by Dostoevsky?

By ivory_pocket

I read *Crime and Punishment* and really liked it, so when I saw *The Idiot* in a bookstore I grabbed it kind of on impulse. I’ve noticed a bunch of people seem to have the same vibe: the beginning is actually interesting, then after that it feels like it just goes on forever. There were a few moments I enjoyed, especially the party-type scenes, but a lot of it felt kind of pointless or like nothing really happened. It also hit me as more like a daytime soap opera than something super deep. I really couldn’t stand how over-the-top the women characters were—every time anything goes wrong they start panicking, make a big dramatic deal, and storm off. Still, I kept pushing through because I figured I’d already put in so much time (like 400 pages). The whole 650 pages probably wasn’t worth it though. Anyone else feel similarly?

Starting on Dostoevsky... The Idiot or The Brothers Karamazov?

By fuzzy_cougar

I’ve been getting into Russian lit lately, but I still haven’t read one of the big-name authors everyone talks about. Lots of people swear that *The Brothers Karamazov* is the greatest book ever, and I know I’ll get to it eventually, but I’m not sure if it’s the best Dostoevsky to start with. A friend told me to read *The Idiot* first as a lead-in, but I’d love to hear what other people think—like whether that’s a good starting point or if I should go in a different direction.

The Idiot: Part 3 Chapter 7 Discussion

By Superuser

Ippolit’s whole “Explanation” left me feeling kind of all over the place. Some of it makes sense, but I’m not sure I buy all of his conclusions, and his whole vibe at the end is just intense. And after he finished reading, the group’s reaction felt pretty dramatic—like nobody was really sure how to take him. The part with him agreeing to hand over the pistol but still trying to go through with the suicide attempt was pretty awful to watch. It’s one of those scenes where you’re tense the entire time, and then he doesn’t manage it anyway. I also wondered what Yevgeny Pavlovich is waiting for by not talking to the Prince yet. Is he trying to change something first, or does he just think it’s safer to hold off? And yeah, the line about Ippolit being able to kill a dozen people sounded a little exaggerated, but at the same time… I don’t know. It felt like something someone would say when they’re really afraid. Then there’s the bench part—Myshkin reflecting, dozing, and dreaming—which honestly I found a bit confusing, but also kind of fitting. I have no real clue which woman he was thinking of right before Aglaya shows up. And of course the whole scene ends with Aglaya just standing there laughing, which feels like whiplash compared to everything right before it.

I think I finally understand Dostoevsky's 'The Idiot'!

By turtleDistant

I read *The Idiot* a few months ago and I walked away feeling like it was super tragic, but the ending left me kinda cold—like I missed what the whole point was supposed to be. I kept thinking there must be some big intended meaning, but when I tried looking around online I didn’t find anything that really nailed it. For a bit I even thought maybe there wasn’t a clear central message at all, and it was more like a thought experiment for the reader. But I’m not sure that’s right anymore. Do you remember that part where the prince visits Rogozhin and sees that really messed-up painting? It’s this dead-body-of-Christ image after the crucifixion, and Dostoevsky goes into this gross, detailed description of it. I didn’t really connect it to anything when I first read it. Then I happened to see the painting online later on—*The Body of Dead Christ in the Tomb*—and suddenly it clicked for me. It feels like it’s basically saying Christ isn’t “coming back,” he’s decaying. Like maybe Christianity isn’t actually true in the sense people want it to be, and salvation might not be waiting for anyone after death. Even Jesus, even though he’s sinless, is just doomed to rot into nothing. And it made me think about the prince in the same way. He’s genuinely selfless and tries to do the “right” thing every time. He sacrifices his own relationship with Aglaya to try to protect Nastasya from Rogozhin, like he’s trying to save everyone from what’s coming. But it doesn’t matter—Rogozhin still ends up killing Nastasya, and the prince, Aglaya, and everyone kind of gets destroyed in the end. And then the “Idiot” himself (who feels like a Jesus figure) goes completely mad and ends back in the sanatorium, spending the rest of his life suffering with delirium and epilepsy. So yeah… it’s like the question the painting raises: what if there’s no happy ending, no heaven, nothing saving you even if you’re morally perfect? Does that make everything he did pointless? I don’t think it does. Even if there isn’t a God, or no heaven, and everyone is just going to end up rotting in the tomb, it still doesn’t erase the value of doing the right thing. To me that’s the whole point—right is right even if it doesn’t come with reward. The suffering and the decay aren’t “meaningless” because it’s suffering for what’s good. And Athiests arguing about whether God exists kind of misses it, because it’s more about living with love, peace, and doing what’s right no matter what happens after.

Dostoyevsky's Demons translation similar to Carlisle translation of The Idiot?

By LampEcho

I really can’t stand the Pevear translation I ended up with.

The Idiot: Part 1 Chapter 8 Discussion

By Superuser

I’m mostly stuck on all the family stuff in this section. Meeting Ganya’s relatives was kind of a lot, and I can’t tell yet whose vibe really hit me the most. Also, I don’t know what to make of Ferdyshenko and how he interacts with Myshkin—something feels off, but I can’t pin it down. The General knowing Myshkin’s parents got my attention too, especially his stories about his mom and dad. But then it also feels like he might be confused or mixing things up, so I’m not sure I’d trust his recollections completely. And the whole tension between Ganya and Varvara… her attitude toward Nastasya is obvious, but I’m still guessing what her actual objection is. Plus, first impressions of Natasya Fillipovna: she comes off way intense, and I’m not sure I even like her yet. Finally, that ending confusion where Natasya and Myshkin get mixed up—ugh, that was messy. Any thoughts on what’s going on there?

Has any one else read Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Idiot?

By reedHat92

I’ve been working through *The Idiot* for what feels like ages, but I think it’s only been a couple weeks. Normally I finish a book in like two days, so I’m surprised I’m still stuck. It’s not like it’s bad—there are definitely moments where I’m like, wow—but overall it’s hard to push through. Sometimes it reads a bit like a daytime soap to me. The conversations just keep circling and circling and somehow never really land anywhere, and then there are these weird gaps where it feels like time passes or things get mentioned but don’t really matter in the moment. If anyone else has read it, I’d really love to hear what you thought, because I can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing something (maybe I’m the one who doesn’t get it). I’m about 110 pages from the end and I’m worried it won’t explain anything or give any kind of real payoff—like the ending won’t clarify what’s been happening. Edit: I’m reading the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation.

I need a little help figuring out this line from Dostoevsky's The Idiot

By looks_velvet

I’ve just started reading *The Idiot* in the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, and I’m stuck on a line that comes right after Myshkin introduces himself to that nosy clerk on the train. The bold part basically says there are no more Prince Myshkins left except him, and then goes on about Mrs. Epanchin “turning out to be Princess Myshkin” too—like she’s the last one in her family line. The clerk laughs and says something like “what a way to put it,” and then the others are reacting too, like they noticed a pun, even though it’s a pretty bad one. But I don’t get it at all—what’s the joke/pun supposed to be here? Is it related to the character names and their meanings in Russian, or something about the wording that gets lost in English?