Dostoyevsky's THE IDIOT
Chapter X & XI
- Lef Nicolaievitch Muishkin, the Prince or else the “Idiot”
- Nastasia Philipovna
- Gavrila Ardalionovitch Ivolgin or simply Gania
- All the Ivolgin family that includes General Ivolgin, Nina Alexandrovna his wife, and their children Varia and Colia
- Parfen Rogojin, accompanied by a bunch of men that supported him
- Lebedeff along with Zalesheff
- Ptitsin, a moneylender
Noises from downstairs and loud voices surprised everyone in the room and prepared them for an unexpected visit. The man that forced himself in the living room was not else than Rogojin himself with Lebedeff. But they were not alone:
ten or a dozen men marched in behind Parfen Rogojin. They were a decidedly mixed-looking collection, and some of them came in in their furs and caps. None of them were quite drunk, but all appeared to be considerably excited.
Rogojin with his large company, was really shocked to see there Muishkin but even more to see Nastasia, as: “
he grew pale, and his lips became actually blue.
But that didn’t stop him either Gania’s interference, he was there to bargain with Gania, to by him off! We also learn that the two men know each other as Rogojin had lost a lot of money in cards because of Gania.
Then Rogojin asks Nastasia if she is willing to marry Gania.
Rogojin asked his question like a lost soul appealing to some divinity, with the reckless daring of one appointed to die, who has nothing to lose.
Nastasia answers calmly right away that she doesn’t want to marry Gania. After Nastasia’s answer Rogojin starts bargaining with Gania for Nastasia offering him 10.000 rubles, then 18,000 rubles then raising the sum to 40,000 and finally offering her 100,000 rubles!
Varia really upset from the created situation called Nastasia a “shameless creature” and asks that someone takes her out. This insult toward Nastasia led Gania to hold Varia’s arm that in turn spits in this brother’s face and then he raises his hand furious to slap her but in the last minute stopped him. That made Gania slap the Prince in the face!
Everybody freezes, Muishkin tells Gania he will regret for his actions while Rogojin blames him for hurting Muishkin, the “sheep”. Suddenly, the Prince addresses Nastasia, he thinks that she is not what she appears to be, that behavior of hers does not represent who she is.
Nastasia kisses Nina Alexandrovna’s hand whispering that Muishkin is right and leaves, as does Rogojin and his band.
As Varia and Kolia try to comfort the Prince, Gania apologizes for slapping him but does not forgive his sister. The two of them start to discuss alone, Gania confesses that he thinks that Nastasia will marry him because of certain “circumstances” that exist and that Nastasia is convinced he loves her. Yet he declares that he is not a fool, if Nastasia embarrasses him after the marriage he will leave her and take the money!
Muishkin’s opinion about Gania is that:
he is quite an ordinary man, not original in the least degree, but rather weak.
A honest opinion expressed with no malice at all. Gania is not pleased to hear that, he changes the subject and start talking about his father, that he has a mistress. Then he says that being rich is not his final goal, rather than money will help him gain a social status, he will be “original”, he will be someone!
Before Gania leaves, he implies that Muishkin is in love with Nastasia and he says that she is a virtuous woman no matter that the others think.
Kolia delivers a note to Muishkin from the General, he is waiting for him.
Well, it is really easy to pick my favorite scene, it is definitely the moment when Muishkin interferes and stops Gania from slapping his sister and he receives the slap instead. The > “sheep” as Rogojin calls him, is sacrificed, he is offering himself to Gania instead of letting Varia suffer due to his anger. Once again the Prince appears to be a kind, original character. The word “sheep” for me is not a word that underestimates Muishkin’s character but in the contrary it suggests Muishkin’s qualities. Below you can read a little quote describing the incident!
The incident that occurred between Gania, Varia and Muishkin:
A few moments passed as they stood there face to face, Gania still holding her wrist tightly. Varia struggled once—twice—to get free; then could restrain herself no longer, and spat in his face.
“There’s a girl for you!” cried Nastasia Philipovna. “Mr. Ptitsin, I congratulate you on your choice.”
Gania lost his head. Forgetful of everything he aimed a blow at Varia, which would inevitably have laid her low, but suddenly another hand caught his. Between him and Varia stood the prince.
“Enough—enough!” said the latter, with insistence, but all of a tremble with excitement.
“Are you going to cross my path for ever, damn you!” cried Gania; and, loosening his hold on Varia, he slapped the prince’s face with all his force.
Exclamations of horror arose on all sides. The prince grew pale as death; he gazed into Gania’s eyes with a strange, wild, reproachful look; his lips trembled and vainly endeavoured to form some words; then his mouth twisted into an incongruous smile.
“Very well—never mind about me; but I shall not allow you to strike her!” he said, at last, quietly. Then, suddenly, he could bear it no longer, and covering his face with his hands, turned to the wall, and murmured in broken accents:
“Oh! how ashamed you will be of this afterwards!”
Gania’s answer to Mushkin about his opinion about him and what he will do if he become rich:
You say that I have no originality. Now mark this, prince—there is nothing so offensive to a man of our time and race than to be told that he is wanting in originality, that he is weak in character, has no particular talent, and is, in short, an ordinary person. You have not even done me the honour of looking upon me as a rogue. Do you know, I could have knocked you down for that just now! You wounded me more cruelly than Epanchin, who thinks me capable of selling him my wife! Observe, it was a perfectly gratuitous idea on his part, seeing there has never been any discussion of it between us! This has exasperated me, and I am determined to make a fortune! I will do it! Once I am rich, I shall be a genius, an extremely original man. One of the vilest and most hateful things connected with money is that it can buy even talent; and will do so as long as the world lasts. You will say that this is childish—or romantic. Well, that will be all the better for me, but the thing shall be done.
All quotes taken from: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2638/2638-h/2638-h.htm
Chapter X is a really tensed one, with all the main characters meeting up for the first time, creating a powerful combination and atmosphere. Rogojin believes he can buy everything with money, Muishink protects Gania’s sister from him becoming some kind of “martyr” and states that Nastasia is not revealing he true self, she is not what she seems. Maybe he sees through her? Don’t forget here the story of Marie and how that story was similar with Nastasia’s story. In the other hand, Muishkin always speaks the truth, this is the case when he expresses an opinion about Gania’s character. Also he doesn’t agree with Gania’s belief that Nastasia is convinced he is madly in love with her. Muishkin has the ability to see through people, he can see Nastasia, what she really is and not only that he sees through Gania too. Gania, a man full of ambition that wants money to become someone, to become “original”, to be rich and quickly! For Muishkin he is just ordinary but not bad, because Muishkin always wants to see the good in people.
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