Crime and Punishment & Other Great Novels of Dostoevsky
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Contents
The Idiot — Part I — Chapter X
Overview
Rogojin bursts into Gania’s home with a rowdy entourage, publicly challenging Gania’s planned marriage to Nastasia by brandishing money and contempt. A violent family clash follows, checked by Prince Myshkin’s intervention. Shaken by Myshkin’s dignity, Nastasia privately signals she isn’t as depraved as rumored and departs, setting the stage for an evening reckoning.
Summary
A noisy crowd led by Parfen Rogojin and accompanied by Lebedev, Zalesheff, and others bursts into Gania’s apartment, startling everyone. Rogojin, stunned to find Nastasia Philipovna present, swings from despair to rage and taunts Gania, recalling past debts and boasting he can buy Gania off.
Rogojin demands to know if Nastasia will marry Gania. When she calmly says no, he exults and throws banknotes on the table, raising his offer from eighteen thousand to promises of forty thousand, then a hundred thousand roubles, while Ptitsin warns him to stop. The room devolves into uproar as Varia denounces the shamelessness and General Ivolgin blusters ineffectually.
As Nastasia readies to leave, Gania, frantic about appearances, seizes Varia. She spits in his face; Gania, losing control, swings at her. Prince Myshkin steps between them, stopping the blow. In a fit of humiliation and fury, Gania slaps the prince. Myshkin, pale but composed, insists Gania must not strike Varia and predicts Gania’s shame.
The crowd, including Rogojin and Colia, rallies to the prince. Nastasia, impressed by Myshkin’s gentleness and honesty, softens. On her way out she returns to Nina Alexandrovna, whispers that she is not the woman she pretends to be, and kisses her hand, then departs, inviting them for the evening.
Rogojin files out with his followers, pressing Ptitsin about the money and declaring to Gania that he has “lost the game.” Gania, bewildered and troubled by both Nastasia’s signals and the prince’s conduct, is left uneasy as the confrontation ends.
Who Appears
- Parfen RogojinLeads a rowdy group, confronts Gania, brandishes large sums to stop Nastasia’s marriage, declares Gania has lost.
- Nastasia PhilipovnaMocks the scene, refuses to confirm marrying Gania, is moved by Myshkin, reassures Nina quietly, invites all for evening.
- Prince MyshkinIntervenes to protect Varia; accepts Gania’s slap with dignity; shames Gania and moves Nastasia by his conduct.
- Gavrila (Gania) IvolginHumiliated amid Rogojin’s taunts; assaults Varia; slaps Myshkin; left confused and uneasy.
- Varia IvolginDenounces the chaos, resists Gania’s grip, spits in his face, nearly struck before Myshkin intervenes.
- Nina Alexandrovna IvolginDistressed by the scandal; receives Nastasia’s whispered assurance and a kiss on her hand.
- LebedevArrives with Rogojin, eggs him on then frets over the money offered.
- PtitsinWarns Rogojin against boasting; is pressed to raise vast sums by evening.
- Colia (Kolya) IvolginAshamed of the scene; tries to comfort the prince; keeps rowdies at bay at the door.
- General IvolginBlusters at Rogojin but is ineffectual amid the uproar.