Crime and Punishment & Other Great Novels of Dostoevsky
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Contents
The Idiot — Part III — Chapter X
Overview
Myshkin finally reads Nastasya Filippovna’s impassioned letters to Aglaya, which idealize Aglaya, urge union with Myshkin, and confess terror of Rogojin. Late that night, Nastasya meets Myshkin, kneels, and bids him farewell, promising to stop writing and leave. Rogojin escorts her away, returns to confirm the letters, and forces Myshkin to admit his unhappiness.
Summary
Prince Myshkin postpones opening three letters until evening, troubled by recurring dreams of a tearful, “sinful” woman beckoning him. When he finally reads them, he realizes they are from Nastasya Filippovna to Aglaya. The letters exalt Aglaya as “perfection,” confess love, and urge that Aglaya and Myshkin belong together, while insisting the appeal is not self-abasement.
Nastasya’s writings also reveal her dread of Rogojin: she imagines a hidden razor and a house with a secret corpse, fears he will kill her, and says their weddings are set for the same day. She claims she will be near Aglaya all her life yet will not live long, and she vows to stop writing and depart.
Restless, Myshkin drifts to the Epanchins’ house near midnight. Inside, he briefly meets Alexandra, who notes the late hour and that the family is unwell or absent. Confused and embarrassed, Myshkin leaves.
On the road, Nastasya suddenly appears, seizes his hand, and, in anguish, kneels before him. She frantically asks if he is happy and whether he has been with Aglaya, then declares this is their final meeting and rushes away as Rogojin leads her off.
Rogojin returns to Myshkin, saying the carriage has waited since ten and that Nastasya promised to stop writing and leave the next day. He has read the letters and mocks Myshkin about the razor passage. When Rogojin demands an answer, Myshkin admits he is not happy; Rogojin laughs and departs.
Who Appears
- Prince Lev MyshkinProtagonist; reads Nastasya’s letters to Aglaya, visits the Epanchins late, meets Nastasya, admits his unhappiness to Rogojin.
- Nastasya FilippovnaAuthor of fervent letters urging Aglaya to unite with Myshkin; fearful of Rogojin; meets Myshkin, kneels, says farewell, promises to leave.
- Parfyon RogojinAccompanies Nastasya, reads her letters, arranges her departure, confronts Myshkin and elicits his admission of unhappiness.
- Alexandra EpanchinBriefly encounters Myshkin at night in the Epanchins’ house, remarks on the late hour and family’s condition.