The Idiot · Chapter
III explained
General Ivolgin visits Prince Myshkin in a highly agitated state, speaking in disconnected sentences about his desire for respect and self-esteem.
What happens
General Ivolgin visits Prince Myshkin in a highly agitated state, speaking in disconnected sentences about his desire for respect and self-esteem. The prince soothes him with a platitude and agrees to a future interview. Later, Myshkin confronts Lebedev about the missing 400 roubles, but Lebedev claims he found the purse under a chair and has kept it hidden in his coat lining. The narrative then reflects on General Ivolgin's character, his cycles of repentance and relapse, and his recent quarrelsome behavior, hinting at underlying troubles.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Compassion
The prince's patient listening and soothing words to the distressed general exemplify compassion for human suffering.
Commonplaceness and Originality
The general's disconnected, grandiose speech contrasts with the prince's simple, formulaic response, highlighting the tension between conventional sentiment and genuine feeling.
Characters to notice
- Ardalion Alexandrovich Ivolgin
Visits the prince in a frantic, tearful state, speaking incoherently about his need for respect and a future important conversation.
- Prince Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin
Receives General Ivolgin with patience, offers a soothing platitude, and later questions Lebedev about the missing money.
- Lukian Timofeyevich Lebedev
Visits the prince after being summoned; admits to finding the 400-rouble purse under a chair and hiding it in his coat lining.
- Nina Alexandrovna Ivolgina
Mentioned as the general's long-suffering wife who cares for him during his episodes of illness and repentance.
- Nikolai Ardalionovich Ivolgin
Discusses the general's behavior with his mother and seeks explanations from the prince.
- Hippolyte Terentyev
Mentioned as having quarreled with the general and as a possible source of information about the general's actions.
Key passages
“I came here to speak of something quite different, something very important, prince. And I have determined to come to you as to a man in whose sincerity and nobility of feeling I can trust like—like—are you surprised at my words, prince?”
The general declares he has a serious matter to discuss and has chosen the prince as a trustworthy confidant.
General Ivolgin's dramatic entrance sets the tone for his erratic behavior.
“Prince, I wish to place myself in a respectable position—I wish to esteem myself—and to—”
The general expresses a desire to regain his self-respect and social standing.
Reveals the general's underlying insecurity and need for validation.
“I found it under the chair upon which my coat had hung; so that it is clear the purse simply fell out of the pocket and on to the floor!”
Lebedev claims he discovered the lost purse under the chair where his coat was hanging.
Lebedev's explanation is suspicious and contradicts his earlier claim of having searched thoroughly.
“I took it out and had a look at it; it’s all right. I’ve let it slip back into the lining now, as you see, and so I have been walking about ever since yesterday morning; it knocks against”
Lebedev admits he retrieved the purse, checked its contents, and then let it fall back into his coat lining, carrying it around.
Lebedev's behavior suggests he is playing a game or testing someone, possibly the general.