The Idiot · Chapter
IV explained
General Ivolgin regales Prince Myshkin with fantastical tales of his childhood service under Napoleon, claiming to have been a page in the emperor's court during the Moscow campaign.
What happens
General Ivolgin regales Prince Myshkin with fantastical tales of his childhood service under Napoleon, claiming to have been a page in the emperor's court during the Moscow campaign. He recounts dramatic scenes, including a supposed conversation about recognizing the Orthodox faith and emancipating serfs, and a parting gift of an album inscribed 'Ne mentez jamais!' by Napoleon. The prince listens with bemused interest, feeling both sympathy and amusement. After the general departs in a state of intoxicated pride, he sends a letter severing ties, then visits Mrs. Epanchin, causing a scene that leads to his disgrace. The chapter ends with General Ivolgin and his son Colia wandering the streets, the general quoting Gogol and descending into near-insanity.
Themes in this chapter
Commonplaceness and Originality
General Ivolgin's grandiose, fabricated memoirs contrast sharply with the mundane reality of his current disgrace, highlighting the tension between ordinary life and the desire for extraordinary significance.
Suffering and Compassion
Prince Myshkin's response to the general's lies—a mix of amusement, pity, and genuine concern—exemplifies his compassionate nature toward human frailty and suffering.
Nihilism and Ideology
The general's self-aggrandizing narratives and his eventual breakdown reflect a collapse of personal ideology and meaning, while the prince's simple kindness offers a counterpoint of genuine human connection.
Characters to notice
- Ardalion Alexandrovich Ivolgin
Dominates the chapter with his elaborate, self-aggrandizing tales of serving as Napoleon's page; later writes a letter to Myshkin breaking off relations, visits Mrs. Epanchin and causes trouble, and ends up wandering the streets with Colia in a state of agitation.
- Prince Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin
Listens patiently to General Ivolgin's stories, responds with sincere interest and kindness, but later laughs heartily and feels pity; receives a farewell letter from the general.
- Nikolai Ardalionovich Ivolgin
Accompanies his father after the quarrel, tries to reason with him, and identifies a Gogol quote; shows concern and frustration.
- Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchina
Mentioned as having been visited by General Ivolgin, who frightened and angered her with bitter hints about Gania, leading to his being turned out in disgrace.
- Gavrila Ardalionovich Ivolgin
Referenced indirectly as the subject of the general's bitter hints to Mrs. Epanchin.
- Lukian Timofeyevich Lebedev
Mentioned as someone with whom the general has quarrelled, and to whom he had previously told his Napoleon stories.
- Nina Alexandrovna Ivolgina
Mentioned as the person the general went to after writing to Myshkin, which set the prince's mind at ease.
Key passages
“memoirs have long been written, but they shall not see the light until dust returns to dust. Then, I doubt not, they will be translated into all languages, not of course on account of their actual literary merit, but because of the great events of which I was the actual witness, though but a child at the time.”
I have written my memoirs, but they will only be published after my death. Then they will be widely translated, not for their literary quality, but because I witnessed great historical events as a child.
General Ivolgin boasts about his unpublished memoirs, claiming they will be famous for their historical content.
“‘Child,’ he said, abruptly. ‘If I were to recognize the Russian orthodox religion and emancipate the serfs, do you think Russia would come over to me?’ ‘Never!’ I cried, indignantly.”
Napoleon suddenly asked me if Russia would support him if he recognized the Orthodox Church and freed the serfs. I angrily said no.
The general recounts a dramatic, likely fictional, conversation with Napoleon about winning Russian loyalty.
“‘Ne mentez jamais!’ ‘ Napoléon (votre ami sincère).’”
Never lie. Napoleon, your sincere friend.
The general claims Napoleon wrote this inscription in his sister's album as a parting gift.
“Better to be of a mess than in a mess! I remember making a joke something like that at the mess in eighteen hundred and forty—forty—I forget. ‘Where is my youth, where is my golden youth?’ Who was it said that, Colia?”
It's better to be part of a mess than stuck in a mess. I made a similar joke at the officers' mess in the 1840s. Who said 'Where is my golden youth?' Colia?
The general rambles incoherently to his son, mixing puns and literary references as he descends into confusion.
