The Idiot · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Prince Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin
major
Also known as Prince Lef Nicolaievitch Muishkin, Prince Muishkin, Lef Nicolaievitch, Muishkin, the Prince Muishkin, poor Muishkin, Mr. Muishkin
The protagonist, a naive and epileptic prince returning to Russia, embodying Christian goodness.
Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin
major
Also known as Aglaya, Aglaya Ivanovna, Aglaya Epanchin, Alas Aglaya
The beautiful and capricious youngest daughter of General Epanchin, courted by Myshkin.
Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova
major
Also known as Nastasia Philipovna, Nastasia Philipovna Barashkoff, Nastasia, Barashkoff, the pitiless Nastasia, Philipovna
A proud and tormented woman, central to the novel's tragic love triangle.
Parfyon Semyonovich Rogozhin
major
Also known as Rogojin, Parfen Rogojin, Parfen, Mrs. Rogojin, the Parfen Rogojin, this Rogojin, old Mrs. Rogojin, Parfen Semionovitch, Parfen Semeonovitch
A wealthy, passionate merchant obsessed with Nastasya Filippovna.
Gavrila Ardalionovich Ivolgin
major
Also known as Gania, Both Gania, the delighted Gania, The bewildered Gania, that Gania, Seeing Gania, Gavrila Ardalionovitch, Gavrila Ardalionovitch Ivolgin, Gavrila, Gania—confused
An ambitious secretary torn between Aglaya and Nastasya Filippovna.
Ivan Fyodorovich Epanchin
supporting
Also known as Ivan Fedorovitch Epanchin, Ivan Fedorovitch, General Epanchin, the general, the respectable and highly respected General Epanchin, II General Epanchin, Poor General Epanchin
A wealthy general and father of the Epanchin sisters.
Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchina
supporting
Also known as Lizabetha Prokofievna, Lizabetha Prokofievna, Lizabetha, poor Lizabetha, Poor Lizabetha Prokofievna, Mrs. General Epanchin, Mrs. Epanchin, Mrs. General, Madame Epanchin, Elizabetha Prokofievna, Lizabetha Prokofievna—with
The impulsive and kind-hearted wife of General Epanchin.
Lukian Timofeyevich Lebedev
supporting
Also known as Lebedeff, Mr. Lebedeff, Lukian Timofeyovitch, Lukian, Collegiate Secretary Lebedeff
A gossipy and cunning clerk who hosts Myshkin in Pavlovsk.
Hippolyte Terentyev
supporting
Also known as Hippolyte, Hippolyte Terentieff, Mr. Hippolyte, this young Hippolyte, V Hippolyte, Here Hippolyte, And Hippolyte, Terentieff, Alexandrovna—helps Hippolyte
A dying young nihilist who delivers a long confession at Myshkin's party.
Nikolai Ardalionovich Ivolgin
supporting
Also known as Colia, Ivolgin, XII Colia, Colia Ivolgin, Dear Colia, Poor Colia, Nicolai Ardalionovitch
Ganya's younger brother, a loyal friend to Myshkin and Hippolyte.
Evgeny Pavlovich Radomsky
supporting
Also known as Evgenie Pavlovitch, Evgenie Pavlovitch Radomski, Evgenie, Radomski, the worthy Evgenie
A polished officer and suitor to Aglaya, later a friend to Myshkin.
Varvara Ardalionovna Ptitsyna
supporting
Also known as Varia, Varia Ardalionovna, Varvara Ardalionovna, Varvara, Ptitsin, Varvara Ardalionovna Ptitsin, Ardalionovna
Ganya's sensible sister, married to Ptitsin.
Ivan Petrovich Ptitsyn
supporting
Also known as Ivan Petrovitch Ptitsin, Ptitsin, Ivan Ptitsin, Ivan Petrovitch, Mr. Ptitsin
A moneylender married to Varvara, practical and reserved.
Ferdyshchenko
minor
Also known as Ferdishenko, spare Ferdishenko, Mr. Ferdishenko, wretched Ferdishenko, This Ferdishenko
A vulgar hanger-on at Nastasya Filippovna's party.
Keller
minor
Also known as Keller, Mr. Keller
A disgraced boxer and minor hanger-on in Myshkin's circle.
Antip Burdovsky
minor
Also known as Mr. Burdovsky, Burdovsky, poor Mr. Burdovsky, Antip Burdovsky
A young man claiming to be Pavlishchev's son, seeking money from Myshkin.
Doktorenko
minor
Also known as Mr. Doktorenko, Doktorenko
A nihilist associate of Burdovsky's group.
Alexandra Ivanovna Epanchina
minor
Also known as Alexandra, Alexandra Ivanovna
The eldest Epanchin daughter, quiet and observant.
Adelaida Ivanovna Epanchina
minor
Also known as Adelaida, Adelaida Ivanovna
The middle Epanchin daughter, an artist.
Nina Alexandrovna Ivolgina
minor
Also known as Nina Alexandrovna, Nina, Nina Alexandrovna—seeing
Ganya's mother, a long-suffering woman.
Ardalion Alexandrovich Ivolgin
minor
Also known as General Ivolgin, Ivolgin, this General Ivolgin whom she had once known, old General Ivolgin, Ardalion Alexandrovitch Ivolgin, Ardalion Alexandrovitch, the Ivolgin, poor Ardalion Alexandrovitch
Ganya's alcoholic, boastful father.
Afanasy Ivanovich Totsky
minor
Also known as Afanasy Ivanovitch, Totski, Afanasy Ivanovitch Totski, Mr. Totski, the once bitten Totski
A wealthy landowner who was Nastasya's former guardian and seducer.
Marie
minor
Also known as Marie, Marie Alexandrovna
A poor Swiss girl Myshkin befriended and comforted before the novel's events.
Princess Bielokonsky
minor
Also known as Princess Bielokonski, old Princess Bielokonski, Bielokonski, the Bielokonski, the Princess Bielokonski, old Bielokonski
An elderly society figure who approves of Myshkin as a match.
Nikolai Andreevich Pavlishchev
minor
Also known as Nicolai Andreevitch, Pavlicheff, Nicolai Andreevitch Pavlicheff, Mr. Pavlicheff, the late Mr. Pavlicheff
Myshkin's deceased benefactor, mentioned in the inheritance plot.
Professor Schneider
minor
Also known as Professor Schneider, Schneider, Dr. Schneider
Myshkin's Swiss doctor and mentor.
Kostya Lebedev
minor
Also known as Kostia Lebedeff, Kostia, Lebedeff
Lebedev's young son.
Vera Lebedeva
minor
Also known as Vera, Vera Lebedeff
Lebedev's kind daughter who helps Myshkin.
Mr. Terentyev
minor
Also known as Mr. Terentieff, Madame Terentieff
Hippolyte's father, mentioned but not seen.
Pyotr Matveyevich Bachmutov
minor
Also known as Bachmatoff, Peter Matveyevitch Bachmatoff, this young Bachmatoff, Peter, Poor Bachmatoff
A young officer who helps Hippolyte.
Daria Alexeyevna
minor
Also known as Daria Alexeyevna, Daria
A friend of Nastasya Filippovna.
Marfa Borisovna
minor
Also known as Marfa Borisovna, Marfa Borisovna
Rogozhin's mother, mentioned but not seen.
Kislorodov
minor
Also known as Kislorodoff
A doctor attending Hippolyte.
Tchebarov
minor
Also known as Tchebaroff
A lawyer involved in Burdovsky's claim.
Zaleshov
minor
Also known as Zaleshoff
A friend of Rogozhin's.
Kapiton Eropegov
minor
Also known as some Captain Eropegoff, Captain Eropegoff, Kapiton Eropegoff, Kapiton, Eropegoff
A retired captain known to General Ivolgin.
Anfisa Alexeyevna
minor
Also known as Anfisa Alexeyevna, Anfisa
A woman mentioned in passing.
Kolpakov
minor
Also known as the Kolpakoff, Kolpakoff
A soldier whose death is recounted by General Ivolgin.
Timofey Lukyanovich
minor
Also known as Lukianovitch, Timofey Lukianovitch, Timofey
A clerk in Lebedev's office.
Mr. Salaskin
minor
Also known as a Mr. Salaskin, Salaskin
A merchant mentioned in passing.
Surikov
minor
Also known as Surikoff
A poor clerk mentioned by Lebedev.
Martha Nikitishna
minor
Also known as Martha, Martha Nikitishna, dear old Martha
An old servant in the Epanchin household.
Anisya
minor
Also known as Anisia
Rogozhin's housekeeper.
Nikifor
minor
Also known as Nikifor
A servant in the Epanchin house.
Dana Alexeyevna
minor
Also known as Dana, Dana Alexeyevna
A woman mentioned in passing.
Katya
minor
Also known as XV Katia, Katia
A maid in the Epanchin household.
Platon Ordynstev
minor
Also known as Platon Ordintzeff, Platon, The wretched Platon
A minor character mentioned in a story.
Madame Filisov
minor
Also known as Madame Filisoff
A woman mentioned in passing.
Wilkin
minor
Also known as Wilkin
A friend of Rogozhin's.
Moloftsev
minor
Also known as young Lieutenant Moloftsoff, Moloftsoff
A young officer briefly mentioned.
Pyotr Volkhovsky
minor
Also known as Poor Peter Volhofskoi, Peter, poor Peter
A minor character mentioned in passing.
General Sokolovich
minor
Also known as General Sokolovitch, Sokolovitch, the Sokolovitch
A general mentioned in passing.
Prince N
minor
Also known as Prince N—, Prince
A society prince mentioned in passing.
Prince S
minor
Also known as Prince S—, Prince
A society prince mentioned in passing.
Doctor B
minor
Also known as Dr. B—, Doctor B—, B—
A doctor attending Myshkin in Switzerland.
Charasse
minor
Also known as Charasse
A Frenchman mentioned in passing.
Paparchin
minor
Also known as Paparchin
A name mentioned in passing.
Timofey Fyodorovich Vyazovkin
minor
Also known as Timofei Fedorovitch Viazovkin
A clerk mentioned in passing.
Eroshka Eropegov
minor
Also known as Eroshka, Eroshka Eropegoff, Eropegoff
A retired soldier known to General Ivolgin.
Prince Nikolai Lvovich
minor
Also known as Nicolai Lvovitch, Lvovitch, Prince Nicolai Lvovitch, Prince
A prince mentioned in passing.
Abbot Pafnuty
minor
Also known as The gentle Abbot Pafnúte, Abbot Pafnúte, Pafnúte, The Abbot Pafnúte
A historical abbot mentioned by General Ivolgin.
Madame Terentyeva
minor
Also known as Madame Terentieff
Hippolyte's mother.
Meyers
minor
Also known as Meyer
A German friend of Myshkin's from Switzerland.
