# The Idiot — Character guide

> Key figures in The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

- [Prince Lev Nikolaevich Myshkin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/prince_myshkin.md): The protagonist, a naive and epileptic prince returning to Russia, embodying Christian goodness.
- [Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/aglaya_epanchin.md): The beautiful and capricious youngest daughter of General Epanchin, courted by Myshkin.
- [Nastasya Filippovna Barashkova](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/nastasya_philipovna.md): A proud and tormented woman, central to the novel's tragic love triangle.
- [Parfyon Semyonovich Rogozhin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/parfyon_rogozhin.md): A wealthy, passionate merchant obsessed with Nastasya Filippovna.
- [Gavrila Ardalionovich Ivolgin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/ganya_ivolin.md): An ambitious secretary torn between Aglaya and Nastasya Filippovna.
- [Ivan Fyodorovich Epanchin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/general_epanchin.md): A wealthy general and father of the Epanchin sisters.
- [Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchina](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/lizaveta_prokofyevna.md): The impulsive and kind-hearted wife of General Epanchin.
- [Lukian Timofeyevich Lebedev](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/lebedev.md): A gossipy and cunning clerk who hosts Myshkin in Pavlovsk.
- [Hippolyte Terentyev](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/hippolyte_terentyev.md): A dying young nihilist who delivers a long confession at Myshkin's party.
- [Nikolai Ardalionovich Ivolgin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/kolya_ivolin.md): Ganya's younger brother, a loyal friend to Myshkin and Hippolyte.
- [Evgeny Pavlovich Radomsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/evgeny_pavlovich.md): A polished officer and suitor to Aglaya, later a friend to Myshkin.
- [Varvara Ardalionovna Ptitsyna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/vardara_ptitsyna.md): Ganya's sensible sister, married to Ptitsin.
- [Ivan Petrovich Ptitsyn](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/ivan_ptitsyn.md): A moneylender married to Varvara, practical and reserved.
- [Ferdyshchenko](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/ferdyshchenko.md): A vulgar hanger-on at Nastasya Filippovna's party.
- [Keller](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/keller.md): A disgraced boxer and minor hanger-on in Myshkin's circle.
- [Antip Burdovsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/burdovsky.md): A young man claiming to be Pavlishchev's son, seeking money from Myshkin.
- [Doktorenko](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/doktorenko.md): A nihilist associate of Burdovsky's group.
- [Alexandra Ivanovna Epanchina](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/alexandra_epanchin.md): The eldest Epanchin daughter, quiet and observant.
- [Adelaida Ivanovna Epanchina](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/adelaida_epanchin.md): The middle Epanchin daughter, an artist.
- [Afanasy Ivanovich Totsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/totsky.md): A wealthy landowner who was Nastasya's former guardian and seducer.
- [Marie](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/marie.md): A poor Swiss girl Myshkin befriended and comforted before the novel's events.
- [Princess Bielokonsky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/princess_bielokonsky.md): An elderly society figure who approves of Myshkin as a match.
- [Nikolai Andreevich Pavlishchev](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/pavlishchev.md): Myshkin's deceased benefactor, mentioned in the inheritance plot.
- [Vera Lebedeva](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/vera_lebedev.md): Lebedev's kind daughter who helps Myshkin.
- [Mr. Terentyev](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/terentyev.md): Hippolyte's father, mentioned but not seen.
- [Marfa Borisovna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/marfa_borisovna.md): Rogozhin's mother, mentioned but not seen.
- [Kapiton Eropegov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/kapiton_eropegov.md): A retired captain known to General Ivolgin.
- [Kolpakov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/kolpakov.md): A soldier whose death is recounted by General Ivolgin.
- [Martha Nikitishna](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/martha_nikitishna.md): An old servant in the Epanchin household.
- [Doctor B](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/doctor_b.md): A doctor attending Myshkin in Switzerland.
- [Eroshka Eropegov](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/eroshka_eropegov.md): A retired soldier known to General Ivolgin.
- [Abbot Pafnuty](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/abbot_pafnuty.md): A historical abbot mentioned by General Ivolgin.
- [Meyers](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/meyers.md): A German friend of Myshkin's from Switzerland.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_idiot_se/characters