The Idiot

Who is Parfyon Semyonovich Rogozhin from The Idiot and what is their importance?

Asked by
Last updated by Cat
1 Answers
Log in to answer

In many ways, Rogozhin is the antithesis of the Prince. Unlike the Prince, he has black eyes and black hair, and his spontaneity and inner demons are in contrast to the Prince's passive nature. At the same time, no two characters have a closer bond. Their love for Anatasia Filippovna is one reason, but their own love and hate relationship is close to brotherhood. In the meeting, before Rogozhin attempts to kill the Prince, they actually refer to each other as "brother," swapping crosses and talking about their closeness during their time in Moscow. In fact, when Rogozhin attempts to murder the Prince, the reader has the feeling he is attempting to kill the part himself that he can only articulate through aggression.