The Idiot Themes

The Idiot Themes

Religion

Religion plays a big part in this book. Most of the characters see themselves as religious and mistrust anyone who claims to be atheist. Dostoevsky shows this when nihilists visit the Prince, and the characters all turn on them, claiming they are nothing but scoundrels. Interestingly, these nihilists are part of the younger generation, which the older characters reject because they think their liberal ideas are destroying traditional Russian values.

However, it is the Prince and Rogozhin who embody religious spirit. Prince Myshkin is a Christ-like figure, evident through the way he both looks and acts. From the beginning, Dostoevsky describes him as having a light complexion with a kind and dreamy look in his eye. As a person, he forgives everybody and has exceptional levels of understanding. Most notably, he forgives Rogozhin for trying to murder him. When the book moves into the middle section, the characters all come...
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