The Idiot: Part One, Chapter Eight Summary & Analysis

The fact that Ganya’s family keep tenants is deeply embarrassing to him, as it contrasts with the image of himself and his circumstances that he wishes to project to the world. Along with the tenants, the apartment is shared by Ganya’s father, General Ivolgin, his 13-year-old brother Kolya, his mother Nina Alexandrovna, and his sister Varvara Ardalionovna (Varya). One of the current tenants is Ferdyshchenko. Overall, the apartment is “cramped and squeezed,” which Ganya finds horrifying.

Currently, Nina and Varya are sitting with a visitor, Ivan Petrovich Ptitsyn. Nina is about 50 and sickly-looking, with a “pinched face.” Varya is 23; her face is pleasing but not beautiful. Both women have a determined look to them. Ivan, meanwhile, is a quiet man of about 30 who is obviously attracted to Varya. He makes a living through giving out short-term loans and is one of Ganya’s best friends. Ganya briskly introduces Myshkin to everyone, and Kolya proceeds to ask the prince a series of friendly questions about himself until Varya tells him to leave Myshkin alone.

Alone again, Ganya asks Myshkin not to “blab” about what happened with Aglaya. Myshkin, annoyed, assures him that he won’t. Myshkin goes to his room to freshen up. Shortly after, the unpleasant-looking Ferdyshchenko, who is about 30, appears. He tells Myshkin that he will surely ask to borrow money at some point, and requests that Myshkin does not give it to him. He asks if Myshkin intends to pay rent, and when Myshkin says he does, Ferdyshchenko replies that he himself does not. He then disappears.

A new man comes in. He is about 55, rather fat and seedy-looking, and smells faintly of vodka. He introduces himself as General Ivolgin and mentions that he was childhood friends with Myshkin’s father, and even held Myshkin as a baby. Ivolgin says he and Myshkin’s father studied together and both served in the military. He admits that he was “passionately in love” with Myshkin’s mother even while she was engaged to his friend. When Myshkin’s father found out, he challenged Ivolgin to a duel, but both of them burst into tears before they could shoot. At this moment Kolya comes in, saying that Nina wants to see Myshkin.

As Myshkin goes, Ivolgin mentions that it is humiliating that they have to have tenants, and mentions that tragedy has struck the family. He notes that he and Ganya barely speak anymore. In the living room, Nina says that she does not remember Myshkin’s father. Ivolgin mentions Pavlishchev, whom he also knew. He then explains the court case for which Myshkin’s father was on trial when he died. The case had to do with someone named Private Kolpakov, whom Myshkin’s father punished for stealing, only for Kolpakov to apparently die and then, six months later, apparently come back from the dead. Nina says Ivolgin is mistaken in his telling, but Ivolgin insists he isn’t, and that it was a mysterious, irresolvable case.

Varya announces that dinner is ready and Ivolgin reluctantly abandons his storytelling to leave. Nina explains that Ivolgin eats by himself, and asks Myshkin that she never give any rent money to her husband, only to her.  At that moment, Varya hands her mother the portrait of Nastasya, and says that Nastasya plans to make her announcement regarding Ganya that evening. Nina tries to ask Myshkin what he knows about the situation with Nastasya, but at that moment Ganya and Ptitsyn come in. A heated discussion ensues between Nina and Ganya about Nastasya; Nina asks her son how he could agree to marry someone he doesn’t love. Varya, meanwhile, insists that if Nastasya comes to live at the apartment, she herself will leave.

Myshkin tries to sneak away, but Ganya sees him and yells at him. Myshkin says nothing and leaves, and instantly bumps into Nastasya, who has just arrived and flings her coat at him. Seemingly mistaking him for a servant, she demands that he announce her, and calls him an “idiot.” She is surprised to find that Myshkin already knows who she is. He tells her that there is currently a fight going on, and then returns to the drawing room and announces her arrival.