Antip Burdovsky Character Analysis in The Idiot

Antip Burdovsky is a young nihilist who tries to trick Myshkin out of his inheritance by claiming to the be the illegitimate son of Pavlishchev. Myshkin exposes Burdovsky as a fraud, though out of kindness and generosity still offers him money. Humiliated, Burdovsky refuses the offer, but later apologizes to Myshkin and asks for forgiveness.

Antip Burdovsky Character Timeline in The Idiot

The timeline below shows where the character Antip Burdovsky appears in The Idiot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...on their beliefs. The one claiming to be Pavlishchev’s son is actually named is Antip Burdovsky, and he is about 22 years old, with a speech defect. The next of the... (full context)

...been able to sort out the business via Ganya. The men grumble indignantly in response. Burdovsky shouts at Myshkin: “You have no right!” At this moment, Mrs. Epanchin demands that the... (full context)

Burdovsky repeats the word “demand,” turning bright red. Although Lebedev supports Myshkin in this whole affair,... (full context)

...the “slander” directed toward others. Myshkin explains that he found it hard to believe that Burdovsky would reveal his mother’s shameful secret (that his stepfather was not actually his real father).... (full context)

...ever spent on him, as Schneider only charged 600 roubles a year. He believes that Burdovsky is innocent, and that Chebarov, his lawyer, has “duped” him (and the other men) into... (full context)

Despite his conviction that Burdovsky is not Pavlishchev’s son, Myshkin will give him the 10,000 roubles anyway, as he had... (full context)

At Myshkin’s request, Ganya takes over the negotiations. He begins by pointing out that Burdovsky has lied about his own date of birth in Keller’s article. He then gives additional... (full context)

Ganya also found that Burdovsky’s father (who he claimed was his stepfather) drank away the money he gained from Burdovsky’s... (full context)

...resemble a “madhouse.” Ganya points out that there are only 100 roubles in the packet Burdovsky gave back. Doktorenko at first insists that it’s “all the same,” but after Ganya disagrees,... (full context)

...is sick or not. At this moment, Ippolit stands and staggers toward the door, where Burdovsky and Doktorenko are standing. Myshkin says he feared this would happen, and Ippolit screams that... (full context)

Mrs. Epanchin tells Myshkin she’s sure he begged Burdovsky to accept the 10,000 roubles, which Myshkin promises he didn’t. She then shows Myshkin a... (full context)

Passion, Violence, and Christianity Theme Icon

...young people who have fallen “under the influence of perverse ideas.” Evgeny points out that Burdovsky surely falls into this category, but Mrs. Epanchin interjects to say that Burdovsky recently apologized... (full context)

...grumble, “He won’t shoot himself.” Kolya joins Vera in holding Ippolit, as do Keller and Burdovsky, though Burdovsky asserts that Ippolit has the right to kill himself. Ivolgin repeats that Ippolit... (full context)

...Keller, Lebedev, and another friend in charge of planning. Keller will be Myshkin’s groomsman, while Burdovsky, at Nastasya’s request, will attend to the bride. (full context)