General Ardalion Alexandrovich Ivolgin Character Analysis in The Idiot

General Ivolgin is a friendly drunkard who is prone to telling elaborate lies. He is Nina’s husband and Ganya, Kolya, and Varya’s father. He is having an affair with Mrs. Terentyev, from whom he frequently borrows money. He goes to debtor’s prison and, upon his return, suffers a stroke that kills him.

General Ardalion Alexandrovich Ivolgin Character Timeline in The Idiot

The timeline below shows where the character General Ardalion Alexandrovich Ivolgin appears in The Idiot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Social Hierarchy, Authority, and Rebellion Theme Icon

...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... (full context)

Passion, Violence, and Christianity Theme Icon

...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... (full context)

As Myshkin goes, Ivolgin mentions that it is humiliating that they have to have tenants, and mentions that tragedy... (full context)

Varya announces that dinner is ready and Ivolgin reluctantly abandons his storytelling to leave. Nina explains that Ivolgin eats by himself, and asks... (full context)

...adds that it seems like he’s seen her elsewhere before, perhaps in a dream. General Ivolgin now enters, to Ganya’s absolute horror. He introduces himself but then stumbles and falls into... (full context)

General Ivolgin tells Nastasya that he, General Epanchin, and Myshkin’s father used to be best friends, an... (full context)

...the princess’s eldest daughter. Mrs. Epanchin has a special relationship to the Belonskys, and thus Ivolgin tried to beg their forgiveness, but ultimately all ties were cut between himself and the... (full context)

...will be more. Nastasya laughs, calling him a “boor,” and Rogozhin promises 100,000 instead. General Ivolgin suddenly shouts as if he only just noticed what was going on, and everyone laughs.... (full context)

...that most men are weak and flawed. Ganya curses his father, telling Myshkin that General Ivolgin has a mistress. He says that his decision to marry Nastasya for her 75,000-rouble dowry... (full context)

...that he only likes her. Ganya leaves, and Kolya arrives, carrying a note from General Ivolgin. Myshkin says that he needs to see the general, anyway, and goes off to meet... (full context)

Kolya takes Myshkin to a café and billiard parlor called Liteinaya. On seeing Myshkin, General Ivolgin tries to explain something to him, but is so drunk that it comes out as... (full context)

As they walk, General Ivolgin rambles about his misfortune and repeatedly mentions the 13 bullets that are supposedly lodged in... (full context)

When they arrive at Mrs. Terentyev’s house, she immediately chastises Ivolgin for stealing from her. Ivolgin apologizes and hands her 25 roubles, while introducing her to... (full context)

...He then talks about the Terentyev family, saying that Mrs. Terentyev shamelessly borrows money from Ivolgin and then makes him pay her back with interest, whereas Nina and Varya give Ippolit... (full context)

...After Varya got married, Nina and Ganya moved with her to Ptitsyn’s house, while General Ivolgin got thrown into debtor’s prison after Mrs. Terentyev reported him. He didn’t have a terrible... (full context)

...Doktorenko replies that Kolya spent the night there, and has possibly been with “the general” (Ivolgin) who Myshkin helped free from prison. Now, Kolya might even be in Pavlovsk with the... (full context)

...that Lebedev’s family is there (minus Doktorenko), and is delighted that both Kolya and General Ivolgin come to visit. Ganya also comes, along with Varya and Ptitsyn. Lebedev makes a big... (full context)

...Epanchin and her three daughters have come to visit. Meanwhile, Ptitsyn, Varya, Ganya, and General Ivolgin simultaneously arrive from the other side of the terrace. The Epanchins only very recently learned... (full context)

...Lebedev about his thoughts on the apocalypse, and he answers her with great enthusiasm. General Ivolgin interrupts with a rather silly point, introducing himself to Aglaya, who can hardly stop herself... (full context)

Ivolgin tells all young people that he carried them in his arms and thus did not... (full context)

...his “nanny.” At some point, the group have decided to have a debate, with General Ivolgin acting as “chairman”—a role he enthusiastically embraces. Keller comments that he likes the way members... (full context)

...do Keller and Burdovsky, though Burdovsky asserts that Ippolit has the right to kill himself. Ivolgin repeats that Ippolit won’t shoot himself, adding: “It’s a boyish prank.” There is an argument... (full context)

Lebedev narrows down the suspects based on their movements during the party to General Ivolgin, Keller, and Ferdyshchenko. When he discovered the money was missing he was convinced that Keller... (full context)

General Ivolgin, meanwhile, comically demanded that Lebedev search him in order to prove that he didn’t steal... (full context)

...order to conceal her true feelings. She then lets slip that the day before, General Ivolgin drunkenly went to the Epanchins’ dacha and, when he learned General Epanchin wasn’t there, spoke... (full context)

Before Varya leaves the room, Ganya suggests it was Ippolit who told Nina about General Ivolgin’s visit to the Epanchins’. Ganya believes Ippolit considers him his “personal enemy.” He goes on... (full context)

...Ptitsyns’ house for five days. Rogozhin had started visiting him before he moved. Now, General Ivolgin, Nina, and Kolya all look very distressed. Ivolgin hasn’t drunk any alcohol in three days.... (full context)

General Ivolgin starts talking about Kapiton Eropegov, but Ganya declares that no such person has ever existed.... (full context)

...with Aglaya. They hear shouting and Varya tells Ganya to go outside and apologize to Ivolgin before anyone sees. However, Ivolgin is already in the street, and the neighbors are already... (full context)

General Ivolgin has often caused a big commotion like this, rarely with any serious consequences. This time,... (full context)

...to Myshkin about the trip or the missing money, and spent all his time with Ivolgin. The two men drink, embrace each other, and generally “egg each other on.” However, they... (full context)

...wallet back where he found it as a kind of experiment. He hoped that General Ivolgin would find it, but in fact he never noticed it. However, that same day, Ivolgin... (full context)

...that he will “find” the wallet again the next day, but first wants to tease Ivolgin a little more. Myshkin asks why he is torturing Ivolgin, noting that the fact that... (full context)

Myshkin is late to his meeting with General Ivolgin and apologizes. Ivolgin returns a book that Myshkin lent him, which depicts the French occupation... (full context)

Myshkin appeases General Ivolgin even though he knows that what he’s saying isn’t true. Ivolgin goes onto say that... (full context)

As General Ivolgin continues with his story and describes his separation from Napoleon, he begins to cry real... (full context)

Following the fight with Ganya, Ivolgin stands on the street, rambling nonsensically at Kolya and crying. Kolya begs that they go... (full context)

Two hours later Kolya runs to Myshkin with news of General Ivolgin’s stroke. Hoping to help in some way, Myshkin stays at Nina’s, where she and Varya... (full context)

...and leaves. Before leaving, she tells him that Lebedev had earlier gone to see General Ivolgin, who is likely about to die. Later, Lebedev comes to visit Myshkin, as does Kolya,... (full context)

...to see Myshkin, though this is only a rumor. While all this has been happening Ivolgin died, and Kolya is now busy arranging the burial. Myshkin spends many hours each day... (full context)