The Idiot: Part Four, Chapter Ten Summary & Analysis

Some people believe that General and Mrs. Epanchin sent Evgeny 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 at Nina’s, and attends the burial service for Ivolgin. Whenever he is out in public, people point at him and whisper. Myshkin feels eyes on him again, and tells Lebedev he feels that Rogozhin is watching him. Lebedev notes that Rogozhin was at the church during the service. Myshkin realizes that Rogozhin must have been avoiding him, as this is the first time he has seen him since Darya’s.

Nina suggests that Myshkin and Nastasya’s wedding should be more private, but this is not what Nastasya wants. Keller, meanwhile, warns Myshkin that there are people who are conspiring against him, and even want to put him in jail. The day before Myshkin’s wedding, Lebedev comes to “repent.” It turns out that he had been conspiring to stop the marriage and had tried many routes, including even bringing a doctor to Myshkin. The doctor and Myshkin ended up having a long conversation, as the doctor was fascinated by stories of Myshkin’s treatment in Switzerland, as well as more recent occurrences such as Ippolit’s attempted suicide. In the end, the doctor concluded that there was no reason for Myshkin not to marry Nastasya.

Ippolit also spends a lot of time with Myshkin in the days leading up to the wedding. Ippolit is extremely sick at this point, and knows he will soon die. He urges Myshkin to “beware of Rogozhin,” and Myshkin is left feeling terrified. This escalates when Ippolit suggests that Myshkin might even murder Aglaya out of jealousy. This conversation happens the night before Myshkin’s wedding. The last time they see each other before their marriage, Myshkin notices that Nastasya is melancholic. However, they have made a silent agreement to never discuss their feelings with one another. Myshkin realizes that Nastasya knows how much he loves Aglaya. However, by the time they say goodbye, Nastasya has become excited over the arrival of her wedding outfit. 

 Nastasya reveals that there may be a parade of people mocking the wedding on the day, and is determined to “outshine them all with the taste and wealth of her finery.” Secretly, she also hopes that Aglaya will see her, too. She and Myshkin leave each other, but at 11 p.m. that night, Darya fetches Myshkin to inform him that Nastasya has locked herself in her room in hysterical tears. When Myshkin arrives, Nastasya exclaims: “What am I doing to you!” He stays with her for an hour, after which point she is calm and happy again.

The next day, the wedding ceremony is due to happen at 8 p.m. There is no planned reception, only a gathering of a handful of people. Myshkin sets off for the church at 7:30 p.m. It seems that everything is going according to plan. When Keller goes to get Nastasya, he finds her looking “pale as a corpse.” He takes her to the church, but just as she is stepping out of her carriage, she throws herself into the crowd, where Rogozhin has suddenly appeared. Nastasya begs for him to “save” her and take her away. He immediately pays the carriage driver 100 roubles to take her to the station, offering another 100 if they get there in time to catch the train.

In an instant, they are gone. At the station, Rogozhin pays a passing girl 50 roubles for her plain outfit, so Nastasya can wear it and avoid attention due to her wedding dress. Meanwhile, back at the church, everyone is in a state of shock. Only Myshkin leaves somewhat calmly, and surprises everyone by answering people’s stunned and often rather invasive questions in a simple, open manner. Back at Lebedev’s, a huge crowd gathers, and tea is served. Everyone expresses their opinions, some of which are very bold. Lebedev gets drunk, and incoherently declares that God “saved” Myshkin.

Kolya helps Myshkin change back into his normal clothes, and then, at 10: 30 p.m., leaves him. Vera passes by Myshkin’s room and sees him sitting alone, with his face in his hands. She goes and puts her hand on his shoulder, and he asks her to wake him at 7 a.m. so he can get the first train to St. Petersburg the next morning. When she goes back in the morning, she finds him cheerful.