The Idiot: Part One, Chapter Thirteen Summary & Analysis

As he walks up to the stairs, Myshkin is afraid of being laughed out of Nastasya’s apartment. He has come because he wants to warn Nastasya that Ganya only wants to marry her for her money. There is also another “unresolved” element to his being there, which he won’t let himself even think about. Nastasya’s apartment is small, but luxuriously furnished. When she first moved to St. Petersburg, Totsky tried to win her over with money, yet while Nastasya likes luxury she has never become attached to it. She has a strange mix of people in her “circle,” despite Totsky having tried to school her into becoming the most refined kind of woman. 

To Myshkin’s surprise, Nastasya’s maid does not seem remotely disturbed by his appearance and brings him inside. Totsky and General Epanchin are already there, along with a miserable Ganya. Seeing Myshkin, Nastasya immediately mentions the earlier incident in which Ganya slapped him, which greatly intrigues Epanchin. Ganya tells the story, and notes that although some people have been calling Myshkin an idiot, in reality he is anything but. However, the group’s attention soon switches to Rogozhin, who has spent the day trying to get together 100,000 roubles. Ptitsyn expresses his certainty that Rogozhin will get it. Everyone reacts to this story with grim concern except Ferdyshchenko, who laughs vulgarly.

Among the remaining guests is a “pathetic little old schoolteacher,” an actress of about 40 (Darya), and an astonishingly beautiful, seemingly very rich young woman. When Myshkin arrives, everyone is pleasantly surprised if a little confused, including Nastasya, who greets him enthusiastically. Ferdyshchenko rudely comments on the fact that Myshkin has invited himself, but Epanchin rebukes him. A squabble ensues in which Ferdyshchenko teases the general and Epanchin grows increasingly annoyed. Anyone who wants to spend time with Nastasya has to “put up with Ferdyshchenko.” 

Quietly, Nastasya tells Myshkin that she regrets having not invited him and is glad he came anyway. Myshkin tells her: “Everything in you is perfection,” which seems to please her. She introduces him to everyone else and sits him next to her. Ganya mentions a confession Myshkin made to him, but Myshkin, blushing, denies having said anything of the kind. Unexpectedly, the schoolteacher then observers that Myshkin “blushes at an innocent joke like an innocent girl,” and that this must mean he has a pure heart. Everyone laughs (although unbeknown to the schoolteacher, they are more laughing at him than with him), and Nastasya kisses the old man. She is fond of strange elderly people and holy fools. 

Nastasya offers champagne, and everyone except Ganya accepts. Nastasya is in a strange mood and claims to have a fever. Totsky suggests they let her rest, but Nastasya insists that they stay. The actress suggests playing a parlor game, and Ferdyshchenko suggests a game in which everyone goes around and tells the worst thing they have ever done. The guests remark that this is a strange game, and Totsky calls it “a peculiar sort of boasting.” Yet Nastasya wants to play, and no one wants to contradict her wishes. Ferdyshchenko says that the women do not have to participate, and asks that all stories are appropriate enough to be shared in female company.

Ganya asks how they will know if someone is lying, and Ferdyshchenko says it shouldn’t matter to him, because everyone already knows his worst deed. They draw lots, which determines that Ferdyshchenko goes first. Nastasya suddenly seems irritable, as does Totsky, who is looking furiously at General Epanchin.