The Idiot: Part Three, Chapter Seven Summary & Analysis

Ippolit now describes a small pistol he has owned since he was a child, and first became fascinated by highway robberies and duels. He notes that it is a “trashy pistol [that] doesn’t shoot straight,” but will work if he points it at himself. He announces that he has decided to die in Pavlovsk at sunrise. His “Necessary Explanation” will explain everything to police, psychologists, and anyone else who cares to read it. He has given one copy to Myshkin and the other to Aglaya, and arranged for his skeleton to be donated to the Medical Academy.

Recently, Ippolit realized that if he committed a terrible crime (such as murdering several people), he would frustrate anyone trying to punish him considering he is going to die within weeks anyway. He wonders why others in his position don’t commit crimes. As it stands, he doesn’t seek anyone’s forgiveness before his death. He finds it ridiculous that people think he should care about the beauty of Pavlovsk when he is about to die. He doesn’t see why he should have to have humility in the face of the cruelty of the world. He reflects that if it had been up to him, he probably would not have chosen to be born.

Ippolit says he wants to make clear that he is not committing suicide because his final few weeks will be too painful to endure, he is doing so because it is the last act of free will he can exercise. This concludes the “Necessary Explanation” article. The audience, feeling tired, irritated, and rather drunk, get up from their chairs. Suddenly, Ippolit shouts that the sun has risen. Again, this fails to elicit any kind of response in everyone else. When Ganya comments that it will likely be another hot day and asks Ptitsyn if they are leaving, Ippolit accuses him of deliberately pretending to be unbothered in order to “insult” him.

Vera is the only person worried that Ippolit seems to be about to commit suicide, and rushes to him. Several others 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 won’t shoot himself, adding: “It’s a boyish prank.” There is an argument about whether those present might actually want to see Ippolit shoot himself, which Ippolit insists is the case. Lebedev says that if Ippolit hands over his gun, he can stay the night in his dacha. If he does not, Lebedev will report him to the police. Another argument ensues.

Ippolit speaks briefly to Myshkin, who tries to comfort him and urges him to drink a glass of water. Ippolit grabs a class from the table and tears himself away, going straight out to the terrace. He raises the gun to his head and pulls the trigger, just as Keller leaps over and seizes the gun from his hands. After the brief climax of commotion dies down, everyone sees that Ippolit is completely fine. Clearing up the confusion, Keller explains that there is no cap in the gun. Everyone immediately bursts into laughter. Humiliated, Ippolit rushes around trying to get a cap for the gun until he faints. He is carried into Myshkin’s study, and Lebedev calls for a doctor.

Keller, meanwhile, threatens anyone who dares to imply that Ippolit left the cap out on purpose. Evgeny and Myshkin discuss whether Ippolit is capable of killing himself or others, as he discussed in the “Necessary Explanation.” After everyone leaves, Myshkin takes a walk in the park alone, feeling agitated. Suddenly, he remembers an incident from his time in Switzerland, during his first year of treatment. He went walking by himself and, beholding a beautiful natural landscape, started to cry. He felt disconnected and alienated from the natural world that he loved so much.

Back in Pavlovsk, Myshkin falls asleep on a bench. In a dream, a woman he knows very well, but who somehow has a different face, comes to him crying. She seemingly wanting to show him something, and he gets up to follow her. However, at this point is woken up by the laughter of Aglaya, who is standing over him.