The Idiot: Part Two, Chapter Eight Summary & Analysis

Myshkin tells the four men that he was not expecting to see them, that he has been sick, and that he’d hoped they had 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 prince read a newspaper article which she promises is relevant to his current situation. While Myshkin tries to assure her that he will read it by himself later, Mrs. Epanchin insists that he read it immediately, aloud. The article is emblazoned with a headline that reads: “Proletarians and Scions, an Episode from Daily and Everyday Robberies! Progress! Reform! Justice!” 

The article describes an unnamed man, obviously Myshkin, returning to Russia from Switzerland, where he was being treated for “idiocy.” It states that Myshkin was sponsored by a rich landowner named P.—— (Pavlishchev). The article asserts that P.—— was foolish to believe that “the idiot could be taught reason in Switzerland.” After five years in Switzerland, Myshkin “began to resemble a human being—only just, no doubt.” During this time, P.—— died. According to the article, Myshkin managed to swindle the professor, and then ended up swindling his way into inheriting P.——'s fortune. At this point, General Epanchin cries out in protest, but Mrs. Epanchin insists they listen to the end.

The article continues that P.—— has an illegitimate son, a young man who does not have the same last name as his father. The son was raised by his mother and stepfather, a nobleman, as if he was his stepfather’s own child. The article raises the question of what Myshkin should do with this information. It suggests that surely Myshkin should give the son the thousands spent on his treatment in Switzerland. In reality, though, Myshkin has only sent the young man 50 roubles. The article ends with a comical, rhyming epigram making fun of Myshkin and accusing him of committing theft. 

Kolya, who has been reading the article aloud to everyone, flees to a corner and puts his face in his hands. The other guests all feel very embarrassed. Strangely, even the four young men seem to be unhappy. General Epanchin grumbles that the article was written by imbeciles. Finally, Myshkin speaks, saying that he doesn’t “mind” the article, but adds that whoever wrote it must know it is wrong. The four young men immediately distance themselves from the article. Lebedev’s nephew, Doktorenko, begins shouting that the issue they are presenting may not be a legal one, but it is one that demands attention based on human conscience and common sense. He repeats that they “demand, and do not ask.”   

Burdovsky repeats the word “demand,” turning bright red. Although Lebedev supports Myshkin in this whole affair, he feels a bit of “family pride” after Doktorenko’s speech. When Myshkin begins to speak about the “slander” in the article, Ippolit goes flustered and insists that it was Keller who wrote it. Keller confirms that he wrote it, though he adds that he showed it to Burdovsky, who approved it before publication. Myshkin points out that the men published the article based on their certainty that Myshkin would never give in to Burdovsky’s demands. In fact, Myshkin may well do so. Although Myshkin is speaking in a calm and friendly way, each thing he says makes the men more and more irate.

Myshkin objects less to how he was portrayed in the article, and more about 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). He thus concluded that Burdovsky “must be a simple, defenseless man” who was put up to getting money from Myshkin by someone else. He has calculated that Pavlishchev must have spent about 10,000 roubles on his treatment, and thus plans to give this money directly to Burdovsky. After hearing this, Ippolit cries out indignantly: “Only ten thousand!” Burdovsky himself refuses the offer.

Myshkin goes on to explain that the article’s claim that he inherited millions is false; in reality, he only got a tiny fraction of that. Furthermore, 10,000 roubles is actually far more than Pavlishchev 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 believing that he is Pavlishchev’s son.

Despite his conviction that Burdovsky is not Pavlishchev’s son, Myshkin will give him the 10,000 roubles anyway, as he had been planning to use this to set up a school in Pavlishchev’s memory. He argues that, in a sense, Burdovsky might as well be Pavlishchev’s son, because he is an innocent man who has been cruelly swindled into believing this lie about this paternity. After making this speech, Myshkin regrets having done everything in such a public manner and feels bad about implying that Burdovsky is also perceived by others as an idiot.