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A review by theplatonicwitch
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Imagine those stories where you fully grasp the essence of each character, witnessing their extraordinary actions that transcend natural behavior. Despite the clear hints of an unfortunate outcome, you are still taken aback when it occurs. "The Idiot" felt like one of those stories.
Dostoevsky has always been fundamentally a writer fascinated by human nature. In each of his novels, we encounter unique perspectives on life and observe how individuals confront and grapple with their beliefs and faiths, often experiencing profound despair when those beliefs are shattered. "The Idiot" embodies a character who shares extraordinary views on various matters. He speaks of hope as perhaps the most potent force within humans, essential for their survival, and suggests that depriving someone of hope is the cruelest punishment. He also muses on the idea that beauty can save the world, finding beauty in the most mundane aspects of life and suggesting that one can always be happy by appreciating these simple things. He believed that individuals have the power to make themselves unhappy, often unknowingly. One of the story's major themes is love to the point of despair and self-deprecation, or even madness. This theme raises the question: what is love? Is it a divine power or a form of religion? Essentially, it encompasses the chaos and intensity of any emotion. Dostoevsky masterfully explores these themes in this story, staying true to his essence of thought.
The narrative effortlessly weaves between different characters, each with their own beliefs, and shows how they try to influence one another. I loved this novel, just as I have loved all of Dostoevsky's works.
Dostoevsky has always been fundamentally a writer fascinated by human nature. In each of his novels, we encounter unique perspectives on life and observe how individuals confront and grapple with their beliefs and faiths, often experiencing profound despair when those beliefs are shattered. "The Idiot" embodies a character who shares extraordinary views on various matters. He speaks of hope as perhaps the most potent force within humans, essential for their survival, and suggests that depriving someone of hope is the cruelest punishment. He also muses on the idea that beauty can save the world, finding beauty in the most mundane aspects of life and suggesting that one can always be happy by appreciating these simple things. He believed that individuals have the power to make themselves unhappy, often unknowingly. One of the story's major themes is love to the point of despair and self-deprecation, or even madness. This theme raises the question: what is love? Is it a divine power or a form of religion? Essentially, it encompasses the chaos and intensity of any emotion. Dostoevsky masterfully explores these themes in this story, staying true to his essence of thought.
The narrative effortlessly weaves between different characters, each with their own beliefs, and shows how they try to influence one another. I loved this novel, just as I have loved all of Dostoevsky's works.