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A review by banned_book
The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What in the Russian Wattpad did I just read?
Sometimes classic literature is so unserious. Every caricaturistically abusive fool that opposes Lev Nikolayevich (who is simultaneously a fanfic depiction of Jesus Christ and Dostoyevsky's self-insert) ends up a stuttering, blubbering, unhappy, pathetic mess in the face of his flawless and calm logic. His generosity. His authenticity. His unwavering amiability. His purity of heart. The only flaws Myshkin has are his fits, which become more severe when in the presence of other people's corruption, ultimately resulting in his and their downfalls.
Not even going to touch the depiction of women here. Nastasya Filipovna had potential to be interesting, but never received enough space on the page to do anything other than repeat the same mistake ad nauseum. Come to think of it, Aglaya and Madame Yepanchin suffered the same fate, too.
I suppose this book succeeded in humanizing those who suffer from epilepsy. Quite an accomplishment for its time. It's always refreshing to come across evidence of past societies evolving to realize that "_____ demographic are people, too!"
No other disability or form of mental distress is considered with grace, mind you, just this one specific disorder that doesn't interfere with the ability to reason most of the time. Myshkin is not like the other mental patients.
Guess who also had epilepsy.
Just guess.
I'll give you a hint.
His surname begins with D.
Sometimes classic literature is so unserious. Every caricaturistically abusive fool that opposes Lev Nikolayevich (who is simultaneously a fanfic depiction of Jesus Christ and Dostoyevsky's self-insert) ends up a stuttering, blubbering, unhappy, pathetic mess in the face of his flawless and calm logic. His generosity. His authenticity. His unwavering amiability. His purity of heart. The only flaws Myshkin has are his fits, which become more severe when in the presence of other people's corruption, ultimately resulting in his and their downfalls.
Not even going to touch the depiction of women here. Nastasya Filipovna had potential to be interesting, but never received enough space on the page to do anything other than repeat the same mistake ad nauseum. Come to think of it, Aglaya and Madame Yepanchin suffered the same fate, too.
I suppose this book succeeded in humanizing those who suffer from epilepsy. Quite an accomplishment for its time. It's always refreshing to come across evidence of past societies evolving to realize that "_____ demographic are people, too!"
No other disability or form of mental distress is considered with grace, mind you, just this one specific disorder that doesn't interfere with the ability to reason most of the time. Myshkin is not like the other mental patients.
Guess who also had epilepsy.
Just guess.
I'll give you a hint.
His surname begins with D.