The Idiot

Main Plot

The Idiot follows the story of Prince Myshkin, a man who returns to Russia after spending years in a Swiss sanatorium. Myshkin is characterized by his innocence and goodness, which starkly contrasts with the corrupt society around him. Upon his arrival in St. Petersburg, he becomes entangled in the lives of various individuals, including the beautiful but troubled Nastasya Filippovna and the ambitious Rogozhin. As Myshkin navigates the complexities of love, jealousy, and social intrigue, he inadvertently disrupts the lives of those he encounters. His genuine compassion and desire to connect with others lead to a series of dramatic events, revealing the moral decay of the society he wishes to understand. The film explores themes of morality, the nature of happiness, and the impact of societal expectations on individual lives, ultimately questioning the true meaning of sanity and madness in a flawed world.

Characters

• Yuriy Yakovlev portrays General Ivolgin, a comical, unreliable character whose delusions and fabrications add complexity and humor to the narrative.
• Yuliya Borisova portrays Nastasya Filippovna, a complex character whose beauty and tragic past drive much of the novel's conflict and emotional turmoil.
• Nikita Podgorny is a minor character, a general in the Russian army. He plays a peripheral role, mainly serving as a background figure in the social setting.

Ending Explained

In the ending of The Idiot, the narrative culminates in a tragic resolution that encapsulates the central themes of innocence and societal misunderstanding. The protagonist, Prince Myshkin, returns to St. Petersburg after a series of tumultuous events that highlight his naive idealism in a world rife with corruption and moral ambiguity. As tensions escalate, Myshkin's deep compassion and inability to navigate the complexities of human emotions lead to a heartbreaking confrontation. The climax occurs when the love triangle involving Myshkin, Nastasya Filippovna, and Rogozhin reaches its peak. Nastasya, torn between her feelings for Myshkin and Rogozhin's obsessive passion, ultimately chooses a path of self-destruction. The tragic outcome of her choices leaves Myshkin devastated, reinforcing his role as a misunderstood figure in a society that cannot appreciate his purity. In the final scenes, Myshkin's mental state deteriorates, symbolizing the crushing weight of societal expectations and the futility of his idealism. The ending serves as a poignant commentary on the conflict between the ideal and the real, illustrating how genuine goodness can be overwhelmed by the harsh realities of life. This resolution encapsulates the overarching narrative of the struggle between innocence and the corrupting influence of society.