Summary
Two weeks after the catastrophic confrontation, rumors about Prince Myshkin spread like wildfire through society. The gossip paints him as a nihilistic revolutionary who publicly humiliated his fiancée Aglaya to marry the scandalous Nastasia Philipovna out of radical political beliefs. Meanwhile, the prince himself seems to drift through his engagement preparations in a daze, delegating all wedding arrangements to others while spending his days with Nastasia. Yet he continues making desperate, futile visits to the Epanchin family, who have cut all ties with him. When his friend Evgenie Pavlovitch confronts him about his behavior, the prince reveals a shocking truth: he's terrified of Nastasia's face and believes she's mad, yet feels compelled to marry her out of pity rather than love. He confesses he loves both women but in different ways, leading Evgenie to conclude the prince may not truly love either. The chapter exposes how the prince's misguided compassion and inability to make clear choices has created a web of suffering for everyone involved. His attempt to save everyone has instead destroyed the very people he sought to protect. Dostoevsky masterfully shows how good intentions without wisdom can become a form of cruelty, and how society's judgment often bears little resemblance to complex human reality.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
A fortnight had passed since the events recorded in the last chapter, and the position of the actors in our story had become so changed that it is almost impossible for us to continue the tale without some few explanations. Yet we feel that we ought to limit ourselves to the simple record of facts, without much attempt at explanation, for a very patent reason: because we ourselves have the greatest possible difficulty in accounting for the facts to be recorded. Such a statement on our part may appear strange to the reader. How is anyone to tell a story which he cannot understand himself? In order to keep clear of a false position, we had perhaps better give an example of what we mean; and probably the intelligent reader will soon understand the difficulty. More especially are we inclined to take this course since the example will constitute a distinct march forward of our story, and will not hinder the progress of the events remaining to be recorded. During the next fortnight—that is, through the early part of July—the history of our hero was circulated in the form of strange, diverting, most unlikely-sounding stories, which passed from mouth to mouth, through the streets and villas adjoining those inhabited by Lebedeff, Ptitsin, Nastasia Philipovna and the Epanchins; in fact, pretty well through the whole town and its environs. All society—both the inhabitants of the place and those who came down of an evening for the music—had got hold of one and the same story, in a thousand varieties of detail—as to how a certain young prince had raised a terrible scandal in a most respectable household, had thrown over a daughter of the family, to whom he was engaged, and had been captured by a woman of shady reputation whom he was determined to marry at once—breaking off all old ties for the satisfaction of his insane idea; and, in spite of the public indignation roused by his action, the marriage was to take place in Pavlofsk openly and publicly, and the prince had announced his intention of going through with it with head erect and looking the whole world in the face. The story was so artfully adorned with scandalous details, and persons of so great eminence and importance were apparently mixed up in it, while, at the same time, the evidence was so circumstantial, that it was no wonder the matter gave food for plenty of curiosity and gossip. According to the reports of the most talented gossip-mongers—those who, in every class of society, are always in haste to explain every event to their neighbours—the young gentleman concerned was of good family—a prince—fairly rich—weak of intellect, but a democrat and a dabbler in the Nihilism of the period, as exposed by Mr. Turgenieff. He could hardly talk Russian, but had fallen in love with one of the Miss Epanchins, and his suit met with so much encouragement that he had been received in the house as the recognized...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Misguided Rescue
When attempts to save others through pity or obligation create more suffering than healing.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when compassionate impulses become harmful by examining the difference between pity and genuine support.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel compelled to 'rescue' someone - ask yourself if this serves their growth or your need to feel needed.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Social ostracism
When a community deliberately excludes someone from social activities and relationships as punishment. In 19th century Russian society, this could destroy a person's entire life and prospects.
Modern Usage:
We see this today in cancel culture, workplace shunning, or when someone gets cut off from their friend group after a scandal.
Nihilistic revolutionary
A political radical who wants to destroy existing social order without clear plans for replacement. In Dostoevsky's time, these were young Russians who rejected traditional values and authority.
Modern Usage:
Today we might call someone an 'anarchist' or say they want to 'burn it all down' when they reject all established systems.
Marriage of convenience
A marriage entered for practical reasons like money, status, or obligation rather than love. Common in aristocratic society where marriages were business arrangements between families.
Modern Usage:
We still see this in green card marriages, marrying for health insurance, or staying together 'for the kids.'
Pity versus love
The dangerous confusion between feeling sorry for someone and actually loving them. Pity can masquerade as love but often leads to resentment and harm for both people.
Modern Usage:
This happens in codependent relationships where someone stays with a partner they feel sorry for rather than truly love.
Society gossip mill
The way rumors and stories spread through social networks, often becoming distorted and exaggerated. In aristocratic circles, reputation was everything and gossip could ruin lives.
Modern Usage:
Social media has become our modern gossip mill where stories go viral and get twisted as they spread.
Delegating responsibility
Handing over important decisions to others when you should be making them yourself. Often a sign of avoidance or inability to face difficult choices.
Modern Usage:
Like letting your parents plan your wedding, having friends choose your career, or avoiding tough conversations by having others handle them.
Characters in This Chapter
Prince Myshkin
Tragic protagonist
Drifts through his engagement preparations in a daze, terrified of his fiancée but unable to break free. His misguided attempt to save everyone through pity has created suffering for all involved.
Modern Equivalent:
The people-pleaser who can't say no and ends up hurting everyone they're trying to help
Nastasia Philipovna
Tormented bride-to-be
The scandalous woman the prince feels compelled to marry out of pity rather than love. Her madness and desperation drive much of the prince's fear and confusion.
Modern Equivalent:
The troubled partner everyone warns you about but you stay with out of guilt
Aglaya Epanchina
Abandoned former love
The young woman the prince publicly humiliated and abandoned. Her family has completely cut ties with him after the scandal he created.
Modern Equivalent:
The ex who got dumped in the most public, humiliating way possible
Evgenie Pavlovitch
Truth-telling friend
Confronts the prince about his destructive behavior and forces him to admit his true feelings. Serves as the voice of reason trying to make the prince see reality.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who gives you the hard truth when everyone else is too polite to speak up
The Epanchin family
Offended former allies
Have completely severed ties with the prince after his public betrayal of their daughter. Represent society's judgment and the consequences of his actions.
Modern Equivalent:
The family that blocks you on social media after you hurt their kid
Key Quotes & Analysis
"How is anyone to tell a story which he cannot understand himself?"
Context: The narrator admits difficulty in explaining the prince's contradictory behavior
This meta-commentary reveals how the prince's actions defy rational explanation. Even the storyteller struggles to make sense of choices driven by confused emotions rather than clear thinking.
In Today's Words:
Sometimes people do things that are so messed up, even I can't explain what they were thinking.
"I'm afraid of her face... I think she's mad"
Context: The prince confesses his true feelings about Nastasia to Evgenie
This brutal honesty reveals the prince's terror of the woman he's about to marry. His admission shows how pity and fear have replaced any genuine affection.
In Today's Words:
She scares me and I think she's crazy, but I feel like I have to marry her anyway.
"You don't love either of them"
Context: Evgenie's harsh judgment after hearing the prince's confused explanations
This devastating observation cuts through the prince's self-deception. True love wouldn't create such chaos and suffering for everyone involved.
In Today's Words:
You're not actually in love with anyone - you're just making everyone miserable.
Thematic Threads
Compassion
In This Chapter
Prince Myshkin's 'compassion' for Nastasia becomes a form of cruelty, trapping her in a relationship built on pity rather than love
Development
Evolved from earlier displays of genuine empathy into something destructive and self-serving
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when your attempts to help someone consistently make their situation worse.
Truth
In This Chapter
Society creates elaborate false narratives about the prince's motives while he can't even be honest with himself about his feelings
Development
Built on earlier themes of hidden motives and self-deception, now reaching crisis point
In Your Life:
You see this when gossip at work creates stories that have nothing to do with what actually happened.
Choice
In This Chapter
The prince's inability to make clear choices between love and pity, between Aglaya and Nastasia, creates suffering for everyone
Development
Escalated from earlier indecision into active harm through paralysis
In Your Life:
You experience this when avoiding difficult decisions ends up making the situation worse for everyone involved.
Identity
In This Chapter
The prince's identity as a 'good person' becomes a prison that prevents him from acting in genuinely helpful ways
Development
Deepened from earlier struggles with social roles into complete self-delusion
In Your Life:
You might see this when your need to be seen as 'the helpful one' stops you from setting necessary boundaries.
Madness
In This Chapter
The prince recognizes Nastasia's madness but can't see how his own confused thinking contributes to the chaos
Development
Expanded from individual psychological struggles to systemic dysfunction affecting multiple lives
In Your Life:
You encounter this when you can clearly see someone else's problems but remain blind to how your own behavior feeds into them.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does society believe about Prince Myshkin's motivations for his engagement, and how does this differ from his actual reasons?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does the prince continue visiting the Epanchin family even after they've cut ties with him, and what does this reveal about his decision-making process?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen someone try to 'rescue' another person in a way that actually made things worse for everyone involved?
application • medium - 4
How can you tell the difference between genuinely helping someone and enabling their destructive patterns?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the relationship between good intentions and actual outcomes in human relationships?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Diagnose the Rescue Dynamic
Think of a situation where you or someone you know tried to 'help' someone else but the situation got worse instead of better. Map out what the rescuer thought they were doing versus what actually happened. Then identify what genuine support might have looked like instead of the attempted rescue.
Consider:
- •Was the 'help' based on what the helper needed to feel good about themselves?
- •Did the person being 'helped' actually ask for this type of assistance?
- •What boundaries might have prevented the situation from becoming toxic?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone tried to rescue you from a situation. How did it feel? What would have been more helpful? Or describe a time when your attempt to help someone backfired - what would you do differently now?
