Prince Myshkin's Return and Fate

The journey of Prince Myshkin from Switzerland to Russia, his encounters, and his ultimate mental collapse.

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Arrival in St. Petersburg

Arrival in St. Petersburg The Train Journey Prince Myshkin returns to Russia after four years in Switzerland, traveling third-class on the Warsaw-Petersburg railway. He meets Parfen Rogozhin, a young merchant who tells him about his passion for Nastasya Filippovna. Myshkin's naive and open manner contrasts with Rogozhin's intensity. First Impressions Myshkin is struck by the beauty of Nastasya's portrait and learns of her troubled past. He decides to visit General Epanchin, a distant relative, to seek connections in Petersburg.

Proposal to Nastasya

Proposal to Nastasya The Birthday Scene At Nastasya's birthday party, Myshkin publicly declares his love and offers to marry her, despite her reputation. He sees her as a suffering soul in need of redemption. The guests are shocked, and Rogozhin arrives with a hundred thousand roubles. The Burning of the Money Nastasya throws the money into the fire, testing Ganya's greed. Myshkin's proposal is rejected as she chooses to leave with Rogozhin, believing she would ruin Myshkin's life.

Final Collapse

Final Collapse The Vigil After Nastasya's murder by Rogozhin, Myshkin finds him in his dark house. They spend the night together beside the body. Myshkin's mind gives way; he suffers a complete mental breakdown, reverting to his former idiocy. Return to Switzerland Myshkin is taken back to Dr. Schneider's clinic in Switzerland, where he remains in a state of profound dementia, lost to the world.

early in the story, on the train

Nastasya's birthday party

after the murder, in Rogozhin's house