3. The Idiot
Containing one of Dostoevsky's most interesting premises, The Idiot tells the story of Prince Myshkin, who after spending several years in a sanitarium for treatment of epilepsy, returns to Russia. Myshkin is purposely portrayed by Dostoevsky as the "Ideal Man" as he is honest, open, meek, and altruistic. Unfortunately, these very qualities prove to be disastrous for everyone who crosses paths with him, as Myshkin is unable to help those he cares about and is eventually driven to insanity and returns to the sanitarium. The major theme in The Idiot is how the ideal man meshes with a corrupt and decaying society. In the end, Myshkin does not bring good to the world but rather the world drags Myshkin down to its level. The point of the novel, as many critics have suggested, is that Dostoevsky believes that in a world where corruption, money, and power are what men strive for, a good man is no better than an idiot. The Idiot is similar to previous works of fiction such as Don Quixote and elements of it can be seen in later novels and even movies such as Forrest Gump but unlike those works, The Idiot is deadly serious. Dostoevsky later admitted that The Idiot was not as focused as he'd have like it to be but it remains an extremely interesting premise that is very well put together. One of the most influential works in all Russian literature, The Idiot is a profound examination of the clash between society vs. the individual and good vs. evil and it remains a poignant statement about modern man.