HUMILITY AS THE MAIN CHARACTEROLOGICAL TRAIT OF THE IMAGE OF PRINCE MESHKIN IN F.M. DOSTOEVSKY’S NOVEL “THE IDIOT”

Abstract

The subject of this study is the analysis of humility as the main characterological feature of the image of Prince Myshkin. The object of this study is the novel “The Idiot”. In the work the reader sees that its plot is more like a novel of upbringing with the protagonist-prince Myshkin, because the main thing here is not how the story develops, but the experiences of the character, ideas of Prince Myshkin himself, up to his terrible finale. Thus, I believe that the study of The Idiot as a whole should focus on the protagonist. In other words, the correct perspective of the study should coincide with perspective of Prince Myshkin, otherwise it is easy to miss the significance of this character. The main conclusions of the study are that in Prince Myshkin the reader vividly sees humility in human nature, reaching almost to “Christ-like”. It has the deepest meaning: the author uses Myshkin’s humility as a starting point for thinking about the future fate of the Russian people. This is what will be investigated in this paper.