The Idiot

I finally finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of the most difficult books I read. I usually finish books ahead of the schedule but I took my time with this one, reading it in over 2 months time.

In The Idiot, Dostoevsky explores the human condition - the struggle between good and evil. The main character of the book is prince Myshkin who is a good, kind, and pure soul who finds himself in the company of morally corrupt people of Russia. Dostoevsky dives deep into his characters and explores their thoughts, flaws, and their capacity for good and evil.

Dostoevsky also explores the theme of love and struggle. Myshkin is involved in a love triangle between Nastasya Filipovna and Aglaya. One of them represents the destructive form of love while the other represents a more purer, idealistic form of love.

Overall, I didn't like the book. It was a struggle to read and I was waiting for an ending that will tie the story together. But the ending didn't come together. It ended abruptly; open to interpretation.

Dostoevsky's book convey a lot of wisdom in the details, in the small stories that are sprinkled across the book. Many people say that his works are meant to be read several time to truly grasp. Now I understand what they mean.