The Function and the Ideological Meaning of the Image of Lebedev in "The Idiot"

Abstract

The article proves that Lebedev is one of the most important characters not only in “the Idiot”, but within the context of all Dostoevsky’s anthropology after penal servitude. The character is shown as extremely controversial, paradoxical and deep. Particular attention is given to contrasting parallelism of Myshkin and Lebedev in symbolic and ideological structure of the novel. Comparing Lebedev with other typologically similar characters of “the Pentateuch” – various jesters and clowns, who voluntarily choose humiliation – the author identifies one of the main Dostoevsky’s types – a character “in humiliation” as opposed to the “proud type”. Both types are genetically connected with the “Great sinner’s” plot and thus turn out to be perfectly compatible and mutually reversible.

Keywords

• dostoevsky’s novels
• “the pentateuch” anthropology
• levedev
• myshkin
• “the proud type”
• a character “in humiliation”
• the “great sinner’s” type