Writing this review a year after first reading it. This is not a blurb of plot or characters. These are my opinions on it.
I have wondered for a long time why it is praised and recommended. The realization of its significance has creep ed up on me slowly. The book is an exploration into complex psychological and philosophical themes – such as Nature of evil and the meaning of true goodness.
The protagonist is someone who is often described as “Christ like’ and innocent.
The fundamental idea is of the holy fool who is wiser than those around him
Prince Myshkin – the idiot – is devoid of world experiences which characterises his child like innocence. His apparent naivete is deceptive though. He proves to be highly perceptive and compassionate, he is able to pierce through facades of those around him and in turn offering them genuine understanding and acceptance.
The plot treads between comedy and tragedy. The story has reductive moralism than makes the book un-entertaining and difficult to read. Another factor that adds to it is that the names of characters in true Russian way switches between their surnames,names and titles. Characters behave in caricatured and predictable manner yet there are some insights and nuanced throughout.
The idiot is considered a masterpiece and greatest of Dostoevsky’s work. It is a must read but not the greatest as frequently described.
Drmd 
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