How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Here is Burdovsky, sincerely anxious to protect his mother; is not that so? And he himself is the cause of her disgrace. The prince is anxious to help Burdovsky and offers him friendship and a large sum of money, in the sincerity of his heart. And here they stand like two sworn enemies—ha, ha, ha! You all hate Burdovsky because his behaviour with regard to his mother is shocking and repugnant to you; do you not? […] Well, let me tell you that perhaps there is not one of you who loved your mother as Burdovsky loved his. As to you, prince, I know that you have sent money secretly to Burdovsky's mother through Ganya. Well, I bet now," he continued with an hysterical laugh, "that Burdovsky will accuse you of indelicacy, and reproach you with a want of respect for his mother!" (2.10.43)
Why is it not embarrassing for Burdovsky to demand the money from the prince, but it is somehow demeaning for the prince to offer him money or to send money to his mother directly?
Quote #8
[Mrs. Epanchin] was, above all distressed by the idea that her daughters might grow up "eccentric," like herself; she believed that no other society girls were like them. "They are growing into Nihilists!" she repeated over and over again. For years she had tormented herself with this idea, and with the question: "Why don't they get married?" "It is to annoy their mother; that is their one aim in life; it can be nothing else. The fact is it is all of a piece with these modern ideas, that wretched woman's question! Six months ago Aglaya took a fancy to cut off her magnificent hair. Why, even I, when I was young, had nothing like it! The scissors were in her hand, and I had to go down on my knees and implore her... She did it, I know, from sheer mischief, to spite her mother, for she is a naughty, capricious girl, a real spoiled child spiteful and mischievous to a degree! And then Alexandra wanted to shave her head, not from caprice or mischief, but, like a little fool, simply because Aglaya persuaded her she would sleep better without her hair, and not suffer from headache! And how many suitors have they not had during the last five years! Excellent offers, too! What more do they want? Why don't they get married?" (3.1.1-6)
One of the ways the novel tries to account for Nastasya's behavior is by connecting her with "the woman question." This is the old-timey shorthand of referring to the movement for women's right and equality that was starting to get a foothold in society in the middle of the 19th century. Here, we get a glimpse into the fact that the young Epanchin girls are also starting to really think about how limited their options are. Seriously, if even a haircut is treated like the apocalypse, you're living a boxed-in life.
Quote #9
"Duel! You've come to talk about a duel, too!" The prince burst out laughing, to the great astonishment of Keller. He laughed unrestrainedly, and Keller, who had been on pins and needles, and in a fever of excitement to offer himself as "second," was very near being offended.
"You caught him by the arms, you know, prince. No man of proper pride can stand that sort of treatment in public."
"Yes, and he gave me a fearful dig in the chest," cried the prince, still laughing. "What are we to fight about? I shall beg his pardon, that's all. But if we must fight—we'll fight! Let him have a shot at me, by all means; I should rather like it." (3.3.81-86)
Here, at least, it really helps not to be all bound up in society's rules. Sure, none of this duel stuff ever comes to pass, but one of the advantages of being Myshkin is that his masculinity isn't defined by displays of toughness. Also, think about the totally random quality of the duel—the guy was going to hit Nastasya, so Myshkin pushed him back, and now it's this guy who feels like he was insulted? Dude, you were about to hit a lady, which, we're pretty sure, doesn't qualify as heroism in the old macho man handbook.