The general was on the point of smiling, but on second thought he checked himself...
"I have little time for making acquaintances as a rule," observed the general, "but as you have no doubt some object..."
"That's just what I expected," Myshkin interrupted, "that you would look for some special object in my visit."
I think the feeling we are supposed to get from all the following interruptions is that General Epanchin is trying to figure out as quickly as possible what Myshkin is all about, or, as I mentioned in another comment elsewhere, he is trying to get to the punchline. And though Myshkin may not *directly* ask for anything, he succeeds in getting quite a lot out of the general, who seems not to like to give charity (from the way the servant worries about being tricked into showing Myshkin in to G. Epanchin if he is only "some sort of impostor who had come to beg" and also M. Epanchin's incredulous response when her husband announces their visitor).
It is in response to one of General Epanchin's numerous interruptions that Myshkin recounts his story and here is when we first hear mention of Myshkin being an "idiot". This description comes from Myshkin himself, in no uncertain terms (in my book, separated by parenthesis, it says, "Myshkin used that word 'idiot'"). From this point it is repeated of him, perhaps with different implications/connotations, but he first identified with it. This also brings up the question of whether people listen to him... I think they do, although certainly not completely, but this seems to work in his favor. People he interacts with seem to have a very favorable impression of him, despite the fact that he appears to give them very little to go on.
Allie, your post about Gen.Epanchin's charity towards Myshkin really made me think. I don't think the General is the kind of man who can easily get swindled--we are led to believe this by the attitude of his lackey and by the fact that he is described as a pretty successful and astute business man and member of society. He built his fortune himself, and I'm sure he doesn't throw his money around. What is it, then, that makes him help Myshkin so much? I don't have the text in front of me right now, but I believe there is a moment... ok, no, let me find the text online ;-)
ReplyDeleteВзгляд князя был до того ласков в эту минуту, а улыбка его до того без всякого оттенка хотя бы какого-нибудь затаенного неприязненного ощущения, что генерал вдруг остановился и как-то вдруг другим образом посмотрел на своего гостя; вся перемена взгляда совершилась в одно мгновение.
[The Prince's eyes/look were so tender in this moment, and his smile was so without any hint of even some kind of hostile feeling, that the General suddenly stopped and somehow differently perceived his guest; the whole change took place in one moment.]
There. This also ties in with what my mom said about Dostoyevsky's characters having their own voice and showing their personality themselves. In this case, Myshkin is SAYING one thing, but the author is saying another in his descriptions. What is this magical tender look on his face? It's is hard to imagine or believe. Or maybe... it's just love? Towards people? And it takes the General by surprise because he is not used to feeling this abstract love and acceptance from strangers?
Oh! But we also shouldn't forget that later, the General decides to use Myshkin as a distraction for his wife and daughters, to get their attention away from the fact that he is going to N.F.'s birthday party and is preparing to give her an expensive gift of pearls. So... he does have his own designs, too.
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