Who Aglaya Epanchin is
Aglaya Epanchin belongs to a respectable family concerned with marriage, money and its place in society. Her father is General Ivan Epanchin, and her mother is Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchin.
She meets Prince Myshkin when his plain honesty wins him a welcome in the family home. She mocks and tests him, even as a delicate bond begins to form between them.
What Aglaya Epanchin wants
Aglaya wants a life of honest feeling beyond the limits of her family's drawing room. She calls the prince the only honest person she knows, yet also scorns him for being absurd. His gentleness attracts her, but she worries that it conceals a lack of will.
Aglaya Epanchin and the others in the story
As their love grows at Pavlovsk, Aglaya wants Myshkin to choose her freely and fully. His deep compassion for Nastasya Filippovna complicates that hope, because he feels a duty toward both women.
Aglaya's tenderness often appears through teasing rather than a direct statement of affection. Her reading of a poem about a devoted knight suggests both mockery and affection toward the prince.
Questions
Who is Aglaya Epanchin?
Aglaya is the clever, proud youngest daughter of General Ivan Epanchin and Lizaveta Prokofyevna Epanchin.
Does Aglaya love Prince Myshkin?
Yes, love develops between them at Pavlovsk, though her mockery and doubts complicate their bond.
How does Aglaya relate to Nastasya Filippovna?
Both women are tied to Myshkin, whose compassion for Nastasya complicates his growing love for Aglaya.