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The Idiot, Part 2, Chapter 7 summary

Part 2, Chapter 7 of 50 · 13 min to read the chapter

In Chapter 7, Aglaya directs a serious but pointed recital at the prince, while Evgenie Pavlovitch’s arrival and civilian clothes stir curiosity among the guests. Four young visitors then arrive over a disputed claim involving Pavlicheff’s son, and the prince admits them despite warnings and pressure to defend himself publicly.

What happens

  1. Aglaya recites a ballad with deep feeling but deliberately changes its initials, leaving the prince troubled by the implied joke.
  2. Evgenie Pavlovitch meets the prince and explains that he temporarily leaves military service to manage his estates and travel abroad.
  3. Mrs. Epanchin seeks books by Pushkin, and Lebedeff offers to sell her his family’s copy.
  4. Vera announces four persistent visitors, including a man described as Pavlicheff’s son, whose business the prince entrusts to Gavrila Ardalionovitch.
  5. The guests demand to witness the dispute, while the prince rejects Lebedeff’s hostile account and prefers a private meeting.
  6. The four visitors introduce themselves and sit facing the prince, visibly defensive but initially silent.

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In this chapter

Aglaya

What to notice

The prince resists turning his personal dispute into a spectacle, even as his guests insist on witnessing it.

Quick check

What deliberate change does Aglaya make during her recital?

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