For those who have read Dostoevsky's The Idiot: quick question

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Originally Posted by MichaelRabzitch

However, when the prince is introduced to 'Ivan Petrovich' at the vase-breaking dinner party, they talk as if they have never met before (despite both being at NFB's eventful party), even though I do remember a reference to 'Ptitsyn' having relations to Pavlischev in the beginning.

Basically, I just want to know if the two ('Ivan Petrovich' from the dinner party in part 4, and 'Ptitsyn' from the whole preceding story) are one in the same. And if so, why is Ptitsyn just now getting the name conversion to being fully Ivan Petrovich?

I understand that a Nikolay Andreevich Pavlishchev had been Prince Myshkin's protege. The troublemaker Burdovsky is the young man who claimed to be the son of Myshkin's late benefactor, Pavlishchev, and came to the prince demanding money considering Pavlishchev's long support of the Prince.

Ivan Petrovich Ptitsyn (Ivan Petrovitch Ptitsin) is Varya Ivolgin's suitor. Everyone rates Ptitsyn as mediocrity personified, who has acquired wealth through usury, and a good marriage.

Until late in the novel, I believe the title Ivan Petrovich is never used alone - at least in the Lit. Net version of the novel.

I just wanted to make a remark about 'Ptitsyn' as it shot through my head. Don't know whether it has a lot of ignificance, but it could be... The name is related to the word 'ptitsa' which is a swan. 'Myshkin' to a little mouse.

Just a thought.