Dostoevsky and World Culture Dostoevsky and World Culture 2619-0311 2712-8512 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/2619-0311-2018-3-104-118 Articles The Function and the Ideological Meaning of the Image of Lebedev in “The Idiot” Krinicyn Alexandr B. fedor@dostmirkult.ru 2021 1 3 104 118 Dostoevsky’s novels “the Pentateuch” anthropology Levedev Myshkin “the proud type” a character “in humiliation” the “Great sinner’s” type Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article proves that Lebedev is one of the most important characters not only in “the Idiot”, but within the context of all Dostoevsky’s anthropology after penal servitude. The character is shown as extremely controversial, paradoxical and deep. Particular attention is given to contrasting parallelism of Myshkin and Lebedev in symbolic and ideological structure of the novel. Comparing Lebedev with other typologically similar characters of “the Pentateuch” – various jesters and clowns, who voluntarily choose humiliation – the author identifies one of the main Dostoevsky’s types – a character “in humiliation” as opposed to the “proud type”. Both types are genetically connected with the “Great sinner’s” plot and thus turn out to be perfectly compatible and mutually reversible.