Prince Muishkin, the last heir of a noble fallen family, is a man who searches in the depths of his conscience for the essential motives of his way of being, moved by candid faith in human brotherhood and the purpose of doing his duty with honesty and sincerity. Returning to Petersburg after a long stay in Switzerland to treat epilepsy, he is overwhelmed by the personal story of Nastasia Philipovna. He decides to ask her to be his wife in order to take her away from her two contenders: the violent Rogojin, who, out of mad love, raises his own bid in money, and General Epanchin's secretary, Gania, who aims for Nastasia's wealth instead. But the girl flees with Rogojin, while the prince falls in love with Aglaya, the general's daughter.