Myshkin is a penniless, good-natured Russian aristocrat returning home from a Swiss medical facility where he received long-term treatment for epilepsy. His absolute sincerity and lack of social artifice make him an anomaly in Saint Petersburg high society. He views the world with profound empathy and approaches others without judgment, often causing the cynical elites to assume he is a fool.

Nastasya is a remarkably beautiful young woman whose reputation is ruined by her abusive former benefactor. She feels trapped by society's perception of her as a fallen woman and harbors deep self-hatred. Her traumatic past makes her unpredictable and aggressive, frequently testing the true intentions of the men who pursue her.

Rogozhin is a dark-haired, intense man who recently inherited a massive fortune from his strict father. He is consumed by a violent, obsessive passion for Nastasya Filippovna Barashkov. Despite his sudden wealth, he remains an outsider to polite society due to his rough manners and lack of aristocratic pedigree.

Aglaya is the youngest and most beautiful of the three Epanchin daughters. She enjoys immense privilege and is fiercely protected by her family, which occasionally makes her act haughty or spoiled. She feels intrigued by Myshkin's unusual sincerity but struggles to express her developing feelings without resorting to mockery.

Lebedev is a poorly dressed civil servant with an encyclopedic knowledge of Saint Petersburg high society. He is a widower raising a family, relying on gossip and flattery to attach himself to wealthier, more powerful figures. He frequently maneuvers for social or financial advantage but occasionally displays genuine philosophical insight.

A wealthy, practical man who has risen rapidly in Saint Petersburg society through strategic socializing and military service. He prioritizes his family's status and financial stability, initially viewing Myshkin with skepticism before finding him useful as an employee.

The eccentric, protective matriarch of the Epanchin family and a distant relative of Myshkin. She guards her daughters' marriage prospects carefully and often speaks her mind with childlike directness. She frequently experiences rapid mood swings and treats Myshkin with a mixture of suspicion and maternal affection.

General Epanchin's ambitious, vain assistant. He feels deeply ashamed of his family's poverty and his father's embarrassing behavior. He pursues Nastasya solely for her promised dowry, despite his family's horror and his own secret romantic attraction to Aglaya.

A highly cynical teenager suffering from terminal consumption. He harbors immense anger toward a world he is soon going to leave. His failing body contrasts with his sharp, bitter intellect, and he frequently seeks to shock or challenge the healthy people around him through dramatic public declarations.

A wealthy aristocrat who served as Nastasya's benefactor after her parents died. He sexually abused her when she came of age and now wishes to buy his way out of the resulting scandal by offering a massive dowry to any man willing to marry her.

Ganya's father, a disgraced, alcoholic military man who constantly invents absurd lies about his past—including claiming he was a page for Napoleon. His clownish behavior causes immense stress and embarrassment for his struggling family.

Ganya's teenage brother. He takes an immediate liking to Myshkin and frequently defends his father's embarrassing behavior. He acts as a messenger and loyal intermediary for various characters throughout the city.

Ganya's principled sister. She views Nastasya as a shameless woman and threatens to move out of the family home if Ganya goes through with the marriage. She eventually secures her own future by marrying a local moneylender.

A wealthy, pragmatic military man and suitor to Aglaya. He possesses a conventional, conservative worldview and frequently debates politics and religion with Myshkin, serving as a voice of traditional Russian high society.