# Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin — The Idiot character guide > Aglaya Ivanovna Epanchin in The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Aglaya, Aglaya Ivanovna, Aglaya Epanchin, Alas Aglaya **First appearance:** 0001-part-i-ii ## Snapshot The youngest Epanchin daughter — beautiful, sharp-tongued, and willful — who treats the world as a game she is bored of winning. ## Who they are Aglaya is the family's brilliant, capricious favorite, raised among wealth and suitors she despises, and given to cutting off her own hair just to spite her mother. She is drawn to Myshkin precisely because he is unlike the calculating men around her, yet she cannot resist mocking him and testing his sincerity. Her restless intelligence and pride make her the story's most unpredictable force, and her interest in the prince turns a social comedy into something far more dangerous. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Introduced as the youngest and most beautiful daughter, aged twenty, the idol of the household. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-i-v) Shows impatience with her mother's rudeness and engages with Myshkin's philosophical remarks. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-i-vii) Receives Gania's note from the prince with a cool, condescending expression. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-i) Shows particular interest in the prince; Mrs. Epanchin has become especially affectionate towards her, hinting at a possible match. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-vi) Recites and passionately defends the poem 'The Poor Knight,' linking it to ideals of pure beauty and chivalry. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-vii) Recites Pushkin's 'The Poor Knight' and later speaks seriously to the prince about the impending confrontation. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-ix) Sits apart in silence, frowning, after her mother's outburst. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-x) Whispers a furious threat to Prince Myshkin, demanding he turn out the 'dreadful people' or she will hate him forever. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-xi) Aglaya has quarreled with her entire family, a fact mentioned by Varvara as a significant sign. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) Sent a note forbidding the prince from visiting; described as self-willed, fantastic, and wicked by her mother. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iii-i) Described as capricious and mischievous; her mother's primary concern. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Has a hysterical outburst about marriage rumors, then laughs it off; leads the prince on a walk and points out a bench where she sits alone. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iii-iii) Sends a secret note to Myshkin arranging a meeting at the green bench, showing her playful and commanding nature. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iii-viii) Confronts Myshkin about Nastasya, admits to lying about loving Ganya, and shows jealousy and anger. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iii-ix) Defends the prince's honesty to her mother, having met him by appointment at the green bench. ### [Chapter X: The Nightmare Letters and the Midnight Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iii-x) Referenced in Nastasya's letters as the one the prince should love; she is not well and is at home. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-v) The subject of family speculation; she plays chess with the prince and keeps him waiting, contributing to the sense that her fate is being decided. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-vi) Anxiously warns the prince about the party, expresses disdain for high society, and shows irritation about the event. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-vii) Rushes to catch Myshkin as he falls during his seizure. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-viii) Arranges the meeting with Nastasya, confronts her with contempt and jealousy, flees in despair after the prince's reaction. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-ix) Aglaya flees Nastasya's house in a terrible state, refuses to go home, and takes refuge at Nina Alexandrovna's. She later laughs at Gania's declaration of love and asks him if he would hold his finger to a candle as proof of devotion. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-x) Referenced as a possible target of Rogojin's jealousy and as a hidden motive for Nastasia's desire to appear splendid at the wedding. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-xi) Mentioned among the Epanchin ladies who question the prince about the wedding. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/chapters/part-iv-xii) Married a false Polish count, joined a committee for Polish restoration, became a fanatic under a Jesuit priest, and quarreled with her family. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/characters/aglaya_epanchin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_idiot_se/characters