Hello everyone,
The possible inconsistency occurs in Part 3 Chapter 3/4. Even though I read it at least twice, it still seems that the events are impossible to occur the way that they occur.
Chronologically,
Myshkin bumps into Keller, who has been following him since he left the Epanchins’, Keller offers protection to Myshkin which he thinks is absurd. Then Myshkin walks to the park where Rogozhin appears, they discuss some stuff, and Myshkin remembers that it is his birthday. Myshkin invites Rogozhin to join him to celebrate in his villa.
Now this is where it gets unreasonable,
When Myshkin and Rogozhin arrive at Myshkin’s villa, the whole squad is waiting for them. Long story short, we are told that Keller told the squad that it was Myshkin’s birthday.
The problem I see is that there is no way that, as I understand the plot, Keller might know it was Myshkin’s birthday. On top of Keller barely knowing Myshkin, even Myshkin did not remember it was his birthday.
This novel has noticeably inconsistencies so it hardly seems worth writing this, but I don’t think this is inconsistent. The Prince does not live alone, has a group of friends, and by this point in the book has known them a while. It seems entirely reasonable that Prince Myshkin forgot his birthday, but that Lebedev (owner of the house The Prince is living in) had learned somewhere along the way, when Myshkin’s birthday was.
I noticed a couple of other inconsistencies I just wanted to know if there was an explanation for this for some reason; I guess it is not worth much writing this:)
However, your explanation does not make sense as it is clearly stated that Keller lets everyone know that it is Myshkin’s birthday.