idiots or simpletons are commonly used in literature. in german literature (and in wagner’s opera), parsifal is described as "perfect fool" because he does not understand the evil ways of the world and is therefore completely good. that is why he can break the magic spell cast by klingsor. the idiot often appears in russian literature. because the idiot is so simple he (it is always a male) is often able to express the truth which other people cannot see. dostoevsky wrote a novel called "the idiot". it is about a man who is simple and trusting. at the end of the opera "boris godunov" by mussorgsky the crowd of poor people gather round the simpleton who is the last person to sing in the whole opera. his moans express the fact that russia will continue to be ruled by cruel dictators and the people will remain poor.