» Mikhail Katkov .
The main work on the novel took place in 1870-1871 abroad, where Dostoevsky left in April 1867. The writer was dissatisfied with Western European life and was very homesick for Russia. At the same time, he was under pressure from worries about a growing family, cramped material circumstances and obligations to magazines.
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By the beginning of work on the novel, Dostoevsky had several artistic ideas that influenced the writing of a new novel, but remained unfinished. Among them, researchers of the writer's work distinguish: "The Life of the Great Sinner", the story of Captain Kartuzov, "The Death of the Poet", the story of the Pupil, the novel about the Prince and the Usurer.
Dostoevsky promised the publisher of Russkiy Vestnik Mikhail Katkov to provide a new novel by the beginning of 1870. However, from his letter dated August 29, 1869, it follows that the writer has not even started work. At this time, Dostoevsky sees the writing of The Life of a Great Sinner as the main business of his life, but does not want to spoil this idea with haste. The writer concludes that “it is necessary, therefore, to strain in order to invent new stories; it's disgusting." In addition to the promise to Katkov, Dostoevsky had obligations to the editor of Zarya, as a result of which the autumn of 1869 was spent working on the story The Eternal Husband. Later, on March 25, 1870, Dostoevsky wrote about this: “Now I work for Russkiy Vestnik. I owed money there and, having given The Eternal Husband to Zarya, I placed myself there, in the Russkiy Vestnik, in an ambiguous position. By all means, it is necessary to finish what I am now writing there. Yes, and I firmly promised them, and in literature I am an honest man.
The emergence of the idea
After studying Dostoevsky's notebooks and letters, researchers of his work came to the conclusion that these memoirs are not accurate. Even before studying them, Arkady Dolinin believed that the idea for the novel arose before Snitkin's arrival in mid-October 1869, a month and a half before Ivanov's assassination. Literary critic Leonid Grossman also expressed doubts that Snitkin knew Ivanov. Dostoevsky's notebooks showed that the idea of the novel dates back to the beginning of 1870. He was preceded by work on the plan for The Life of a Great Sinner and a novel about the Prince and the Usurer, as well as the development of the idea of the novel Envy, dated the second half of January 1870 and which became the beginning of the creative history of The Possessed.
In January 1870, the plans for a novel about the Prince and the Usurer and a topical political novel still existed in parallel, and Dostoevsky thought about what he could write faster for Russkiy Vestnik. On January 23, 1870, the choice was made in favor of the future "Demons". Dostoevsky writes an excerpt "T. N. Granovsky ", in which the character from the future novel is already visible.
Work on a novel
Since February 1870, active work began on the topical novel "Demons". On February 12, Dostoevsky writes to Apollon Maikov: “He sat down for a rich idea; I'm not talking about execution, but about the idea. One of those ideas that have a definite effect on the public. Like "Crime and Punishment", but even closer, even more urgent to reality and directly touches on the most important contemporary issue. I'll finish by autumn, I'm not in a hurry and I'm not in a hurry. I'll try to have it printed in the fall<…>It's just too hot a subject. I have never worked with such pleasure and with such ease.
Until the summer of 1870, the pamphlet on Western liberals remained the main idea. This idea united the various events of the work, constantly developed and deepened by Dostoevsky through various political and religious-philosophical disputes. The writer thought over an entertaining plot with many different characters. However, already from the second half of February 1870, Dostoevsky planned to go beyond the political pamphlet.
Among the many characters, Dostoevsky for a long time could not choose the main one who would link the events of the novel together. Initially, such a character was supposed to be Granovsky, whose image is found in rough sketches at the end of January. Already in the second half of February, the author tries to make the Student the main character, presenting him as a “Hero of our time”: “and then connect everything with his son and with Granovsky’s relationship with his son (everything from him is like from “Hero of our time”)”. However, his "lashing nihilist" was not suitable for the role of Pechorin, so the writer abandoned this idea. At the same time, a decision is made to add a "truly Russian" hero - "soil", opposing him to the Westerners.
From the March notes of the writer, the "tendentiousness" of the conceived work is visible. Dostoevsky notes in his letters that he considers the novel from a tendentious side, even more than from an artistic one, hoping to express a few thoughts “hotter”: “I am carried away by what has accumulated in my mind and in my heart; let even a pamphlet come out, but I will speak out. I hope to succeed."
In May, Dostoevsky begins to doubt that he will have time to finish by the fall. In a letter dated May 7, 1870, he reports: “At the moment I am sitting on one special work, which I destined for the Russkiy Vestnik.<…>I crumple 25 sheets of what should have taken at least 50 sheets - I crumple to finish by the deadline, and I can’t do anything else, because I can’t write anything other than this at the present moment, being outside Russia ” . In the course of his work, the writer constantly strives to deepen the idea and find new images, which by the summer led to the decision to completely rework the problematics and composition of the future novel.
The action of the novel takes place in a provincial town in early autumn. Chronicle narrates the events G-v , which is also a participant in the described events. His story begins with the story of Verkhovensky, an idealist of the forties, and a description of his complex platonic relationship with Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina, a noble provincial lady, whose patronage he enjoys.
Around Verkhovensky, local liberal-minded youth are grouped .. He was the educator of many heroes of the novel. Formerly handsome, now he has sunk, flabby, plays cards and indulges in champagne.
The arrival of Nikolai Stavrogin, an extremely "mysterious and romantic" person, about whom there are many rumors, is expected. He served in an elite guards regiment, fought duels, was demoted, and curried. Then he swaggered, set off into the wildest unbridledness. Having been in his native city four years ago, he did a lot of tricks, causing general indignation: he dragged the respectable man Gaganov by the nose, painfully bit the then governor on the ear, publicly kissed someone else's wife ... In the end, everything seemed to be explained by delirium tremens. Having recovered, Stavrogin went abroad. His mother, Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina, a resolute and domineering woman, worried about her son's attention to her pupil Daria Shatova, is interested in his marriage to the daughter of a friend, Liza Tushina. She decides to marry her ward Stepan Trofimovich to Daria. He, in some horror, although not without enthusiasm, is preparing to propose.
In the cathedral, at mass, Marya Timofeevna Lebyadkina, aka Khromonozhka, unexpectedly approaches Varvara Petrovna and kisses her hand. An intrigued lady, who recently received an anonymous letter informing her that a lame woman would play a serious role in her fate, invites her to her place, and Liza Tushina is traveling with them. Captain Lebyadkin, who has arrived for her sister, is also here. Nikolai Stavrogin is suddenly announced . First, the fussy Verkhovensky appears, followed by the pale and romantic handsome Stavrogin himself. Varvara Petrovna asks her son whether Marya Timofeevna is his legal wife. Stavrogin silently kisses his mother's hand, then nobly grabs Lebyadkin's arm and leads her out. In his absence, Verkhovensky tells a beautiful story about how Stavrogin inspired a beautiful dream in a downtrodden holy fool, so that she even imagined him as her fiancé. Immediately he sternly asks Lebyadkin if this is true, and the captain, trembling with fear, confirms everything. Varvara Petrovna is delighted, and when her son appears again, she asks his forgiveness.
However, the unexpected happens: Shatov suddenly comes up to Stavrogin and slaps him. Stavrogin grabs him in anger, but immediately puts his hands behind his back. As it turns out later, this is another testament to his great strength, another test. Shatov comes out. Lisa Tushina, obviously not indifferent to Stavrogin, faints.
Meanwhile, frivolous moods and a tendency to various kinds of blasphemous
abavam: mockery of newlyweds, desecration of an icon, etc. The province is restless, fires are raging, giving rise to rumors of arson, proclamations are found in different places calling for a riot, somewhere cholera is raging, the workers of the Shpigulins’ closed factory are showing dissatisfaction, a certain second lieutenant, unable to bear the commander’s reprimand, rushes at him and bites him on the shoulder, and before that he chopped up two images and lit church candles before the writings of Focht, Moleschott and Buchner ... A holiday is being prepared by subscription in favor of governesses, started by the wife of the governor, Yulia Mikhailovna.
Varvara Petrovna, offended by Stepan Trofimovich's too obvious desire to marry and his too frank letters to his son Peter complaining that they want to marry him "on other people's sins", appoints him a pension and announces a break.
The younger Verkhovensky at this time develops vigorous activity. He is admitted to the house of the governor and enjoys the patronage of his wife Yulia Mikhailovna. She believes that he is connected with the revolutionary movement, and dreams of uncovering a state conspiracy with his help. On a meeting with Governor von Lembke, who is extremely preoccupied with what is happening, Verkhovensky skillfully gives him several names, in particular Shatov and Kirillov, but at the same time asks him for six days to reveal the entire organization. Then he runs to Kirillov and Shatov, notifying them of the meeting of "ours", and asks to be there, after which he calls in for Stavrogin, who has just been visited by Mavriky Nikolaevich, the fiancé of Liza Tushina, with a proposal that Nikolai Vsevolodovich marry her, since she although she hates him, she loves him at the same time. Stavrogin confesses to him that he cannot do this in any way, since he is already married. Together with VErkhovensky, they go to a secret meeting.
Shatov is attacked. Verkhovensky shot him point blank with a revolver. Two large stones are tied to the body and thrown into the pond. Verkhovensky hurries to Kirillov. Although he is indignant, he fulfills his promise - he writes a note under dictation and takes the blame for the murder of Shatov, and then shoots himself. Verkhovensky collects his things and leaves for St. Petersburg, from there abroad. Having set off on his last wandering, Stepan Trofimovich dies in a peasant hut in the arms of Varvara Petrovna, who rushed after him. Before his death, a random fellow traveler, to whom he tells his whole life, reads the Gospel to him, and he compares the possessed, from whom Christ cast out the demons that entered the pigs, with Russia. This passage from the Gospel is taken by the chronicler as one of the epigraphs to the novel.
All participants in the crime, except for Verkhovensky, who were extradited by Lyamshin, were arrested. Daria Shatova gets confession letter Stavrogin, who admits that "one denial poured out of him, without any generosity and without any strength." He calls Daria with him to Switzerland, where he bought a small house in the canton of Uri to live there forever. Daria gives the letter to Varvara Petrovna to read, but then both learn that Stavrogin has unexpectedly appeared in Skvoreshniki. They rush there and find a "citizen of the canton of Uri" hanged on the mezzanine.
Year of publication of the book: 1872
The novel by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky "Demons" was duly appreciated by the writer's contemporaries and later generations. What is worth only five adaptations of this work. Moreover, he was appreciated not only in our country, but also abroad. So the Nobel laureate in literature Albert Camus, based on Dostoevsky's book "Demons", created the play "The Possessed", which was staged more than once in theaters around the world. It is thanks to such works that Fedor Mikhailovich is still in the top 100 most widely read writers in our country.
Roman "Demons" summary
In Dostoevsky's novel "Demons" in a summary, you will learn about the events that took place in one provincial town. They are told by a certain Anton Lavrentievich G-va, who himself took a direct part in them. The story begins with the fate of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky and his difficult relationship with Varvara Nikolaevna Stavrogina. Stepan Trofimych was married twice. From his first marriage he has a son, Peter. At one time he tried to write, but nothing came of it. Sometimes he suffers from the futility of his life, like the main character, but then consoles himself with champagne and a game of cards.The main events in the book "Demons" by Dostoevsky begin to develop in connection with the arrival of the son of Varvara Nikolaevna - Nikolai Vsevolodovich. Once he was a pupil of Stepan Trofimovich. Then he entered the military service and suddenly turned into a reveler. For this he was demoted to the ranks, but then he curried. During his last visit to the city, he first made a favorable impression on everyone, but then "the beast let out its claws." He uttered insolence to the respected members of the club, and generally stretched his elder Gaganov around the hall by the nose, publicly kissed someone else's wife, and then completely bit the then governor on the ear. It was possible to fix everything only after two and a half months of treatment for delirium tremens. After that, Nikolas went abroad.
In connection with the arrival of the protagonist of the novel "Demons" by Dostoevsky, his mother was worried about the fate of her pupil Dasha Shakhova. After all, Nikolai showed increased attention to her. In this regard, she offered to marry a girl to Stepan Trofimych, who was more than thirty years older. And Verkhovensky, although he was dissatisfied with this proposal and complained to our narrator about the need to take "other people's sins" upon himself, agreed. By the way, the unexpectedly appeared engineer Liputi considered this marriage an attempt to cover up the noble sins of Nikolasa.
Further in Dostoevsky's novel "Demons" you can read about the events taking place on Sunday. It is on this day that the matchmaking of Stepan Trofimych is scheduled. He is very worried, but he arrived at Stavrogina's house. Varvara Nikolaevna herself at this time returns from the church. On the way, Marya Timofeevna Lebyadkina, nicknamed Khromonozhka, asks for alms from her. Varvara Nikolaevna is intrigued, because just recently she received an anonymous letter saying that a lame woman will play an important role in her life. Therefore, she invites Khromonozhka and Lizaveta Nikolaevna Tushina, a childhood friend of Nikolai Stavrogin and a pupil of Stepan Trofimovich, to her home.
Further, in the summary of the book "Demons" by Dostoevsky, you can read about the events developing in Stavrogina's house. The limp behaves defiantly - he calls Varvara Nikolaevna "aunty", and accuses Dasha Shatova of not giving 300 rubles to her brother, Captain Lebyadkin. This money was allegedly transferred to her brother Nikolai Stavrogin. Stepan Trofimovich brings Khromonozhka's brother and he assures that the girl is not herself. At the same time, confusedly, he begins to hint that he has rights in this house. In the meantime, a month earlier than planned, "Prince Harry" arrives - Nikolai Stavrogin, who enters immediately after Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky. To a direct question from his mother who he is related to, he keeps silent and takes her to the carriage. And Pyotr Stepanovich explains that Nikolai helped the Lebyadkins in Switzerland, so much so that Khromonozhka imagined herself to be Nikolai's wife. Captain Lebyadnikov confirms this story. Nevertheless, Liza Tushina throws a tantrum. And when Ivan Pavlovich Shatov gave Nikolai Stavrogin a slap in the face, she generally fainted.
In the second part of Dostoevsky's novel "Demons" you can read about the events unfolding eight days after the events described. Nikolai Stavrogin lived as a recluse, and rumors about him and Lisa Tushina spread around the city. Meanwhile, Peter Verkhovensky comes to Nikolai. He informs Nikolai that his things have arrived and offers to go together to a secret meeting. Nikolai goes to the engineer Kirillov. He invites him to become his second. Kirillov shows Nikolai two pistols from which he wanted to shoot himself. After all, by committing suicide, according to Kirillov, one can become a “man-god”. Having received consent, Nikolai goes up to Shatov, who lives in the same house, and confesses to him his marriage to Khromonozhka. According to Stavrogin's story, the case was "on drunkenness" and on a bet. Shatov, on the other hand, shares with Nikolai his idea of a God-fighting people. Offers to give up everything and a peasant life to approach God. When asked by Nikolai whether Shatov himself believes in God, he can only answer what he believes. Nikolai warns Shatov that he could be killed for such ideas.
Further, the protagonist of the novel "Demons" by F. M. Dostoevsky went to Captain Lebyadkin. But on the way he met Fedka the convict. It was sent by Peter Verkhovensky. Fedka offered to fulfill any will of the "master", but Nikolai drove him away. At the Lebyadkins' house, Nikolai said that he would soon announce his marriage. After all, he does not intend to pay the captain for silence. He enters the room to the Limp, who is sleeping. But she sleepily does not recognize him and shouts that he is Grishka Otrepyev, and also declares that he has a knife in his pocket. On the way back, Nikolai is again met by Fedka Katorzhny. He proposes to solve the problem with the Lebyadkins. Nikolay just laughs at this and throws all the cash into the dirt.
Further, in the summary of Dostoevsky's book "Demons" you can read about the duel that took place the next day. Artemy Gaganov believes that Nikolai insulted his father and offers to shoot himself three times. All three times he misses, only the first time catching Nikolai's little finger. Stavrogin, with the words that he will not kill anyone else, deliberately shoots past, insulting his opponent even more. This raises him greatly in the eyes of the public. Well, Nikolai himself explains with Dasha Shatova, offering not to approach him. But Dasha is sure that she will soon stay with him. Meanwhile, Pyotr Verkhovensky informs his father that Varvara Nikolaevna is outraged by his words about "other people's sins." Therefore, she announced a break and appointed him a pension. The son and father swear strongly on this basis, and Peter declares that he will not come again.
Meanwhile, Pyotr Verkhovensky begins to exert increasing influence on the wife of the governor, Yulia Mikhailovna, and Andrei Antonovich von Lembke himself. With his help, Yulia Mikhailovna hoped to expose the state conspiracy. Moreover, discontent in the province and the city grew. The Shpigulin factory was closed, cholera was raging, proclamations began to appear in the city, calling for a riot. But all this did not prevent Yulia Mikhailovna from preparing a holiday in favor of the governesses. Meanwhile, Vera Nikolaevna and Stepan Trofimovich are explaining themselves. And Stepan Trofimovich admits that for twenty years he lived only in dreams. And Pyotr Verkhovensky betrays Shatov and Kirillov to Yulia Mikhailovna as conspirators. And then he goes to them and reminds them of the need to get together. Liza Tushina's fiancé, Mavriky Nikolaevich, comes to Nikolai Stavrogin. He invites Nikolai to marry Lisa, because she loves him. But Nikolai confesses to him that he is already married and leaves with Peter to the meeting.
Further in the book "Demons" by Dostoevsky, you can read about the meeting, which takes place under the guise of celebrating a name day. The gloomy Shpigalev proposes to divide society into two unequal parts. One tenth will govern nine tenths of society. After this report, Pyotr Verkhovensky asks the question: “Did anyone from the audience inform if he knew about the impending murder?” One after another, voices begin to be heard that someone would not have informed. But Shatov calls Peter a spy and a scoundrel and leaves the meeting. Following him, Stavrogin leaves the meeting, who said that he would not compromise himself by answering such questions. Kirillov goes with him. Pyotr Verkhovensky also goes after them. He catches up with Kirillov and Stavrogin. But Stavrogin says that he does not want to participate in this "five" because Peter wants to seal it with a crime. And indeed, Peter has even outlined the victim - this is Shatov. Trying to convince Stavrogin, Peter told about his plans. He wants to rock Russia so that the earth itself weeps for the old gods. And then Stavrogin will come - Ivan Tsarevich, who is now needed by the country. And for this, Peter will kill Lameleg for free and bring Liza to him.Meanwhile, our narrator of Dostoevsky's The Possessed novel receives the news that Stepan Trofimovich has been described. Verkhovensky Sr. himself says that two proclamations and all papers were confiscated from him. And in order to resolve this issue, he will go straight to the "lion's mouth" to the governor Lembka. But the governor was not so lucky. Just before him, workers from Shpigulin's factory arrived, which Lembke took as a riot. And Verkhovensky senior and the mayor fell under the hot hand. Meanwhile, the governor's wife, in order to annoy her husband, began to flirt with Stepan Trofimovich. This infuriated him, and he declared that measures had been taken against the “filibusters”. Well, Lisa deliberately asked Stavrogin in a loud voice to protect her from Captain Lebyadkin, who is the brother of his wife. In this regard, Nikolai Vsevolodovich publicly recognized Khromonozhka as his wife and promised to talk to Lebyadkin. After that, he left for his Skvoreshniki estate.
In the third part of our summary of the novel "Demons" by Dostoevsky, you can read about the events unfolding during the holiday. Lisa made a splash on him and deserved a lot of admiring glances. In the first part of the holiday, the famous local writer Karmazinov read his work "Merci". It was devoted to the ideas of nihilism, which Stepan Trofimovich began to defend, but was booed. After that, he locked himself up and wrote a farewell letter to Dasha in which he asked to forgive him for everything bad connected with his name. Meanwhile, our narrator learns that Verkhovensky Jr. took Lisa to Stavrogin. "Literary quadrille", which was presented already in the morning, caused indignation among everyone. And then, as in, the main events begin to unfold. Those present were informed about the murder of Captain Lebyadkin and his sister, as well as about the fire in Zarechye. The governor personally went to the fire and wanted to save, but the fallen board deprived him of his senses.
Meanwhile morning dawned over Skvoreshniki. Stavrogin and Lisa spent the night together and are now trying to explain themselves. Stavrogin invites the girl to go with him to Switzerland, but Liza taunts and says that tonight was just a fantasy. Meanwhile, Pyotr Verkhovensky arrives and reports the details of Lebyadkin's death. Stavrogin says that he has nothing to do with this incident, but he knew about what was being prepared. Liza rushes to the District. Near Skvoreshnikov, her fiancé Mavriky Nikolaevich was waiting for her. He asks not to drive him away and goes with her. Along the way, they meet Stepan Trofimovich, who sets out to "search for Russia." Lisa asks to pray for her. She herself goes to the conflagration. The people have gathered here and it is recognized as "Stavrogin". There is no doubt that he and Lisa are behind the murder. Because the girl gets hit from the crowd. It becomes fatal for Lisa.
Meanwhile, Pyotr Verkhovensky in Dostoevsky's book "Demons" collects the "five". At the meeting, he announces that Shatov is preparing a denunciation. After a short debate, everyone decides that the common cause is more important than Shatov's life. Peter, together with Liputin, goes to Kirillov, who must take over the murder. Here they meet Fedka, who is drinking. Peter is outraged, because the convict was supposed to disappear from the city. He takes out a revolver, but Fedka manages to escape. Verkhovensky Jr. declares that Fedka drank vodka for the last time today. And indeed in the morning they find him with a broken head. Liputin, who was about to run away from the group, is now convinced of the power of Peter and stays.
Meanwhile, his wife returned to Shatov three years later. Already in his house she gives birth to a child. And Shatov decides to adopt him and start living a new life. To do this, he, along with officer Erkel, from "ours", goes to the park. Everyone has gathered here. Shatov is attacked and Pyotr shoots him in the forehead. The body is then thrown into the river. And Kirillov, though indignant, writes a suicide note under the dictation of Peter. He then shoots himself. Verkhovensky collects his things and leaves for St. Petersburg, and then abroad.
Further in the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky "Demons" you can read about the fate of the main characters. Stepan Trofimovich died in the booksellers' house in Varvara Petrovna's arms. When he fell ill, he called her to him. Lyamshin betrayed all the members of the five, and all of them, except for Verkhovensky, were arrested. Daria Shatova received a letter from Stavrogin with an offer to come to him in Switzerland, where he bought a house in the canton of Uri. Daria gives the letter to Varvara Petrovna to read. But just at that moment they learn that Stavrogin is in Skvoreshniki. They go there and find Citizen Uri hanged on the mezzanine.
The novel "Demons" on the Top Books website
Over the years, F. M. Dostoevsky's novel "Demons" does not become less popular to read. This is not the first time the book has been included in ours. In addition, almost every time the novel gets into our rating. And most likely in the future it will take high places in the ratings of our site.
Chapter first. Instead of an introduction: a few details from the biography of the venerable Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky
The events are presented on behalf of a certain G-va - a participant in the events described. He begins the story with a story about the fate of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky, twice a widower. He lived next door to Varvara Nikolaevna Stavrogina, a noble St. Petersburg lady, whose patronage he enjoyed, while experiencing complex feelings for her: “They want to eat one another, they live like that all their lives, but they cannot part.”
Varvara Petrovna even came up with a suit for him, in which he walked all the time. It was a long frock coat and a soft hat that made him look like the writer Dollmaker. And Stepan Trofimovich tried to "write", but for more than ten long years he did not write anything. Sometimes he was tormented by the thought that he simply took root, but then he consoled himself, drank champagne and played cards.
Chapter two. Prince Harry. Matchmaking
Events develop after the return home of the only son of Varvara Petrovna, Nikolai Vsevolodovich Stavrogin. Once he was a pupil of Sergei Trofimovich, a quiet and shy teenager. But having entered the military service in the Guards Regiment, he “suddenly went on a rampage”: he drank, played cards, fought duels, for which he was demoted to the rank and file, but curried.
Returning to his native city, at first he made a very pleasant impression: "he was the most elegant gentleman." But soon “the beast let out its claws”: he said impossible insolence to the oldest members of the club, stretched the most respected foreman of the club around the hall by the nose, publicly kissed someone else’s wife, bit Ivan Osipovich on the ear.
Everything was explained by supposedly delirium tremens, from which Nikolas was treated for two and a half months, after which he left for abroad.
Chapter three. Other people's sins
Varvara Petrovna is concerned about her son's attention to her pupil Daria Shatova, so she suggested that Verkhovensky marry the girl. He is more than thirty years older, but agreed, as he was tired of the role taking root. He is ready to propose.
At this time, the narrator G-v took an active part in the life of his friend in the role of a confidant. He listened to the confession of Verkhovensky, who complained that for a long time he suffered from his feelings for Stavrogina, from her unfair attitude, and now he was forced to take on "other people's sins."
The engineer Liputin appeared, who knew both Petrusha Verkhovensky and Nikolai Stavrogin. He hinted that the matchmaking for Dasha was an attempt to "smear over the noble sins of her priceless Nicolas with a wedding."
Suddenly, a former pupil of Stepan Trofimovich, Lizaveta Nikolaevna Tushina, appeared. She asked G-va to pass the note on to Shatov, Darya Pavlovna's brother. And Varvara Petrovna received a letter in which she announced that on Sunday Stepan Trofimovich was to propose to Dasha.
Chapter Four. limp
Lisa suggested that Shatov publish a book collected from newspaper news from different years in order to leave the most interesting news in the memory of readers. But he, having learned that Captain Lebyadkin dedicated poetry to her and, in fact, made an offer, abandoned this idea.
Sergei Trofimovich had been waiting since mass for Varvara Petrovna, very worried about the upcoming matchmaking. A drunken Lebyadkin came to Shatov and began shouting through the door that he and his sister were both serfs. Stavrogina was walking out of the church when she was asked for alms by Marya Lebyadkina, nicknamed Lame Leg. She asked to kiss the hand, giggling like a child. Varvara Petrovna received an anonymous letter the day before, saying that a lame woman would play an important role in her fate. She invited Marya, along with Lisa Tushina, to her home.
Chapter five. wise serpent
Marya behaved strangely: she giggled, called Stavrogin "aunty" and addressed Shatov in a friendly way, causing bewilderment of those around her. They explained to Varvara Petrovna that she was Captain Lebyadkin's sister. Dasha appeared, and Lebyadkina accused her of having received 300 rubles from Stavrogin in Switzerland, but had not given it to her brother.
Varvara Petrovna wanted to send the impudent woman home, but Stepan Trofimovich brought Lebyadkin, who explained that her sister was out of her mind. He himself began to speak in hints and allegories, arousing the wrath of Varvara Petrovna, but the words about the arrival of Nikolai, her son, sounded like a bolt from the blue. First came Pyotr Verkhovensky, followed by Stavrogin.
The mother directly asked her son who Lebyadkin was to him. Nikolai took Khromonozhka by the arm to the carriage, and Peter explained to everyone present that Stavrogin helped his brother and sister Lebyadkin, as they lived in poverty, and Marya told everyone that this was her fiancé, about which the “well-wishers” informed Varvara in anonymous letters Petrovna.
The mother was touched by her son's act and declared that she should adopt this girl. She asked for forgiveness from her returned son, but Liza threw a tantrum, despite the fact that Captain Lebyadkin confirmed the whole story of Verkhovensky. And after Shatov slapped Stavrogin, she fainted.
Part II
Chapter first. Night
It's been eight days. Rumors spread around the city about Liza and Stavrogin. The latter spent all his days as a recluse. After that, Peter Verkhovensky appeared to Nicholas. He said that Stavrogin's belongings had arrived from St. Petersburg, and in passing told about a meeting of a secret society, where they should appear together.
Stavrogin went to the engineer Kirillov to ask him to become his second in a duel, where he would have to fight with a certain Gaganov, who publicly insulted him. Kirillov showed him several pistols and explained that he wanted to shoot himself in order to get rid of God - he is only "the pain of the fear of death." If you kill yourself, declaring self-will, you can become a man-god.
Having come to Shatov, Stavrogin admitted that he had married Lebyadkina in St. Petersburg "on a drunken basis" and would soon announce this. He also warned that Shatov could be killed at any moment for his idea of a God-fighting people. And although Shatov himself did not believe in God, he advised me to give up wealth and live by peasant labor.
Chapter two. Night (continued)
On the same night, on the way to Lebyadkin, Stavrogin met Fedka the convict, who had been sent by Verkhovensky. Fedor was ready to fulfill any will of the "master" for a fee, but Stavrogin drove him away.
Lebyadkin met Nikolai sober, but all the time he scoffed and made vague hints that he was ready to continue to keep the secret of their marriage for a certain amount. However, Stavrogin declared that he no longer intended to keep it a secret that he married Marya Timofeevna "after a drunken dinner, because of a bet on wine."
Nikolai entered the room to the captain's sister, she was sleeping, and waking up, behaved like a frightened child. Stavrogin offered to go with him to Switzerland, where they would live in seclusion for the rest of their lives. Then Marya told about her bad dream and declared that Stavrogin was not her husband, the prince, that he was an impostor, Grishka Otrepyev, who had a knife in his pocket.
On the way back, Fedka offered to fix the problem with the Lebyadkins. Stavrogin laughed and threw all the money he had into the dirt.
Chapter three. Duel
The next day there was a duel between Stavrogin and Gaganov. Opponents were offered reconciliation, but Gaganov insisted on a duel. He even set a condition: if nothing decisive happens, then shoot three times. He fired first, and the bullet grazed Stavrogin's little finger. But he shot in the air. Both of the following times Gaganov missed, and Stavrogin fired past without aiming, which further offended the enemy.
At home, they explained with Dasha: Nikolai asked not to come to him anymore, because he did not want to ruin her. And Dasha said that sooner or later it was she who would remain next to him.
Chapter Four. Everyone is waiting
The history of the duel in the eyes of society raised Stavrogin to an unprecedented height - he was in vogue. And they began to treat Varvara Petrovna with the same respect. She was only haunted by the thought of Limping. Pyotr Verkhovensky, on the other hand, reacted to the duel “with extreme malice”: he told Stavrogin that he had no right to shoot himself.
Having come to his father, Verkhovensky conveyed the words of Varvara Petrovna that she was offended by his complaints that they wanted to marry him to "other people's sins." Therefore, she appointed him a pension and announced a break. Stepan Trofimovich was shocked by his son's attitude to this story, cursed him, and his son promised never to come again in his life, although he himself caused this scandal.
Chapter five. Before the holiday
Pyotr Stepanovich began to exert great influence on the local governor Andrei Antonovich von Lembke and his wife Yulia Mikhailovna. She was going to hold a holiday by subscription in favor of the governesses of the province. And in the city of atrocities: an icon was desecrated, a young man-suicidal was found. The province is also restless: there are fires everywhere (obvious arson), cholera is rampant, the Shpigulin factory is closed, which causes discontent among the workers. In addition, there were proclamations calling for rebellion.
Varvara Petrovna met with Verkhovensky Sr. personally in order to finally explain herself. She reproached him for ingratitude, for the fact that he was only waiting for the moment to slander her, and Stepan Trofimovich shed a tear that for twenty years he had lived only in dreams, like a knight.
Chapter six. Pyotr Stepanovich is in trouble
The son of Verkhovensky at that time launched a stormy activity. He is on parcels from the governor's wife, who did not believe much in her husband, but dreamed of uncovering a state conspiracy with the help of Petrusha. He did not take long to wait and gave the governor the names of Shitov and Kirillov, associated with the appearance of revolutionary proclamations. Then he visited both with a request to be sure to be at the meeting.
And Stavrogin was visited by Mavriky Nikolaevich, Lisa Tushina's fiancé. He felt that Lisa loved Stavrogin, although she hated him at the same time. He invited Nikolai to marry her, but Stavrogin admitted that he was already married, shocking his interlocutor. After that, he, along with Peter, went to a secret meeting.
Chapter seven. Our
They gathered at the Virginsky under the guise of celebrating a name day. Peter has already managed to mold the “five”, similar to the one he created in Moscow. The meeting was started by a student, but a certain Shigalev intercepted the initiative with his own program of "final resolution of the issue." The essence of the theory was the division of humanity into two parts: the smaller one, one tenth, gets freedom along with the unlimited right to control the larger one - nine tenths, turned into a herd.
Pyotr Stepanovich asked a provocative question: if the meeting participants had learned about the impending murder, he would have informed the police. Those present began to shout that they would not report. Unexpectedly for everyone, Shatov got up and called Verkhovensky a spy and a scoundrel, and then left. When the turn came to Stavrogin, he said that he was not going to compromise himself and, together with Kirillov, left.
Chapter eight. Ivan Tsarevich
Verkhovensky had already marked Shatov as a sacrifice in order to cement the revolutionary “five” he had created with blood. Stavrogin said that Peter wanted to bind him with a crime in order to gain power over him. When he grabbed Stavrogin by the elbow, he pulled out the elbow, rage seized him, and he threw him with all his strength to the ground. But Verkhovensky caught up with him and offered to make peace in order to “make trouble” together. In a feverish delirium, he admitted that Stavrogin is exactly what Russia needs now. When the turmoil begins, there will be a “buildup”, the earth will cry for the old gods, and then Stavrogin will have to appear in the role of Ivan Tsarevich, another impostor who miraculously escaped. Then he promised to kill Lebyadkin even without money, and to bring Liza to Stavrogin.
Chapter nine. Stepan Trofimovich was described
Nastasya ran to G-v with the news that Stepan Trofimovich had been "described." When the narrator came to him, he said that in the morning Herzen's writings and two proclamations had been confiscated from him. Stepan Trofimovich admitted: he was afraid that he would be "put in a wagon, and march to Siberia for the whole century," and before that they would be flogged. But having gathered the remnants of pride, he declared that he would come directly to Lembka for the holiday - he betrays himself, goes "straight into the lion's mouth."
Chapter ten. filibusters. fatal morning
Workers from Shpigulin's factory came to Governor von Lembke. He took it as a sign of rebellion. Stepan Trofimovich, who accidentally fell under the arm, who tried to explain himself, also received it. Those gathered at Yulia Mikhailovna witnessed at least two scandals.
Yulia Mikhailovna, having learned how her husband treated Stepan Trofimovich, took revenge on him by flirting with Verkhovensky Sr. Talk in the salon about socialism and ignoring his wife infuriated Andrei Antonovich. He announced that measures against "filibusters" had been taken.
And Lizaveta Nikolaevna, in a deliberately loud voice, asked Stavrogin to forbid his relative, his wife's brother Captain Lebyadkin, to offend her. He publicly admitted that he had been married for five years to Marya and promised to convey her request to the captain. Then he left for Skvoreshniki.
Part III
Chapter first. Holiday. Department one
The next day, the celebration did take place. Lisa appeared in a magnificent toilet and was so dazzlingly charming that everyone around whispered. When the governor and his wife appeared, the narrator noticed on the face of Anton Andreevich such an expression as if he was sacrificing himself.
In the first part of the holiday, the famous writer Karmazinov read his essay "Merci", dedicated to the ideas of nihilism. Stepan Timofeevich passionately defended Shakespeare and Raphael against these very nihilists, but did not find understanding among the public, which booed him.
Chapter two. The end of the holiday
G-v went to Stepan Trofimovich, but he locked himself up and received no one. He wrote a farewell letter to Daria Shatova, in which he asked for forgiveness for all the bad things that were associated with his name. On G Street, she learns that Liza got into a carriage with Verkhovensky, who took her to Stavrogin.
The ball at the marshal of the nobility is in full swing. Already in the morning, an allegorical "quadrille of literature" was presented, which caused indignation among all those present. At this time, they reported a fire in the District and the murder of Captain Lebyadkin and his sister. The governor went to the fire and, in a fit of madness, rushed to save, but a board fell on him, and from the blow he fell senseless to the ground.
Chapter three. Finished novel
In the morning Stavrogin and Lisa, who had spent the night together, explained themselves. Stavrogin invited her to Switzerland with him, but she turned out to be, since Nikolai was married. He asked why she came, and Lisa said that it was just her fantasy. Verkhovensky appeared and spoke about the fire and the death of the Lebyadkins, and Stavrogin confessed that he knew about the impending murder, but did not prevent it.
Lisa, hysterically, runs to the ashes, falls, and Mavriky Nikolaevich, who has been guarding all night near Stavrogin's house, picks her up. He asked not to drive him away, they went on hand in hand and met Stepan Trofimovich, who left the city forever to "search for Russia." Liza crossed him and asked him to pray for "poor Liza." When she approached the place of the conflagration, she was recognized as "Stavrogin". Everyone is sure that the killer is Stavrogin, and she is with him at the same time. She received blows from the crowd, fell and lost consciousness.
Chapter Four. Last decision
The city is shocked by the death of Lisa and the departure of Stepan Trofimovich. His son gathered his "five" and convinced that Shatov was preparing a denunciation of them. He came to Kirillov to remind him of the agreement that, before committing suicide, he must take on someone else's blood. There he found Fedka the convict. Peter is angry: how dare he appear here. Fedka managed to escape, but Petrusha declared: The convict drank vodka for the last time in his life.
In the morning it becomes known that Fyodor was found seven miles from the city with a broken head. This fact convinced all the members of the five of Verkhovensky's omnipotence, and no one else dared to disobey him.
Russian literature is rich in vivid images, the relevance of the themes of many works remains to this day. What are only "", "Fathers and Sons", "". Today we will talk about the famous novel by F.M. Dostoevsky "Demons". The abstract will help you find out what the book is about, but you can understand the author’s intention and appreciate the scale of the work only after reading the novel in its entirety.
In contact with
The meaning of this novel remains relevant today. The turmoil spread by radical cells of society has found fertile ground, which the author of the novel speaks about publicly.
The basis of the work is built around cases of Nechaev”, the brutal murder of one of the members of a conspiratorial circle of revolutionaries. The former student Shatov sought to "retire", but fell victim to a radical circle led by Verkhovensky.
Interesting! The book contained, perhaps, a record number of characters who became the prototypes of characters for novels of Western literature.
We offer to start with the most important moments of Dostoevsky's biography.
A bit of history
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was born on November 11, 1821 in the capital of the Russian Empire. The family of Mikhail Andreevich (father) and Maria Fedorovna (mother) consisted of eight children. Mikhail Andreevich acquired several villages (Darovoe and Cheremoshnia), where a large family went for the summer.
There, little Fyodor Mikhailovich got acquainted with peasant life, studied Latin under the close supervision of his father. Further education was reduced to studying French, literature and.
For three years (until 1837), the elder brothers Mikhail and Fedor stayed in the famous Chermak boarding house. Dostoevsky's youth passed within the walls of the Main Engineering School, where Fyodor Mikhailovich entered with his brother. The military order burdened them, because they saw themselves in the literary field.
In 1833, the author was taken to the St. Petersburg engineering team, but a year later he received a dismissal. From 1884 the literary efforts of the young writer began. He diligently translates the works of foreign authors, publishes incognito in the journal Repertoire and Pantheon. May of the following year was marked by the publication of Dostoevsky's first novel, Poor Folk. Critics' assessments were extremely positive, the writer became a member of several literary circles.
However, the abundance of acquaintances played a cruel joke - fatal friendship with M.V. Petrashevsky led to exile. Mikhail Fedorovich spent four years in Omsk. A couple of years later, he became a private in the Siberian Line Battalion. Since 1857, the author received a full pardon and the opportunity to freely print his works. In memory of hard labor, Dostoevsky wrote Notes from the House of the Dead, which caused a sensation abroad.
In the summer of 1862, a significant event takes place - Dostoevsky is allowed to travel to Europe, he chooses Baden-Baden as a temporary refuge. Abroad, the creative flourishing of the world classic begins. In the period from 1866 to 1880, " great Pentateuch”, which included “Crime and Punishment”, “Idiot”, “Demons”, “Teenager”, “The Brothers Karamazov”.
On a January morning in 1881, F.M. Dostoevsky is gone. The cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis. The funeral procession stretched for a kilometer to the Tikhvin cemetery, where the writer received his last resting place.
The history of the creation of "Demons"
Fyodor Mikhailovich worked hard on a new novel, which became “a special work that I destined for Russkiy Vestnik”.
The history of creation is presented in chronological order:
- February 1870 - Fyodor Mikhailovich comes up with the idea of a new novel, which is supposed to become “even closer, even more urgent to the real, directly touch the most important contemporary issue»;
- March - Dostoevsky strives to express everything on paper, actively works. He is tormented by doubts whether the novel will be successful;
- May - the writer cannot fit all the intricacies of the plot into 25 sheets;
- July - Fedor Mikhailovich is looking for a publisher for his future novel, insists on the impossibility of editing;
- August - the author is burdened by the initial idea. The second edition of the work begins;
- September - abrupt changes in structure, the search for an ideal concept. However, "now everything is set, for me this the novel "Demons" is too much»;
- October - the author sent the fruits of his labors to the editorial office of the publication voiced above. Fedor Mikhailovich is concerned about the delay in terms, complains about the lack of time for work.
Important! Contemporaries defined the genre of "Demons" as an anti-nihilistic novel, where left-wing ideas, including atheistic worldviews, are considered from a critical angle.
The structure of the novel "Demons" is divided into three large parts, consisting of a different number of chapters. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky saw something "infernal" in the society of the then Russia, tried to warn about the impending disaster with the help of a pen.
The characters in the novel are illustrated "decay" of ideals society of that time. A powerful impetus was the “Nechaev case”, where student Ivan Ivanov was brutally murdered. The motive for the deprivation of life was the threat of disclosure of a terrorist circle, the strengthening of power over subordinate radicals.
Frame from the film "Demons" 2014
The plot of the novel
The son of an old liberal, Pyotr Verkhovensky, arrives in a provincial town in the Russian province. He adheres to extremely radical worldviews, the ideological inspirer of the revolutionary circle. Here he gathers loyal supporters around him: the philosopher Shigalev, the "populist" Tolkachenko, the ideologist Virginsky. Verkhovensky is trying to win over to his side the landowner's son Nikolai Stavrogin.
"Bloody Nechaev" found a second life in the face of Verkhovensky. He also plots to kill Ivan Shatov, a student who dreams of breaking with the radicals and denouncing criminals.
Main characters
The heroes of the novel personify the vices or virtues of the whole society:
- Nikolai Vsevolodovich Stavrogin is an eccentric figure who is "under the lens" throughout the novel. He has a lot of antisocial qualities, the chapter “At Tikhon’s” reveals his connection with a girl of 14 years old. Although the reliability of this act is doubtful, as well as Stavrogin's confession.
- Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina is a despotic and domineering woman who is used to commanding men. There were rumors that she (in the shadows) ruled the whole province. She was a member of the high society and had influence at court. However, she withdrew herself from social events, paying all her attention to housekeeping on the Skvoreshniki estate.
- Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky - teacher of Nikolai Vsevolodovich Stavrogin. Pri defended his dissertation, putting him on a par with Belinsky, Granovsky. He served as an honorary lecturer at the university, but the persecution of the authorities forces him to flee to Skvoreshniki. There he teaches the landowner's son, a summary of what he learned helps Nikolai Vsevolodovich to enter a prestigious lyceum.
- Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky - treacherous and cunning, twenty-seven years old. Formed a radical circle murder mastermind young student.
- Ivan Pavlovich Shatov is the son of the valet Varvara Stavrogina. For several years he traveled around Europe, as he was expelled from the university. According to contemporaries, Dostoevsky wrote Ivan from himself. Wanting to get out of the radical group, he fell at the hands of its activists.
- Alexey Nilych Kirillov - the ideologist of the "Gang of Verkhovensky". The young man formed the concept that he who denies God himself is one. Under the influence of his inflamed mind, he becomes a devout fanatic.
The members of the Verkhovensky Five play a central role in the novel:
- Sergei Vasilyevich Liputin is a middle-aged man with notoriety. Being the father of a family, he was more concerned with the problems of the global transformation of society. A participant in a murderous action, a two-faced and vile person. The same villain as Stavrogin and Verkhovensky.
- Virginsky is a man of about thirty, the owner of a "heart of rare purity." The only one made an attempt to dissuade Verkhovensky from the murder, but later took part in it.
- Lyamshin is a "mediocre" postal official. He was a member of the radical circle of Verkhovensky, a frequenter of criminal actions. His little sane state led to surrender and betrayal of his comrades, about which they had no idea.
- Shigalev is an extremely gloomy middle-aged man. He earned respect from Verkhovensky for developing a unique concept for the radical restructuring of society. The murder does not concern him, because it contradicts the formed beliefs.
The image of Stavrogin
At the beginning of the work, the young man demonstrates the recklessness of an egoist who cares little about the opinions of others. Dostoevsky expresses his contempt for this hero. The seduction of a young girl becomes the apogee of the atrocities of a young man, numerous acquaintances look askance at him. In the chapter "At Tikhon's" the adulterer pronounces the famous words that conclude Stavrogin's confession.The main message of the work
The novel "Demons" is a formidable message to a brilliant society, government officials, and the common people. Dostoevsky predicts major social catastrophes created by the revolutionary galaxy. The horror is that most of the characters are "copied" from real criminals and placed in the novel. The historicism of the creation fully confirms this.
Motherland from the shortsightedness of his generation.
