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Part 1, Chapter 2, Section 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Demons, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Politics and Self-Interest
Ideology and Extremism
Morality and Nihilism
Herd Mentality
Atheism vs. Belief in God
Summary
Analysis
Varvara goes to tell Stepan her plan. As she explains the plan in detail, Stepan is taken aback. He knows while Varvara is talking that everything she says will come to be. She is the one in control of the situation, as much as she says that she is offering Stepan and Darya a choice. Still, Stepan tries to object. He says he can’t imagine marrying someone so much younger than he is. Darya is 20, and Stepan is 53. Varvara says that that’s not important. What’s important is that Darya will help Stepan in his life, while Stepan can help educate Darya. Finally, Stepan says what he has really been thinking. He tells Varvara that he can’t believe she’s marrying him off to another woman. Varvara says only young girls get married off. He’s simply getting married. The next day, Stepan agrees to the marriage.
Stepan’s assertion that he knows what Varvara says will come to pass shows again how power works in Varvara and Stepan’s relationship. While Stepan likely considers himself independent, at the end of the day, he feels compelled to do as Varvara wants him to because he is economically dependent on her. The same is true in Varvara’s relationship with Darya. One of Stepan’s main objections to the marriage is that he believes he and Varvara are in love with each other, even if they’ve never said that outright. Varvara dismisses Stepan’s attempt to have Varvara acknowledge the romantic nature of their relationship, which leaves Stepan, in his mind, with no choice other than to marry Darya.
Themes
