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Part 1, Chapter 2, Section 7
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
Stepan feels compelled to accept the terms of the marriage to Darya due to circumstances related to his son, Pyotr. Stepan manages a small estate in town that belonged to his late wife, which means that it now belongs to Pyotr. Stepan runs the estate in Pyotr’s absence and sends Pyotr a thousand roubles every year, a sum that exceeds what Stepan makes from the land. Varvara pays the sum to Pyotr regardless of how much money Stepan makes from the land each year. Stepan has gotten into trouble with the estate because, to pay his debts, he has taken to selling timber from the estate in large allotments. Now, the land is worth next to nothing.
This passage shows the economic hole that Stepan has gotten himself into, which compels him to accept Varvara’s terms for marrying Darya. The passage reinforces the novel’s depiction of Stepan as someone who thinks he is a vaunted intellectual on the verge of completing a great work when in reality he seems to be a man about town who gets into debt and has no way to pay back those debts. Again, the contrast between Stepan’s view of himself and reality provides an insight into Stepan’s psyche and motivations.
Themes
Pyotr has recently announced he plans to sell the land for as much as possible. Stepan has heard rumors that Pyotr has become involved in socialist causes. Stepan knows he has made a horrible mistake by gutting the land and wants to provide Pyotr with 15,000 roubles for the land to make things right between him and his son. Varvara says she’ll buy the land for 7,000 roubles. The details of the proposed marriage between Stepan and Darya include 8,000 roubles for Stepan. Stepan thinks that money represents the only possible way for him to maintain a good relationship with Pyotr.
Stepan’s attempts to cover his debts and provide Pyotr with money show that he wants to have a good relationship with his son, even though he has, for the most part, been entirely absent from his son’s life. That reinforces the depiction of Stepan as someone who wants to be thought of positively by others (and by himself) but is often reluctant to take the kinds of actions required to achieve his desires.
Themes
Varvara visits Stepan the day after she presents her marriage plan to him. Varvara seems put off by Stepan’s readiness and willingness to marry Darya. She tells Stepan not to tell anyone about the plan and says that perhaps nothing will end up happening. Stepan asks what she means, and Varvara says she’ll think about it more. She then says that everything will happen as she’s said it will. After Varvara leaves, Stepan reflects on the conversation. He thinks that perhaps he won’t be compelled to go through with the marriage after all and feels giddy as a result.
Varvara’s frustration that Stepan so readily accepted her plan to marry Darya sheds light on her psychology. While she wants to save Darya from a potential scandal, on some level, she also wants Stepan to defy her and to stand up for what he believes in (in this case, the love he has for her). In other words, Varvara has become frustrated with the way that her position of power in her relationship with Stepan compels his obedience. In particular, she wishes that Stepan would object more forcefully to the marriage to Darya on the grounds that he’s in love with Varvara. Maybe then, the passage implies, Varvara would consider openly reciprocating Stepan’s feelings.
Themes
