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Part 1, Chapter 3, Section 8
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
As Anton is leaving, he runs into Liputin, who is with Lebyadkin. Lebyadkin, who seems drunk, loudly recites poetry and grabs hold of Anton. Anton wrenches himself free. When he does, Liputin follows him. He tells Anton that Lebyadkin has fallen in love with Liza. Anton looks over, and Liputin asks Anton if he's afraid that he’ll have a rival for Liza’s affection. Anton tries to change the subject, and Liputin adds that Lebyadkin has just become a landowner in the province, too, after buying an estate that belonged to Nikolay.
Rumors have previously asserted that Nikolay is in some way involved with Lebyadkin and has perhaps been sending money to Lebyadkin to compensate for a scandal involving Lebyadkin’s sister, Marya. Liputin’s information here doesn’t prove those rumors true, but if Nikolay did in fact sell land to Lebyadkin, that would bolster the previous suggestions that Nikolay and Lebyadkin are involved in schemes in one way or another.
Themes
