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Part 1, Chapter 5, Section 2
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 and Praskovya bicker about their boarding school days. Praskovya then reprimands Varvara for bringing Liza into her (Varvara’s) scandal. Varvara doesn’t know what Praskovya means and asks Praskovya to tell her what she’s talking about. Praskovya says she has been receiving anonymous letters about Marya. Varvara almost faints. Darya then enters the room. Marya says that Darya seems much more refined than the image her brother, Lebyadkin, painted of her. Varvara asks Darya if she knows what Marya means, and Darya explains that Nikolay gave her 300 roubles to give to Lebyadkin. She delivered the 300 roubles but Lebyadkin then claimed that Darya had stolen 700 roubles. Darya says that it’s a lie and she simply delivered the money Nikolay gave her.
Again, the novel delves into satire and comedy. As Varvara and Praskovya are trying to get to the bottom of who Marya is and why she is in Varvara’s house, they can’t help but bicker about their girlhood days. Darya’s comments clarify the rumors that Lebyadkin has been spreading that Darya stole from him (Darya categorically denies the accusations) while also making it clear that Nikolay has in fact been sending money to Lebyadkin. Previously, Liputin suggested Nikolay was sending money to Lebyadkin due to a scandal involving Nikolay and Marya.
Themes
Varvara says that she believes Darya and intends to protect her from any malicious rumors. A servant enters and says that Lebyadkin is waiting downstairs and would like to be introduced. Mavriky says that Lebyadkin has no place in polite society. Varvara then explains that she received an anonymous letter six days ago claiming that Nikolay had lost his mind. The letter warned of a woman fitting Marya’s description and said that that woman would play an “extraordinary role” in Varvara’s life. Varvara apologizes for involving everyone in this business and says that Liza can go. Liza says that she intends to stay because she wants to help Marya in any way she can. Varvara tells the servant to bring in Lebyadkin. A moment later, Lebyadkin arrives.
Mavriky’s assertion that Lebyadkin has no place in polite society again points to the rigidly established socioeconomic hierarchy that defines the world of the novel. In this case, Lebyadkin is considered so much lower in socioeconomic status than the other people present that they momentarily consider excluding him altogether. This passage also points again to the role that rumors play. In this case, the assertion that Darya stole money seems to be nothing more than a rumor. Notably, though, Darya seems to be able to move past that rumor by defending the wealthy and powerful Varvara.
Themes
