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Part 1, Chapter 5, Section 4
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
The man who enters seems to be about 27 years old and speaks rapidly. He says that he’s surprised that Nikolay hasn’t arrived and that his luggage should have come hours ago. No one knows what the man is talking about, but then Stepan says, “Pyotr.” The man is Stepan’s son. Stepan says he didn’t recognize him initially and warmly embraces him. Pyotr tries to extricate himself from the embrace and says that he knows his father loves him, but that Stepan is causing the others in the room to become embarrassed.
Pyotr and Stepan’s first interaction in the novel is telling. Stepan attempts to embrace Pyotr. It’s not clear, though, whether that embrace is intended to convince Pyotr that Stepan loves him, to persuade himself that he is a loving father, or to convince the group that he and Pyotr have a warm relationship. For Pyotr’s part, he quickly extricates himself from Stepan, suggesting that he may have little interest in his father’s love and gestures.
Themes
Nikolay then enters the room. He is just as sophisticated and intimidating as he was when he was last in town four years before. Varvara is happy to see him, but she remains confused by the broader situation. Before Varvara says anything else to Nikolay, she asks him if it is true that Marya is his wife. A gasp spreads through the room. Marya then moves to greet Nikolay. She seems ecstatic. Nikolay walks to her and says that she shouldn’t be here. He reminds her that he is not her father, husband, or fiancé. He offers to take her home. Liza stares at Nikolay and Marya as they leave. As soon as they are gone, everyone in the room begins talking.
Varvara asks the question point blank of whether Nikolay is married to Marya. Nikolay notably doesn’t respond to his mother directly. Instead, he addresses Marya and tells her that he is not related to her in any way. Nikolay’s unwillingness to directly address his mother suggests that, while he appears to be speaking frankly to Marya, there may still be more to the story than Varvara or others in the room are fully aware of at this point.
Themes
