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Part 2, Chapter 1, Section 1
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
In those eight days after the events at Varvara’s house, Varvara quietly takes care of the business of Pyotr’s land that he had wanted to sell. Pyotr also comes to visit Stepan twice. After the second visit, Stepan says that he will “crush them,” though he doesn’t clarify what he means. He says that “they” made their plan too obvious to those who it pertained to. Anton isn’t sure exactly how to interpret those comments. Pyotr leaves town at the end of the week and doesn’t return until the start of the next week. Anton goes to see Liputin, who tells him that Lebyadkin and Marya are across the river in the suburb of Gorshechnaya. Liputin also says that Liza has become engaged to Mavriky.
Stepan cryptically says “them” and refers to a plan that “they” have. He seems to be referring to Pyotr’s attempt to create a rift between Stepan and Varvara, which Pyotr successfully did when he brought up Stepan’s private thoughts about his prospective marriage to Darya in front of Varvara. While Stepan says “their” plan is obvious, it’s still not entirely clear to the reader at this point what plan he’s referring to, or what that plan might entail. Liza’s engagement to Mavriky, though, suggests that what she heard at Varvara’s house was enough to make her give up on Nikolay as a potential romantic partner.
Themes
