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Part 2, Chapter 3, 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
Before the duel begins, Aleksey asks once more if there might be a peaceful way to resolve the issue. Mavriky chimes in and asks Gaganov if he might be willing to reconcile with Nikolay peacefully. Nikolay says that he would be more than happy to apologize again. Gaganov grows angry and curses all of them. Nikolay and Gaganov take their positions for the duel, and Aleksey counts them down. When Aleksey reaches one, Gaganov fires. He appears to miss. Nikolay then fires and aims well above Gaganov’s head. On closer inspection, it’s clear that Gaganov didn’t miss entirely. Instead, he took off a small part of one of Nikolay’s fingers.
Again, everyone involved in the duel except for Gaganov is intent on resolving matters peacefully and without conflict. Nikolay’s decision to aim over Gaganov’s head, even after he (Nikolay) is shot, gives an insight into Nikolay’s character. While he frequently does things that are immoral or inappropriate, at this point, he doesn’t seem to be driven by emotions like revenge or anger. Instead, he confronts his own possible death with calmness and, in the process, makes it clear that he has no interest in killing Gaganov.
Themes
Gaganov cries out that Nikolay missed on purpose, which, Gaganov says, is against the rules. Nikolay says that he can shoot wherever he wants, and Mavriky and Aleksey agree with Nikolay. Gaganov says he doesn’t want Nikolay’s mercy. The two take their positions for the second shot. After Aleksey counts them down, Gaganov fires and misses. Nikolay aims closer to Gaganov’s head but again seems to intentionally miss. Gaganov is furious. For the third round, Gaganov walks up to the middle barrier. His hands are shaking too much for him to shoot accurately. He fires, and the bullet knocks Nikolay’s hat off. Nikolay turns and fires a bullet into the dirt, clearly upset. He then rides away without saying more.
Nikolay continues to show that he has no interest in killing Gaganov. He also stands stock still as Gaganov approaches him and aims his weapon. That calmness in the face of possible death suggests that perhaps Nikolay does in fact feel indifferent about life and death. In a sense, he seems to embody the person Aleksey wants to become—that is, a person who has no fear of death. In Aleksey’s telling, if a person can do that, they will become God. That idea is especially noteworthy with regard to Nikolay’s view of himself as being beyond good and evil, or, in his view, beyond the need for God, religion, and morality.
Themes
