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Part 2, Chapter 3, 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 outcome of Nikolay’s duel with Gaganov changes public opinion about Nikolay. Those who were previously skeptical and suspicious of Nikolay loudly speak up in his defense. That change in public opinion is solidified at a party when a respected general who is known for making authoritative public pronouncements speaks up in support of Nikolay. Yuliya, who is at the party, then speaks up in support of Nikolay as well. After that party, Varvara visits Yuliya and even thanks her for her support of Nikolay. The two put away their differences and begin to become friends.
Before the duel with Gaganov, Nikolay was remembered in town as the person who bit the governor’s ear and kissed Liputin’s wife. Now, he’s viewed as an almost heroic figure and a member of the town who took mercy on Gaganov despite being in a position to kill him. The passage also provides a commentary on herd mentality, as when one influential person speaks up on Nikolay’s behalf, several other people follow suit.
Themes
Yuliya invites Varvara to a literary gala. She tells Varvara to invite Stepan as well. When Varvara returns home, Pyotr and Nikolay are there. Varvara is taken with Yuliya and tells Pyotr and Nikolay that she doesn’t understand why anyone ever said anything bad about her. Pyotr then talks to Nikolay. Pyotr is upset because of Nikolay’s duel with Gaganov, which he didn’t hear about until five days after it happened. Pyotr asks Nikolay what right he had to duel and says he can’t believe that Nikolay wants to make his marriage to Marya public. Nikolay scowls at Pyotr and walks away.
The rift between Pyotr and Nikolay points toward Pyotr’s attempts to control Nikolay. As the leader of the revolutionary faction in town, Pyotr wants to compel allegiance and discourage defection, often through violent means. He also wants, it seems, for Nikolay to be some kind of leader in that movement. The fact that Nikolay put himself in harm’s way and is making large, potentially life-altering decisions then makes Pyotr afraid that he may be losing whatever control over Nikolay he once believed he had.
Themes
