Demons (The Possessed)

“And the demons begged Him, saying, ‘If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.'”
—Matthew 8:31 (Epigraph to Demons)

Part One

The novel opens with the arrival of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky, a liberal intellectual, in a provincial Russian town. His former patron, Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina, introduces him to her son, Nikolai Stavrogin, a mysterious and charismatic figure. Meanwhile, Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky, Stepan’s son, arrives and begins manipulating local radicals, including the unstable Kirillov and the idealistic Shatov.

Part Two

Pyotr Stepanovich orchestrates chaos, exploiting the town’s social divisions. He forms a secret revolutionary cell, using Stavrogin’s influence to radicalize the youth. Stavrogin, tormented by guilt over past crimes (including the implied rape of a young girl), remains aloof. Meanwhile, Shatov confronts Stavrogin about his nihilism, while Kirillov embraces a suicidal philosophy to “become God.”

Part Three

The revolutionaries escalate their plans, culminating in the murder of Shatov, who opposes their ideology. Kirillov fulfills his suicidal pact to protect the group. Stavrogin, unable to escape his moral decay, hangs himself. The town descends into hysteria, exposing the destructive consequences of radicalism. Stepan Trofimovich, disillusioned, dies on a final journey, seeking redemption.

Key Ideas

• The dangers of ideological extremism and nihilism.
• The moral decay of individuals detached from societal values.
• The manipulation of idealism for destructive ends.
• The psychological torment of guilt and existential despair.
• The failure of liberalism and radicalism to address human suffering.

• Readers interested in psychological and philosophical depth.
• Those exploring themes of political radicalism and morality.
• Fans of Dostoevsky’s dark, character-driven narratives.
• Students of Russian literature and 19th-century societal critiques.

Notable Adaptations