Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Demons (The Possessed): A Chapter-by-Chapter Summary

The novel Demons was written by Dostoevsky in 1871–1872 and is one of the most politically charged works in Russian literature. The impetus for the novel was the “Nechayev Affair”—the real-life murder of student Ivanov by members of the revolutionary organization “People’s Retribution” in 1869. Dostoevsky was shocked by this event and decided to show the destructive power of radical ideas.

The novel was created during the period of social ferment in the 1860s, when revolutionary, nihilistic, and socialist ideas were actively spreading in Russia. Dostoevsky, who had survived penal servitude and revised his views, came forward with a critique of radicalism and showed its pernicious consequences for society.

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Setting and Time

The action of the novel takes place in a fictional provincial town (the prototype is Tver) in the late 1860s. The main locations are: Governor Lembke’s house, Yulia Mikhailovna’s salon, Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina’s house, Liputin’s apartment, Skvoreshniki park, the location of the duel, and the house where Shatov’s murder takes place.

List of Characters

• Nikolai Vsevolodovich Stavrogin: The central character, a young nobleman, charismatic and destructive.
• Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky: Stepan Trofimovich’s son, a revolutionary provocateur.
• Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky: A liberal-idealist of the 1840s, Stavrogin’s tutor.
• Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina: Nikolai Vsevolodovich’s mother, an authoritative landowner.
• Ivan Pavlovich Shatov: A former serf, a Slavophile, murdered by the conspirators.
• Alexei Nilych Kirillov: An engineer, a theorist of suicide.
• Andrei Semyonovich Lembke: The Governor.
• Yulia Mikhailovna Lembke: The Governor’s wife, the organizer of the celebration.
• Maria Timofeyevna Lebyadkina: A holy fool, Stavrogin’s wife.
• Ignat Timofeyevich Lebyadkin: Maria’s brother, a retired lieutenant.
• Liputin: An official, a member of the revolutionary group.
• Virginsky: A teacher, a member of the circle.
• Liza Tushina: Stavrogin’s beloved.

The novel begins with the arrival in the provincial town of Pyotr Verkhovensky, who creates a revolutionary group of five people. His goal is to use the charisma of Nikolai Stavrogin for revolutionary activity. Stavrogin is an enigmatic personality; he has a strong influence on others but is himself in a state of spiritual crisis.

Brief Summary

Part I

Chapter One: Instead of an Introduction: A Few Details from the Biography of the Highly Esteemed Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky

The events are narrated by a certain G—v—a participant in the described events. He begins the narrative with the story of the fate of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky, a twice-widower. He lived next to Varvara Nikolaevna Stavrogina, a noble Petersburg lady, whose patronage he enjoyed, while experiencing complex feelings for her: “They want to devour each other, they live like this all their lives, but they cannot part.”

Varvara Petrovna even invented a costume for him, which he constantly wore. It was a long-skirted frock coat and a soft hat, making him look like the writer Kukolnik. And Stepan Trofimovich tried to “write,” but over ten long years, he never wrote anything. At times, he was tormented by the thought that he was merely a dependant, but then he comforted himself, drank champagne, and played cards.

Chapter Two: Prince Harry. The Matchmaking

Events develop after the return home of Varvara Petrovna’s only son, Nikolai Vsevolodovich Stavrogin. He was once Stepan Trofimovich’s pupil, a quiet and shy teenager. But having entered military service in the Guards regiment, he “suddenly became debauched”: he drank, gambled, fought duels, for which he was demoted to the ranks but earned his way back.

Returning to his hometown, he initially made a very pleasant impression: “he was the most elegant gentleman.” But soon “the beast released its claws”: he spoke impossible impudence to the oldest members of the club, dragged the venerable club elder across the hall by the nose, publicly kissed another man’s wife, and bit Ivan Osipovich’s ear.

Everything was explained away as delirium tremens, which Nikolas was treated for for two and a half months, after which he left for abroad.

Chapter Three: Other People’s Sins

Varvara Petrovna is concerned about her son’s attention to her ward, Darya Shatova, so she suggests Verkhovensky propose to the girl. He is more than thirty years older but agrees, as he is tired of the role of a dependant. He is ready to propose.

At this time, the narrator G—v was actively involved in his friend’s life as a confidant. He listened to Verkhovensky’s confession, who complained that he had long suffered from his feelings for Stavrogina, from her unfair treatment, and now was forced to take on “other people’s sins.”

The engineer Liputin appeared, who knew both Petrusha Verkhovensky and Nikolai Stavrogin. He hinted that the matchmaking with Dasha was an attempt to “cover up the noble misdeeds of her priceless Nicolas with a wedding.”

Suddenly, Stepan Trofimovich’s former pupil, Lizaveta Nikolaevna Tushina, appeared. She asked G—v to give a note to Shatov, Darya Pavlovna’s brother. And a letter arrived from Varvara Petrovna, in which she announced that Stepan Trofimovich should propose to Dasha on Sunday.

Chapter Four: The Lame Woman

Liza suggested that Shatov publish a book compiled from newspaper news of different years to leave the most interesting news in the readers’ memory. But he, learning that Captain Lebyadkin had dedicated poems to her and essentially proposed, refused the idea.

Stepan Trofimovich was waiting for Varvara Petrovna after Mass, very nervous before the upcoming matchmaking. A drunken Lebyadkin appeared at Shatov’s door and shouted through it that he and his sister were both serf-slaves. Stavrogina was walking from the church when Marya Lebyadkina, nicknamed the Lame Woman, asked her for alms. She asked to kiss her hand, giggling like a child. Varvara Petrovna had received an anonymous letter the day before, stating that a lame woman would play an important role in her fate. She invited Marya, along with Liza Tushina, to her house.

Chapter Five: The Wisest Serpent

Marya behaved strangely: she giggled, called Stavrogina “auntie,” and spoke familiarly to Shatov, causing bewilderment among those present. Varvara Petrovna was explained that this was Captain Lebyadkin’s sister. Dasha appeared, and Lebyadkina accused her of receiving 300 rubles from Stavrogin in Switzerland but not giving them to her brother.

Varvara Petrovna wanted to send the impudent woman home, but Stepan Trofimovich brought Lebyadkin, who explained that his sister was out of her mind. He himself began to speak in hints and allegories, provoking Varvara Petrovna’s anger, but the words about the arrival of Nikolai, her son, sounded like a bolt from the blue. First, Pyotr Verkhovensky appeared, and Stavrogin followed him.

The mother asked her son directly who Lebyadkina was to him. Nikolai led the Lame Woman away by the arm to the carriage, and Pyotr explained to everyone present that Stavrogin helped the Lebyadkin siblings because they lived in poverty, and Marya told everyone that he was her fiancé, which “well-wishers” informed Varvara Petrovna of in anonymous letters.

The mother was touched by her son’s action and declared that she should adopt this girl. She apologized to her returned son, but Liza threw a tantrum, despite the fact that Captain Lebyadkin confirmed Verkhovensky’s entire story. And after Shatov slapped Stavrogin, she fainted.

Part II

Chapter One: Night

Eight days passed. Rumors about Liza and Stavrogin spread through the town. The latter spent all his days as a recluse. Afterward, Pyotr Verkhovensky appeared to Nikolai. He announced that Stavrogin’s belongings had arrived from St. Petersburg, and along the way, he talked about a meeting of the secret society, which they should attend together.

Stavrogin went to the engineer Kirillov to ask him to be his second in a duel, where he would have to shoot a certain Gaganov, who had publicly insulted him. Kirillov showed him several pistols and explained that he wanted to shoot himself to get rid of God—He is merely the “pain of the fear of death.” By killing oneself, asserting one’s self-will, one can become a man-god.

Coming to Shatov, Stavrogin confessed that he had married Lebyadkina in St. Petersburg “while drunk” and would soon announce it. He also warned that Shatov could be killed at any minute for his idea of the people as a God-bearer. And although Shatov himself did not believe in God, he advised him to give up his wealth and live by peasant labor.

Chapter Two: Night (Continued)

That same night, on his way to Lebyadkin, Stavrogin met Fedka the Convict, whom Verkhovensky had sent. Fedor was ready to carry out any will of the “master” for a fee, but Stavrogin drove him away.

Lebyadkin met Nikolai sober but kept being sarcastic and making vague hints that he was willing to continue keeping the secret of their marriage for a certain sum. However, Stavrogin stated that he no longer intended to keep secret that he had married Marya Timofeyevna “after a drunken dinner, over a wine-bet.”

Nikolai entered the room of the captain’s sister; she was sleeping, and upon waking, she behaved like a frightened child. Stavrogin offered to leave with him for Switzerland, where they would live in seclusion for the rest of their lives. Then Marya told him about her bad dream and declared that Stavrogin was not her husband, the prince, that he was an impostor, Grishka Otrepyev, who had a knife in his pocket.

On the way back, Fedka offered to eliminate the problem with the Lebyadkins. Stavrogin burst out laughing and threw all the money he had right into the mud for him.

Chapter Three: The Duel

The next day, Stavrogin’s duel with Gaganov took place. The opponents were offered reconciliation, but Gaganov insisted on the duel. He even set a condition: if nothing decisive happened, they would shoot three times. He shot first, and the bullet grazed Stavrogin’s little finger. But he shot into the air. Both subsequent times, Gaganov missed, and Stavrogin shot wide without aiming, which offended his opponent even more.

At home, he explained things to Dasha: Nikolai asked her not to come to him anymore, as he did not want to ruin her. And Dasha stated that sooner or later, she would be the one who remained by his side.

Chapter Four: Everyone in Expectation

The story with the duel raised Stavrogin to unprecedented heights in the eyes of society—he was in vogue. And Varvara Petrovna began to be treated with former reverence. Only the thought of the Lame Woman troubled her. Pyotr Verkhovensky, however, reacted to the duel “with extreme malice“: he told Stavrogin that he had no right to fight a duel.

Coming to his father, Verkhovensky conveyed Varvara Petrovna’s words that she was offended by his complaints that they wanted to marry him off to “other people’s sins.” Therefore, she assigned him a pension and announced a break-up. Stepan Trofimovich was shocked by his son’s attitude towards this story, cursed him, and his son promised never to come again, although he himself caused the scandal.

Chapter Five: Before the Celebration

Pyotr Stepanovich began to exert great influence on the local governor Andrei Antonovich von Lembke and his wife Yulia Mikhailovna. She was going to hold a celebration by subscription in favor of the governesses of the province. Meanwhile, there is unrest in the town: an icon is desecrated, a suicidal young man is found. Things are also restless in the province: fires everywhere (obvious arson), cholera is rampant, the Shpigulin factory is closed, which causes discontent among the workers. To top it all off, proclamations calling for rebellion have appeared.

Varvara Petrovna met with Verkhovensky Sr. personally to finally talk things out. She reproached him for ingratitude, for only waiting for the moment to slander her, and Stepan Trofimovich was moved to tears that he had lived only in dreams for twenty years, like a knight.

Chapter Six: Pyotr Stepanovich’s Labors

Verkhovensky’s son, meanwhile, developed a furious activity. He is running errands for the Governor’s wife, who did not entirely believe in her husband but dreamed of uncovering a state conspiracy with Petrusha’s help. He did not delay and gave the Governor the names of Shitov and Kirillov, who were connected with the appearance of revolutionary proclamations. Then he visited both of them with a request to be sure to attend the meeting.

Mavriky Nikolaevich, Liza Tushina’s fiancé, came to Stavrogin. He felt that Liza loved Stavrogin, although she hated him at the same time. He suggested that Nikolai marry her, but Stavrogin confessed that he was already married, shocking the interlocutor. After this, he and Pyotr left for the secret meeting.

Chapter Seven: At Our Place

They gathered at the Virginskys’ under the guise of celebrating a name day. Pyotr had already sculpted a “five-man group,” similar to the one he had created in Moscow. The student started the meeting, but the initiative was seized by a certain Shigalev with his own program for the “ultimate resolution of the question.” The essence of the theory was the division of humanity into two parts: the smaller one-tenth gets freedom along with the limitless right to rule the larger nine-tenths, turned into a herd.

Pyotr Stepanovich asked a provocative question: if the meeting participants learned about a planned murder, would they inform the police? Those present shouted that they would not inform. Unexpectedly for everyone, Shatov stood up and called Verkhovensky a spy and a scoundrel, and then left. When it was Stavrogin’s turn, he said that he was not going to compromise himself and left with Kirillov.

Chapter Eight: Ivan the Tsarevich

Verkhovensky had already marked Shatov as a victim to seal the revolutionary “five-man group” he created with blood. Stavrogin said that Pyotr wanted to bind him with a crime to gain power over him. When he grabbed Stavrogin’s elbow, he tore his elbow away, fury seized him, and he threw him to the ground with all his strength. But Verkhovensky caught up with him and suggested they make peace to “make trouble” together. In a feverish delirium, he confessed that Stavrogin was exactly what Russia needed now. When the trouble begins, the “rocking” will start, the earth will cry for the old gods, and then Stavrogin should appear in the role of Ivan the Tsarevich, another impostor who miraculously saved himself. Then he even promised to kill Lebyadkina without money, and bring Liza to Stavrogin.

Chapter Nine: Stepan Trofimovich Was Inventoried

Nastasia ran to G—v with the news that Stepan Trofimovich had been “inventoried.” When the narrator came to him, he said that in the morning, Herzen’s writings and two proclamations had been seized from him. Stepan Trofimovich confessed: he is afraid that he will be “put in a kibitka and marched to Siberia for the rest of his life,” and flogged before that. But gathering the remnants of his pride, he declared that he would come directly to Lembke’s celebration—he is surrendering himself, going “straight into the lion’s mouth.”

Chapter Ten: The Filibusters. The Fateful Morning

Workers from the Shpigulin factory came to Governor von Lembke. He perceived this as a manifestation of a rebellion. Stepan Trofimovich, who tried to explain himself, also suffered, having accidentally fallen into the Governor’s hands. Those gathered at Yulia Mikhailovna’s witnessed at least two scandals.

Yulia Mikhailovna, learning how her husband had treated Stepan Trofimovich, took revenge on him by flirting with Verkhovensky Sr. The conversations in the salon about socialism and the ignoring of his wife enraged Andrei Antonovich. He announced that measures against the “filibusters” had been taken.

And Lizaveta Nikolaevna intentionally asked Stavrogin in a loud voice to forbid his relative, his wife’s brother Captain Lebyadkin, from insulting her. He publicly admitted that he had been married to Marya for five years and promised to convey her request to the captain. Then he left for Skvoreshniki.

Part III

Chapter One: The Celebration. First Section

The next day, the celebration nevertheless took place. Liza appeared in a magnificent outfit and was so dazzlingly charming that everyone around whispered. When the Governor and his wife appeared, the narrator noticed an expression on Anton Andreevich’s face as if he were sacrificing himself.

In the first part of the celebration, the famous writer Karmazinov read his composition “Merci,” dedicated to the ideas of nihilism. Stepan Trofimovich passionately defended Shakespeare and Raphael from these very nihilists but found no understanding from the public, who booed him.

Chapter Two: The End of the Celebration

G—v went to Stepan Trofimovich, but he locked himself in and received no one. He wrote a farewell letter to Darya Shatova, in which he asked for forgiveness for all the bad things associated with his name. In the street, G—v learns that Liza got into a carriage with Verkhovensky, who took her to Stavrogin.

The ball at the Marshal of the Nobility’s is in full swing. Towards morning, an allegorical “quadrille of literature” was presented, causing outrage among all those present. At this time, a fire in Zarechye and the murder of Captain Lebyadkin and his sister were reported. The Governor went to the fire and, in a fit of madness, rushed to save people, but a plank fell on him, and he collapsed unconscious from the blow.

Chapter Three: The Finished Novel

In the morning, Stavrogin and Liza, who spent the night together, spoke plainly. Stavrogin called her to Switzerland with him, but she refused because Nikolai was married. He asked why she had come, and Liza said it was only her fantasy. Verkhovensky appeared and told about the fire and the death of the Lebyadkins, and Stavrogin confessed that he knew about the planned murder but did not prevent it.

Liza hysterically runs to the ashes, falls, and is lifted up by Mavriky Nikolaevich, who had been guarding Stavrogin’s house all night. He asked her not to send him away; they walked on hand in hand and met Stepan Trofimovich, who was leaving the city forever to “seek Russia.” Liza crossed herself and asked him to pray for “poor Liza.” When she approached the scene of the fire, she was recognized as “Stavrogin’s woman.” Everyone is sure that Stavrogin is the murderer, and she is in on it with him. She received blows from the crowd, fell, and lost consciousness.

Chapter Four: The Last Decision

The town is shaken by Liza’s death and Stepan Trofimovich’s departure. His son gathered his “five-man group” and convinced them that Shatov was preparing an indictment against them. He came to Kirillov to remind him of the agreement that before committing suicide, he must take on the blame for another’s blood. There he found Fedka the Convict. Pyotr is furious: how dare he appear here. Fedka managed to escape, but Petrusha declared: the Convict drank vodka for the last time in his life.

In the morning, it becomes known that Fedor was found seven miles from the town with his head smashed in. This fact convinced all members of the five-man group of Verkhovensky’s omnipotence, and no one dared to disobey him anymore.

Chapter Five: The Traveler

Shatov’s wife, who had left him three years ago, arrived. She asked for temporary shelter, and almost immediately, she went into labor. After the birth of the child, he decided to adopt it and begin a new working life, but before that, to “break free” from the old one. In the evening, together with the officer Erkel, he came to the park, where the entire “five-man group” was already waiting for him.

Chapter Six: A Night of Toil

Shatov was seized, Verkhovensky shot him right in the forehead, after which two large stones were tied to the body and thrown into the pond. Verkhovensky made Kirillov fulfill his promise: he wrote a note taking the blame for the murder, and then shot himself. Pyotr gathered his belongings and left for St. Petersburg, and from there, abroad.

Chapter Seven: Stepan Trofimovich’s Last Journey

Stepan Trofimovich, who embarked on his last journey, died in a peasant hut. On the road, he met the book peddler Sophia Mikhailovna, to whom he recounted his life, as if confessing.

She listened to him sympathetically, and at night, he had a fit. Trying to calm him, she began to read the Gospel to him, but he also began to hallucinate, and a few days later, he died in the arms of Varvara Petrovna, who arrived at the hosts’ call.

Chapter Eight: Conclusion

All participants in Shatov’s murder, except for Verkhovensky, were given up by Lyamshin and arrested. His sister received a confession letter from Stavrogin, who admitted: only “negation poured out of him, without any generosity and without any strength.” In the letter, he called the girl to Switzerland, where he had “signed up as a citizen of the Canton of Uri,” to stay there with her forever. Dasha let her patroness read the letter, but then it was reported that Stavrogin had unexpectedly appeared at Skvoreshniki. They hurried there and found Nikolai hanged himself in the mezzanine.