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Summary Demons by Dostoevsky study guide
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study guide for the novel Demons
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ThemesRadicalism/Extremism
One of the major overriding themes of Dostoevsky's Demons is radicalism, which swept Russia in
the latter part of the 19th century. Dostoevsky contrasts the more romantic, idealistic "Men of the
Forties" (Stepan) with the younger socialist revolutionaries (Peter), who seek to destroy the existing
social order. The extremism displayed by Peter, Stavrogin, and the other characters in their "group
of five" are eventually their downfall. The consequences of relying on radicalism and extremism,
rather than on gradual liberal social change, are shown in the later chapters of the novel:
destruction, murder, and imprisonment. For example, the burning of the town is a direct
consequence of the actions of the radicals. Dostoevsky uses the theme of radicalism in the story to
expose the potential destruction if radicalism were to win out in Russia.
Generational Change
One of the major themes in Demons is the struggle between the old generation, personified by
Stepan, and the younger generation, personified by his son Peter. In the novel, Stepan is said to
have been an liberal professor and is renowned for his high-society salon liberalism. He speaks
French, reads Shakespeare, and discusses Western art with visitors to Varvara Petronova. He is an
old-fashioned romantic, while the novel takes place in the time of the early revolutionary
movement, in which ideas like nihilism, utilitarianism, and socialism began to take hold. Peter,
however, is a man of his times and is the unspoken leader of a socialist revolutionary group. This
struggle between the generations is most clear when Stepan dies, heartbroken, at the end of the
novel, which can be seen as the figurative death of the romantic liberal generation.
Social Class
The theme of social class is a specter over the entire storyline of Demons, as characters defy,
reaffirm, and change the norms of their social classes, as well as their attempt at a socialist
revolution aimed at destroying the class system. The novel's central character, Nikolai Stavrogin,
has caused a great scandal prior to the opening of the story due to his wild antics in St. Petersburg.
His mother Varvara wants him to behave as a young nobleman, yet he defies this expectation
through several actions, such as marrying Marya, carrying on an affair with Liza, and dragging the
governor around by his nose.
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