Demons · Chapter
Epigraph explained
The chapter opens with an excerpt from Pushkin's poem about demons leading travelers astray, followed by the biblical passage from Luke describing Jesus casting devils out of a man and into a herd of swine, which then rush into a lake and d
What happens
The chapter opens with an excerpt from Pushkin's poem about demons leading travelers astray, followed by the biblical passage from Luke describing Jesus casting devils out of a man and into a herd of swine, which then rush into a lake and drown.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene is the dramatic climax because it forces Stavrogin to confront the core crisis of his identity: his…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Possession and Demonic Influence
The epigraphs directly invoke demonic possession and exorcism, setting a thematic foundation for the novel.
- The Search for Meaning and Faith
The biblical passage contrasts the possessed man's madness with his restoration to a 'right mind' at Jesus' feet, hinting at spiritual crisis and redemption.
Key passages
“Strike me dead, the track has vanished, Well, what now? We've lost the way, Demons have bewitched our horses, Led us in the wilds astray.”
The travelers are lost and helpless, their horses led astray by demons.
Pushkin's poem introduces the motif of demonic deception and disorientation.
“Then went the devils out of the man and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked.”
The devils leave the possessed man and enter a herd of pigs, which then rush into a lake and drown.
The Gospel of Luke passage depicts the transfer of demonic influence and its destructive outcome.
