# Lyamshin — Demons character guide

> Lyamshin in Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mr. Lyamshin, Lyamshin mechanically

**First appearance:** 0001-demons

## Who they are

Nervous and cowardly telegraph clerk in the revolutionary group.

## In the story

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-i-ix)

A Jewish post-office clerk and piano performer; imitates animals and sounds for entertainment; invited mainly for his performances.

### [On the Eve of the Fête](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-ii-v-on-the-eve-of-the-f-te)

Caricatures Stepan Trofimovitch at Yulia Mihailovna's, is suspected of participating in the icon theft and mouse planting, and composes the scandalous 'Franco-Prussian War' piece.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-ii-i)

A buffoon and rascal who orchestrates obscene pranks, including framing a gospel woman with indecent photographs and composing a burlesque piece 'The Franco-Prussian War'; also suspected of placing a mouse in the desecrated icon.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-ii-ii)

Lyamshin is present, using an opera-glass to view the saint, and claims the saint once threw potatoes at him.

### [VII: A Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-a-meeting)

Reluctantly plays piano to mask the meeting from potential eavesdroppers, and voices support for the 'full steam' approach.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-ii-ii)

Chimes in support of Verhovensky's call for immediate action.

### [The Fête—First Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-i-the-f-te-first-part)

Mentioned among the worthless fellows who gained influence during the turbulent period.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-i)

Listed among the worthless fellows who gained influence during the turbulent time.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-iv)

Listens greedily from behind the scenes during Stepan Trofimovitch's speech.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-iii)

Also involved in the quadrille; his steward's rosette was removed.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-iii)

Terrified and paranoid after the quintet meeting, Lyamshin is coerced by Shatov into giving him seven roubles in exchange for the return of a revolver.

### [VIII: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-viii-conclusion)

Arrested and gives evidence exonerating Stavrogin from the secret society and the Lebyadkin murders, claiming Pyotr Verhovensky planned them to implicate Stavrogin. Later admits he did so hoping for Stavrogin's protection and a lighter sentence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/characters/lyamshin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/demons_se/characters