The Little Demon · Character

Ardalyon

A local landowner who counts himself among Peredonov's circle, Ardalyon Borisitch drifts through the town's social life, his friendship with the novel's antihero revealing the banality of provincial male camaraderie.

supporting

Also known as Ardalyon Borisitch, Borisitch, Ardasha

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in The Little Demon, Ardalyon is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Routilov brother; arranges the meeting, grows irritated with Peredonov's changes of mind, and eventually goes to play cards.

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Ardalyon is a landowner and acquaintance of Peredonov, part of the loose network of men who gather for tea, cards, and idle talk in this stifling provincial town. His relationship with Peredonov exposes the emptiness of social bonds formed through habit rather than genuine connection, as he witnesses but rarely challenges his friend's growing instability. He matters because he represents the ordinary men who enable Peredonov's behavior through their passivity, their presence a reminder that evil flourishes when no one intervenes.

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The fuller portrait of Ardalyon sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Ardalyon in i

Character Web

35 connections

A slice of how Ardalyon sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Peredonov's social circle
Haunting and matchmaking figures
Extended cast of townspeople
Merchant and local acquaintances
Matchmakers and servants

+30 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the climax because Sasha’s internal conflict—between shame and obsessive desire—peaks into…

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Relationships

Peredonov
family · negative
Ardalyon is Peredonov's brother, and they share a tense, competitive relationship marked… How this plays out →
Pavel Volodin
friendship · positive
Pavel Volodin
friendship · positive
Peredonov
family · negative
Ardalyon is Peredonov's brother, and they share a tense, competitive relationship marked… How this plays out →

Peredonov
Ardalyon is Peredonov's brother, and they share a tense, competitive relationship marked by mutual resentment.
Pavel Volodin
Ardalyon and Volodin are drinking companions and allies in their shared mockery of Peredonov.
Pavel Volodin
Ardalyon and Volodin are drinking companions and allies in their shared mockery of Peredonov.
Peredonov
Ardalyon is Peredonov's brother, and they share a tense, competitive relationship marked by mutual resentment.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Ardalyon in i

In the story

Ardalyon appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Ardalyon unlock in the free preview.

See Ardalyon in i

See Ardalyon in IV