# Grushina — The Little Demon character guide

> Grushina in The Little Demon by Fyodor Sologub.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Marya Ossipovna Grushina, Marya Ossipovna, Marya

**First appearance:** 0006-i

## Snapshot

A drunken gossip who peddles scandal as currency, Marya Ossipovna Grushina turns every drawing room into a stage for erotic anecdotes and dangerous talk about her betters.

## Who they are

Grushina is the town's purveyor of gossip, a woman whose loose tongue and looser morals make her both entertaining and perilous to those around her. She trades in stories about deceived husbands and important personages, oblivious to the fact that her careless words can ruin reputations or inflame Peredonov's mounting paranoia. Her presence illustrates how information circulates in this suffocating town, where idle chatter becomes a weapon and no secret stays buried for long.

## Relationships

### [Peredonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/characters/peredonov)

_psychological_

Grushina is a malicious gossip and manipulator who feeds Peredonov's paranoia and delusions.

### [Peredonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/characters/peredonov)

_psychological_

Grushina is a malicious gossip and manipulator who feeds Peredonov's paranoia and delusions.

### [Peredonov](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/characters/peredonov)

_psychological_

Grushina is a malicious gossip and manipulator who feeds Peredonov's paranoia and delusions.

## In the story

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

Visits Varvara, discusses a new servant Klavdia, and agrees to forge a letter from Princess Volchanskaya in exchange for gifts.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/v)

Confirms Natashka's job; warns about the danger of forbidden books for instructors; visits Varvara daily.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned as a suspected enemy who might be spreading rumors or attempting blackmail.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/xi)

Tells Varvara the rumor that Sasha Pilnikov is a girl in disguise.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/xx)

Insists Varvara steal and burn the first forged letter; comments on the headmaster's supposed malice.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/xxiii)

Arranges for boys to throw rubbish at the newlyweds, sniggers at the secrecy of the wedding, and enjoys creating an ignominious spectacle.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/xxviii)

Helps Varvara write the anonymous letter; informs Kokovkina bluntly about the rumors.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/xxix)

Wears a scandalously revealing costume, is asked by the police commissioner to cover up, steals sweets, and becomes tipsy and boisterous.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/characters/grushina
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_demon_se/characters