The possessed

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

8117

Title

The possessed

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Dostoyevsky's psychological thriller follows the charismatic but unstable Stepan Trofimovitch Verhovensky, a self-styled progressive exile whose influence spirals into a town-wide conspiracy. As radical ideas collide with local society, a tragic fete and a series of arrests reveal the depths of human fanaticism, moral decay, and the dangerous allure of revolutionary fervor.

Summary up to 500 words

Fyodor Dostoyevsky's *The Possessed* (or *The Devils*) chronicles the turbulent social and political upheaval in a Russian provincial town, centering on the enigmatic figure of Nikolay Stavrogin. The narrative begins by introducing Stepan Trofimovitch Verhovensky, a former lecturer who cultivated an image of a persecuted progressive patriot. Though his revolutionary activity was brief and largely self-styled, his name became synonymous with a fleeting period of unrest. The town's atmosphere is further charged by the anticipation of a grand literary and social fete organized by Yulia Mihailovna. Despite rumors of a lavish feast, the event ultimately reveals a frugal reality, yet it serves as a catalyst for disaster. The fete features a reading of Karmazinov's *Merci* and a ball, but beneath the surface, a conspiracy involving young revolutionaries is brewing. The plot intensifies with the arrest of several youths, including Virginsky and Erkel, accused of involvement in a murder and revolutionary plotting. Virginsky pleads guilty and cooperates with authorities, while Erkel remains obstinately silent, driven by fanaticism and devotion to his ailing mother. The narrative deepens with the arrival of Nikolay Stavrogin, a mysterious and morally empty figure who confesses his guilt regarding his wife's death to Darya Pavlovna. He plans to flee to Switzerland with her but returns to find himself hanging in the attic, having committed a premeditated suicide. The text concludes with the aftermath of these tragedies, leaving the town to grapple with the consequences of a "vortex of combined circumstances" that swept them into ruin. The novel explores themes of nihilism, the danger of abstract ideas detached from reality, and the destructive power of revolutionary fervor, portraying how a small group of theorists could manipulate a rabble of followers to bring about catastrophe. The story ends not with resolution, but with the lingering shadow of Stavrogin's death and the town's shaken conscience.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Philosophy
• Fiction
• Politics
• Russia