The little demon

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The little demon (Russian: Мелкий бес ) is a novel by the Russian symbolist author Fyodor Sologub . It was created between 1892 and 1902.

action

The high school teacher Ardal'on Borisyč Peredonov lives in a provincial town, where he treats his fellow men, especially those whom he sees subordinate to himself, in the most unfriendly manner. He thinks that because of his looks and position, he can have any woman. With his cousin Varvara, who is hardly inferior to him in bad behavior and malice, he has a marriage-like relationship under the guise of relatives. However, the urban rumor mill is already simmering. For Varvara, marriage seems to be the only way out of legalizing the bond between herself and her cousin. The latter, however, is initially reluctant, and so Varvara promises him protection from a St. Petersburg princess who she knows. With the help of forged letters, she increases his belief in them, and Peredonov already sees himself as a school inspector.

But initially he fears that he will be denounced in the city and visits the city's higher officials every day to straighten out their supposedly false image of him. In preparation for the post as inspector, he also visits the parents of his students, spreads rumors about them and has the children chastised.

Nevertheless, Peredonov sees his new post in jeopardy, especially through his friend Volodin, who bears certain similarities to a sheep and basically does not pose a threat to anyone. Peredonov begins to go mad. He discovers human faces in playing cards that threaten him and want to observe his life and sees conspiracies against him everywhere. Volodin suddenly appears to him as a real sheep, and a diabolical figure, a Eumel, meets him and clings to his heels. At the beginning he can always be chased away, but becomes more and more intrusive and finally seduces him to set fire to a masked ball. Even the black cat, which Peredonov kept pestering, appears to him like a devil with his glowing eyes and hissing.

Ultimately, Vavara's intrigues and Peredonov's desire for the inspectorate actually lead to the marriage. But while the bride has achieved her goal, Peredonov still does not have the desired post and virtually takes refuge in his delusions. These become so big that in the end he stabs his friend Volodin with a knife.

Emergence

  • Sologub was accused - for example by Zinaida Gippius - of having acted as a model for his protagonist Peredonov. In fact, there are some parallels between them: the position as a teacher in the province, the desire for an inspector's position, but also the sadomasochistic complex and the rumors of an incestuous relationship that Peredonov had with his cousin, Sologub probably with his sister. Sologub denied the assumptions with reference to fellow teachers who allegedly also had similarities with Peredonov.
  • The little demon was first published in the magazine Voprosy žizni (Questions of Life) from 1905 . After 24 chapters, however, the preprint was discontinued. The last chapters could only be read in the book publication in 1907, but then attracted special attention from the readership. The book established Sologub's national and international fame.

expenditure

filming

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