# II: The End of the Fête explained — Demons

> Chapter companion for Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

## What happens

The narrator recounts the disastrous conclusion of the fête, including the humiliating literary quadrille and the public scandal. He describes the town's reaction, the absence of high society, and the desperate attempts of Yulia Mihailovna to salvage the ball. The chapter also covers the narrator's visits to various characters, including Stepan Trofimovitch, Liza's house, Darya Pavlovna, and Shatov, as well as the aftermath of the day's events.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Vanity in Society

The ball is a display of social pretension and failure, with the literary quadrille exposing the absurdity and insincerity of the town's elite.

### Social and Political Upheaval

The fête's collapse mirrors the broader societal chaos, with characters like Pyotr Stepanovitch manipulating events for his own ends.

## Character check-ins

### Stepan Trofimovitch Verhovensky

Refuses to open his door; the narrator later bangs on it and shouts at him.

### Lizaveta Nikolaevna Tushin

Has eloped; her servants confirm the story and report she is in fainting fits with Mavriky Nikolaevitch attending her.

### Mavriky Nikolaevitch Drozdov

Is with Liza after her fainting fits; the narrator does not feel it possible to ask for him.

### Pyotr Stepanovitch Verhovensky

Has been in and out of Liza's house continually; later found at Yulia Mihailovna's, speaking coarsely and anxiously, desperate for the ball to proceed.

### Darya Pavlovna

The narrator runs to see her but is not admitted; no one has been admitted since the previous morning.

### Ivan Shatov

Listens sullenly and in silence; is gloomy and preoccupied; later goes to see Marya Timofyevna that evening.

### Yulia Mihailovna

Found in tears and hysterics after the matinée; is deceived by Pyotr Stepanovitch and desperate for the ball to take place.

### Liputin

Arranged the literary quadrille with the help of the lame teacher; the narrator is advised to go to him for information.

## Key lines

> I rushed to Stepan Trofimovitch's, but the vexatious man still refused to open the door.

The narrator hurried to Stepan Trofimovitch's house, but the irritating man continued to keep the door shut.

_Shows Stepan Trofimovitch's withdrawal and the narrator's frustration._

> That she was ruined, utterly ruined, I did not doubt; but the psychological aspect of the matter I was utterly unable to understand, especially after her scene with Stavrogin the previous day.

The narrator was certain Liza was completely destroyed, but he could not grasp the psychological reasons, particularly after her confrontation with Stavrogin.

_Highlights the narrator's confusion about Liza's motives and the impact of Stavrogin._

> It would be difficult to imagine a more pitiful, vulgar, dull and insipid allegory than this 'literary quadrille.'

The literary quadrille was an extremely pathetic, crude, boring, and tasteless allegory.

_Describes the absurdity and failure of the quadrille as a performance._

> When a man is ashamed he generally begins to get angry and is disposed to be cynical.

Shame typically leads to anger and cynicism in a person.

_Reflects the public's reaction to the embarrassing quadrille._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/demons_se/chapters/part-iii-ii-the-end-of-the-f-te
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/demons_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/demons_se/chapters