Demons · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Pyotr Stepanovitch Verhovensky
major
Also known as Pyotr Stepanovitch, Verhovensky, Pyotr Verhovensky, young Verhovensky, Petrusha
Ambitious revolutionary leader who orchestrates a secret society and manipulates others.
Stepan Trofimovitch Verhovensky
major
Also known as Stepan Trofimovitch, Trofimovitch, Stepan Verhovensky, Petrusha! Stepan Trofimovitch
Aging intellectual and former professor, father of Pyotr, idealistic and prone to drama.
Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch Stavrogin
major
Also known as Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch, Stavrogin, Nikolay Stavrogin, Vsyevolodovitch, young Stavrogin
Enigmatic and charismatic former officer whose influence drives much of the plot.
Varvara Petrovna Stavrogin
major
Also known as Varvara Petrovna, Stavrogin, dear Varvara Petrovna
Wealthy and domineering landowner, mother of Nikolay and patron of Stepan.
Ivan Shatov
major
Also known as Shatov, Mr. Shatov, Marya Shatov, Madame Shatov
Former revolutionary who becomes a fervent nationalist and religious seeker.
Alexey Kirillov
major
Also known as Kirillov, Mr. Kirillov, that maniac Kirillov
Engineer obsessed with the idea of suicide as a proof of free will.
Liputin
supporting
Also known as Mr. Liputin, that rascal Liputin, that beast Liputin
Sneaky and malicious petty official and member of the revolutionary cell.
Yulia Mihailovna
supporting
Also known as Mihailovna, Yulia, Yulia Mihailovna's
Governor's wife who hosts the fête and becomes embroiled in intrigue.
Lizaveta Nikolaevna Tushin
supporting
Also known as Liza, Lise, Lizaveta Nikolaevna, Lizaveta Tushin
Proud and passionate young woman, briefly engaged to Mavriky, drawn to Stavrogin.
Andrey Antonovitch von Lembke
supporting
Also known as Andrey Antonovitch, Lembke, Von Lembke
Nervous and ineffectual governor of the province.
Mavriky Nikolaevitch Drozdov
supporting
Also known as Mavriky Nikolaevitch, Mavriky, Nikolaevitch
Honorable and devoted army officer, Liza's rejected suitor.
Captain Lebyadkin
supporting
Also known as Mr. Lebyadkin, Lebyadkin, Ignat Lebyadkin, this Lebyadkin
Drunken and boastful retired captain who claims a secret about Stavrogin.
Marya Timofyevna Lebyadkin
supporting
Also known as Timofyevna, Lebyadkin, Marya, Marya Timofyevna Lebyadkin
Crippled and simple-minded woman, secretly married to Stavrogin.
Karmazinov
supporting
Also known as Cher ami, Karmazinov, Mr. Karmazinov, Cher M. Karmazinov
Famous but vain writer visiting the town, a parody of Turgenev.
Darya Pavlovna
supporting
Also known as Darya, Dear Darya Pavlovna, Dasha
Stepan's daughter and Varvara's ward, quiet and loyal.
Praskovya Ivanovna Drozdov
supporting
Also known as Praskovya Ivanovna, Praskovya, Drozdov
Liza's mother, a nervous and gossipy widow.
Sofya Matveyevna Ulitin
supporting
Also known as Sofya Matveyevna, Matveyevna, Poor Sofya Matveyevna
Kind Bible-seller who accompanies Stepan on his final journey.
Mr. Gaganov
minor
Also known as Gaganov, this Gaganov, Artemy Pavlovitch Gaganov
Landowner insulted by Stavrogin's ear-bite, seeks satisfaction.
Lyamshin
minor
Also known as Mr. Lyamshin, Lyamshin mechanically
Nervous and cowardly telegraph clerk in the revolutionary group.
Virginsky
minor
Also known as Virginsky, Madame Virginsky, Mr. Virginsky
Idealistic but weak-willed civil servant and revolutionary member.
Shigalov
minor
Also known as Shigalov, Mr. Shigalov, Comrade Shigalov
Theorist who proposes a radical system of total control.
Fedka
minor
Also known as Fedka, the convict Fedka
Escaped convict and murderer, used as a tool by Pyotr.
Ensign Erkel
minor
Also known as Erkel, Lieutenant Erkel, II Erkel, This Ensign Erkel
Young and devoted army officer, fanatically loyal to Pyotr.
Von Blum
minor
Also known as Von Blum, Blum, This Blum
Strict German official serving under the governor.
Alexey Yegorytch
minor
Also known as Alexey Yegorytch, Alexey, Yegorytch
Ceremonious butler in the Stavrogin household.
Arina Prohorovna
minor
Also known as Arina Prohorovna, Arina
Virginsky's wife, a midwife and radical feminist.
Semyon Yakovlevitch
minor
Also known as Father, Father Semyon Yakovlevitch
Holy fool and mystic visited by townspeople for blessings.
Tolkatchenko
minor
Also known as Meantime Tolkatchenko
Revolutionary member who helps recruit Fedka.
Nastasya
minor
Also known as Nastasya
Servant in the Shatov household.
Agafya
minor
Also known as Agafya, prime Agafya
Servant in the Verhovensky household.
Ivan Ossipovitch
minor
Also known as Poor Ivan Ossipovitch
Local doctor who attends to various characters.
Anisim Ivanovitch
minor
Also known as Anisim, Anisim Ivanov
Minor official or servant in the town.
Doctor Salzfish
minor
Also known as Salzfish, Doctor Salzfish
German doctor who treats Stepan Trofimovitch.
Pyotr Pavlovitch Gaganov
minor
Also known as Pyotr Pavlovitch, the affronted Pyotr Pavlovitch
Father of Artemy Gaganov, offended by Stavrogin.
Nikon Semyonitch
minor
Also known as Nikon Semyonitch
Minor character, possibly a priest or official.
General Ivan Ivanovitch Drozdov
minor
Also known as Ivan Ivanovitch, General Drozdov, General Ivan Ivanovitch Drozdov
Deceased general, father of Liza and Mavriky.
Zemirka
minor
Also known as Zemirka
A dog belonging to the Drozdov household.
Count K.
minor
Also known as Count K., Count
Wealthy aristocrat and former patron of Stepan.
Filipov
minor
Also known as Filipov
Owner of the house where Shatov and Kirillov lodge.
Andreev
minor
Also known as Andreev
Minor character, possibly a tradesman.
Councillor Kubrikov
minor
Also known as councillor Kubrikov
Minor official in the town administration.
Ilya Ilyitch
minor
Also known as Ilya Ilyitch
Minor character, possibly a police or court official.
Berestov
minor
Also known as Berestov
Minor landowner mentioned in passing.
Alyosha Telyatnikov
minor
Also known as Alyosha, Telyatnikov
Minor character, possibly a clerk or officer.
Fomka Zavyalov
minor
Also known as Fomka Zavyalov, Fomka
Convict and associate of Fedka.
Avdotya Petrovna Tarapygin
minor
Also known as Tarapygin, Avdotya Petrovna
Minor female character, possibly a widow.
Father Pavel
minor
Also known as Father Pavel
Local priest who interacts with the characters.
Tikhon
minor
Also known as Tikhon
Monk or bishop whom Stavrogin visits for confession.
Flibusterov
minor
Also known as Flibusterov
Nickname for a boastful or swaggering character.
Agasha
minor
Also known as Agasha
Servant in the Stavrogin household.
Polenka Saxe
minor
Also known as Polenka Saxe, Saxe
Minor character, possibly a governess or companion.
Avdotya Sergyevna
minor
Also known as Avdotya Sergyevna
Minor female character mentioned in the narrative.
Fyodor Matveyevitch
minor
Also known as Fyodor Matveyevitch
Minor character, possibly a servant or clerk.
Dmitri Dmitritch
minor
Also known as Dmitri Dmitritch
Minor character, possibly a doctor or official.
Nikifor
minor
Also known as Nikifor
Servant in the Verhovensky household.
Amalia
minor
Also known as Amalia
Minor female character, possibly a German governess.
Egrenev
minor
Also known as Egrenev
Minor character, possibly a landowner.
Ivan Filipovitch
minor
Also known as Ivan Filipovitch
Minor character, possibly a relative of Filipov.
Pyotr Ilyitch
minor
Also known as Pyotr Ilyitch
Minor character, possibly a police officer.
Prohoritch
minor
Also known as Prohoritch
Minor character, possibly a servant or tradesman.
Christopher Ivanovitch
minor
Also known as Christopher Ivanovitch, Ivanovitch
Minor character, possibly a German doctor or official.
Lyov Kambek
minor
Also known as Lyov Kambek
Minor character mentioned in passing.
Makar
minor
Also known as Makar
Minor character, possibly a peasant or servant.
Alyona Frolovna
minor
Also known as Alyona Frolovna
Servant in the Stavrogin household.
Anton Lavrentyevitch
minor
Also known as Anton Lavrentyevitch
Minor character, possibly a clerk or narrator figure.
Fyodor Fyodorovitch
minor
Also known as Fyodor Fyodorovitch, Fyodor
Minor character, possibly a relative of a main character.
Korovayev
minor
Also known as Korovayev
Minor character, possibly a tradesman or official.
Ernestine
minor
Also known as Ernestine
Minor female character, possibly a foreigner.
Kapfig
minor
Also known as Kapfig
Minor character, possibly a German name mentioned.
Prohorovitch
minor
Also known as Prohorovitch
Minor character, possibly a relative of Arina Prohorovna.
Myasnitchiha
minor
Also known as Myasnitchiha
Minor female character, possibly a peasant woman.
