# XVII explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Leonid Andreyev. ## What happens The narrator describes a chaotic and terrifying procession of people carrying statues of saints, uncertain whether to exalt or destroy them. The crowd, united by horror and death, moves frantically, with some cursing, others praying, and many behaving like lunatics. The scene is marked by destruction, religious confusion, and a sense of purposeless flight. ## Themes in this chapter ### Madness and Rationality The crowd's behavior—howling like lunatics, laughing, weeping, and running from no one—illustrates a breakdown of rationality and collective madness. ### Faith and Doubt The bearers of saint statues are torn between raising them high or trampling them, reflecting a crisis of faith and religious uncertainty. ### Death and Mortality The procession is described as children of Horror and Death, with references to 'Dies irae' (Day of Wrath) and abysses, emphasizing mortality and doom. ## Key lines > They were bearing the statues of their saints, but did not know whether to raise them still higher over their heads or to cast them upon the ground, trampling the fragments underfoot. The people carried their religious icons but were conflicted, unsure whether to honor them or destroy them. _Highlights the theme of faith and doubt._ > Some were still cursing, while others were already saying their prayers, but they walked on together, the children of the same father and the same mother, or Horror and of Death. Despite their different reactions—cursing or praying—they moved as one, united by horror and death. _Emphasizes the shared human condition in the face of chaos._ > Some howled like lunatics. And they were waving their hands, and all were in a hurry. The fat-bellied monks were running. From whom were they running away? Not a soul was seen behind them. People screamed wildly and rushed frantically, even the monks, but there was no visible pursuer. _Illustrates irrational panic and madness._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_34_se/chapters/xvii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_34_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_34_se/chapters