# IX explained — The Created Legend

> Chapter companion for The Created Legend by Fyodor Sologub.

## What happens

Elisaveta and Elena walk through the countryside, wade a stream, and visit Trirodov's colony, where they observe naked children and instructresses bathing and dancing. They encounter the mysterious old Elikonida and quiet children, then meet Ostrov in the woods, who is confronted by Piotr Matov.

## Themes in this chapter

### Utopia and Escapism

The colony represents an idealized escape from societal constraints, with nakedness and closeness to nature as central practices.

### Love and Idealism

Elisaveta's yearning for a worthy love and Elena's diffuse love for everything embody idealistic romanticism.

### Mysticism and the Supernatural

The quiet children's eerie laughter and Elikonida's cryptic mumbling create a mysterious, almost supernatural atmosphere.

## Character check-ins

### Elisaveta

Walks with Elena, experiences tender devotion and expectancy, joins the naked dancers at the colony, feels sweet passion for Trirodov, and calmly confronts Ostrov.

### Elena

Walks with Elisaveta, feels virginal intoxication and love for everything, especially Piotr, and is frightened by Ostrov's sudden appearance.

### Trirodov

His colony and house are visited by the sisters; Elisaveta recalls his face with sweet passion.

### Ostrov

Appears suddenly in the woods, questions the sisters about Trirodov's house, and is sharply confronted by Piotr Matov.

### Matov

Piotr Matov arrives and defends the sisters from Ostrov, calling him a vagrant and ordering him away.

### Elikonida

Old housekeeper at Trirodov's colony, mumbles cryptically to the sisters and refuses to answer questions.

## Key lines

> To lull the beast to sleep and to awaken the human being—that is the reason of our nakedness.

Nakedness is meant to suppress animal instincts and awaken true humanity.

_Spoken by Nadezhda to explain the colony's practice of nudity._

> We have bared our feet in order to come in closer contact with the earth; we have become simple and happy, like people in the first garden.

Going barefoot connects us to the earth and brings a primal, Eden-like simplicity and happiness.

_Maria's ecstatic explanation of the colony's lifestyle._

> I know what I know. I have seen what I have seen.

I possess knowledge and experience that I will not share.

_Old Elikonida's cryptic response to the sisters' questions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se/chapters