# XVIII explained — The Created Legend > Chapter companion for The Created Legend by Fyodor Sologub. ## What happens Trirodov realizes he is in love with Elisaveta, which fills him with both joy and dismay. He tries to avoid her but his love only grows. Meanwhile, Piotr Matov struggles with his own helpless love for Elisaveta. One evening, Piotr encounters Trirodov by the river, and they have a tense conversation about solitude, dreams, and Elisaveta. Later, at the Rameyevs' home, Piotr feels a new affection for Elena. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Idealism Trirodov's love for Elisaveta is portrayed as a transformative, painful emotion that fills the world with light. Piotr's love is jealous and helpless, while a new love for Elena begins to spark. ### Mysticism and the Supernatural Trirodov's encounter with Piotr by the river has an eerie, dreamlike quality. Trirodov speaks of fantasies, strange words, and a water-nymph appears in the river. ### Duality of Human Nature Trirodov's internal conflict between love and the desire to crush it, and Piotr's shift from hate to pity and then to new love, highlight the dual nature of human emotions. ## Character check-ins ### Trirodov Realizes he is in love with Elisaveta and struggles with the emotion. He avoids the Rameyevs but his love intensifies. Encounters Piotr by the river and speaks of his fantasies and solitude. ### Elisaveta Trirodov's love interest. She is hurt by his absence but defends him when Piotr criticizes him. She is dressed as a boy at supper and smiles abstractly. ### Matov Piotr Matov loves Elisaveta helplessly and jealously. He encounters Trirodov by the river and feels pity and confusion. Later, he feels a new love for Elena. ### Elena Present at supper, blushes and moves closer to Piotr. He begins to feel a new affection for her. ### Rameyev Misses Trirodov's presence and blames Piotr for his absence. He visits Trirodov's house and writes invitations. ## Key lines > Trirodov at last realized that he was in love with Elisaveta. He knew too well the nature of this delicious and painful emotion. Trirodov finally understood that he loved Elisaveta, recognizing the familiar mix of pleasure and suffering. _Opening lines establishing Trirodov's emotional state._ > But his love of Elisaveta meant his love and acceptance of the world, the whole world. Loving Elisaveta made him embrace and accept the entire world. _Trirodov's love is tied to a broader acceptance of existence._ > Piotr walked quietly upon the path along the riverbank, and thought of Elisaveta sadly and languorously—or rather, he recalled her—evoked her in vision—involuntarily yielded himself to the melancholy play of the nervous fantasies of his brain. Piotr strolled along the river, sadly and dreamily thinking of Elisaveta, letting his mind drift into melancholy fantasies. _Piotr's brooding love for Elisaveta._ > Trirodov said with quiet sadness: 'I have so many strange whims and ways. It is in vain that I go to see people. It is far better for me to be alone with my innocent, quiet children, with my secrets and dreams.' Trirodov sadly remarked that his odd habits made socializing pointless, and he preferred solitude with his children and fantasies. _Trirodov explains his reclusive nature to Piotr._ > He conversed with her gently and tenderly, and as he looked at her again and again, a new love took spark in him. He spoke gently and tenderly to Elena, and with each glance, a new love began to kindle in him. _Piotr's growing affection for Elena at supper._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se/chapters/xviii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_created_legend_se/chapters