The Little Demon · Chapter
II explained
Peredonov returns home to Varvara, who is preparing jam tarts.
What happens
Peredonov returns home to Varvara, who is preparing jam tarts. He suspects her of poisoning his coffee and taunts her about the Princess's promise and his intention to marry Marta. After spitting in her face, Volodin arrives and they discuss a recipe for erli, which fuels Peredonov's paranoid suspicion that Volodin wants to poison him and steal his job. Volodin recounts a confrontation with Veriga over a hat. Prepolovenskaya visits and teases Volodin about marrying Varvara, leading to further tension. The drunken landlady Ershova bursts in, demanding to be treated like a lady, and Varvara and Peredonov try to manage her.
Themes in this chapter
Paranoia and Madness
Peredonov's irrational fear of being poisoned by Varvara and Volodin, and his suspicion that Volodin plans to replace him, highlight his growing paranoia.
Hypocrisy and Social Facade
Varvara and Peredonov maintain a pretense of respectability while engaging in petty cruelty and deceit, and the landlady Ershova demands deference despite her drunkenness.
Characters to notice
- Peredonov
Returns home suspicious of poisoning, taunts Varvara about the Princess and Marta, spits in her face, and grows paranoid that Volodin intends to poison him.
- Varvara
Anxiously prepares tarts, defends herself against Peredonov's accusations, and is angered by his threats to marry Marta.
- Pavel Volodin
Visits Peredonov, suggests cooking erli, recounts his confrontation with Veriga, and is teased by Prepolovenskaya about marrying Varvara.
- Prepolovenskaya
Visits and teases Volodin about his interest in Varvara, while secretly hoping to marry Peredonov to her sister.
- Ershova
The drunken landlady bursts in, demanding to be treated like a lady and causing a disturbance.
Key passages
“Peredonov bent down to the steaming glass and smelt it. Varvara was disturbed and looked a little frightened; she asked: 'What's the matter with you, Ardalyon Borisitch? Does the coffee smell of anything?' Peredonov looked morosely at her and said: 'I'm smelling to see whether you haven't put poison in it!'”
Peredonov suspiciously sniffs his coffee, and when Varvara asks if something is wrong, he accuses her of poisoning it.
Illustrates Peredonov's paranoid suspicion of Varvara.
“He rose, and with a sluggish and indifferent expression, spat in her face. 'Pig!' said Varvara, as quietly as if his spitting on her had refreshed her.”
Peredonov calmly spits in Varvara's face, and she responds by calling him a pig, almost as if the act relieved her.
Shows the abusive and degrading dynamic between Peredonov and Varvara.
“Peredonov listened to him in an annoyed way. 'Koutia,' thought Peredonov, 'why does he mention that? Does he want me to be dead?'”
Peredonov is irritated by Volodin's mention of koutia and wonders if Volodin wishes him dead.
Reveals Peredonov's paranoid interpretation of innocent remarks.