The Little Demon · Chapter
Chapter XXI explained
Peredonov visits Vershina and Marta, revealing a letter from the Princess that confirms his marriage to Varvara, dashing Vershina's hopes for Marta.
What happens
Peredonov visits Vershina and Marta, revealing a letter from the Princess that confirms his marriage to Varvara, dashing Vershina's hopes for Marta. Marta feels relieved. Later, Peredonov encounters a policeman and Volodin, then returns home to find a cat with rattles sent by Irishka, causing alarm. He obsessively guards the Princess's letter and boasts about becoming an inspector.
Themes in this chapter
Madness and Paranoia
Peredonov's suspicion of the policeman as a spy, his fear of Volodin as a ram, and his obsessive guarding of the letter illustrate his growing paranoia.
Hypocrisy and Social Facade
Peredonov boasts about becoming an inspector and puts on an air of importance, while his behavior reveals petty spite and insecurity.
Characters to notice
- Marta
Marta dreams of Conscience and Vershina, then learns Peredonov will marry Varvara, feeling relieved and free.
- Natalya Vershina
Vershina is disappointed by Peredonov's news, losing hope of marrying Marta to him.
- Peredonov
Peredonov shows the Princess's letter, acts morosely, fears spies, and guards the letter zealously.
- Pavel Volodin
Volodin meets Peredonov on the street, is suspected of being a ram, and helps remove rattles from a cat.
- Varvara
Varvara excitedly reports the cat with rattles sent by Irishka, appearing untidy and agitated.
- Vladya
Vladya meets Marta near the house, barefoot, and hears the news about Peredonov's marriage.
Key passages
“Marta guessed that this was Conscience. She was in black, this strange painful visitor, with black eyes, and black hair—and she suddenly began to talk about something very quickly and glibly.”
Marta dreamt that a dark figure representing Conscience appeared, speaking rapidly and reproachfully.
Marta's dream personifies her guilt or moral unease.
“Peredonov took his wallet quickly from his pocket and showed Vershina a letter in an envelope, without letting it go from his hands.”
Peredonov eagerly displayed the Princess's letter but kept it firmly in his grasp.
Peredonov's possessive handling of the letter shows his obsession and distrust.
“Peredonov felt depressed. 'Another spy,' he thought, 'they’re watching so as to have some excuse for finding fault with me.'”
Peredonov became anxious, believing the policeman was a spy monitoring him.
Peredonov's paranoia extends to ordinary authority figures.
“Varvara ran out into the hall and shouted: 'The cat’s been sent back!'”
Varvara excitedly announced that the cat had been returned to their home.
The return of the cat with rattles escalates Peredonov's fear of persecution.