The Little Demon · Chapter
XXXI explained
Sasha's aunt Ekaterina Ivanovna arrives in town after receiving alarming letters about her nephew.
What happens
Sasha's aunt Ekaterina Ivanovna arrives in town after receiving alarming letters about her nephew. She confronts the Routilov sisters, who skillfully deny any wrongdoing and convince her that the rumors are the work of the mad Peredonov. Liudmilla then visits the Headmaster Khripatch to further defend Sasha, and the chapter ends by noting that a terrible event at the Peredonovs' house will soon confirm the sisters' story.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Social Facade
The Routilov sisters maintain a charming, innocent facade while lying convincingly to Ekaterina Ivanovna and Khripatch, demonstrating how social performance masks corruption.
Madness and Paranoia
Peredonov's insanity is used by the sisters and Khripatch as a convenient explanation for the rumors, highlighting how paranoia can be weaponized to dismiss legitimate concerns.
Characters to notice
- Ekaterina Pilnikova
Sasha's aunt and guardian, who arrives to investigate the rumors about her nephew and is eventually persuaded by the Routilov sisters.
- Sasha Pilnikov
The young nephew who joyfully greets his aunt but is distressed by the accusations; he maintains his innocence.
- Liudmilla
One of the Routilov sisters, who takes the lead in charming Ekaterina Ivanovna and later visits Khripatch to defend Sasha.
- Darya
Another Routilov sister who supports Liudmilla in deceiving Ekaterina Ivanovna about the nature of their relationship with Sasha.
- Valeria Routilov
The third Routilov sister, who participates in the sisters' coordinated defense and expresses disgust at the town's gossip.
- Nikolai Khripatch
The Headmaster who meets with Liudmilla and is swayed by her persuasive falsehoods, agreeing to keep Sasha at home until the Peredonov affair is resolved.
Key passages
“Lies have often more verisimilitude than the truth. Nearly always. As for truth of course it has no verisimilitude.”
Falsehoods frequently seem more believable than the truth, which rarely appears plausible.
The narrator reflects on the sisters' successful deception, underscoring the novel's theme of the triumph of lies over reality.
“Liudmilla chattered on and on and dissolved into smoke the chimerical structure of the Peredonovian lie.”
Liudmilla's incessant talking made the imaginary accusations from Peredonov vanish like smoke.
The narrator describes how Liudmilla's persuasive speech dismantles the rumors, even though she is herself lying.