The Petty Demon

Main Ideas

• Depiction of provincial life and its mundanity, filled with pettiness and malice.
• Critique of the bureaucratic system and societal hypocrisy.
• Psychological portrait of the main character, teacher Ardalion Borisovich Peredonov, his paranoia and degradation.
• Theme of petty evil that infiltrates everyday life and destroys human destinies.
• Exploration of the human soul and its dark sides, including envy, fear, and hatred.
• Satirical portrayal of the morals and customs of late 19th-century provincial society.
• Influence of superstitions and prejudices on people's behavior.