“Demons”: Dostoevsky’s Conservatism and Thinking “on the Edges”

It is generally accepted that Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel “Demons” was written to criticize Westerners (nihilists and liberals) and to ensure conservative public ideals. The author of the article attempts to offer a different view of the novel and see in it the discussion of the possibility of establishing in practice various, even “incredible”, political ideas. When writing the “Demons” novel, Dostoevsky did not limit himself to the exposure of radicalism, but also criticized all the main directions of Russian thought. The author of the article believes that when describing revolutionaries, liberals, and nationalists Dostoevsky didn’t aim to show their way of thinking and actions realistically. He made his characters bring the ideas of political nihilism, liberalism and nationalism to their ultimate state in order show what devastating consequences that could bring to the society.