History Literature / ThePettyDemon

----

* NotSoDifferent: Peredonov and the rest of the denizens of the city. That's the central theme: Peredonov is perhaps not especially evil and actually quite a match to his millieu.

Its main character, Ardalyon Borisych Peredonov, is a SadisticTeacher in a gymnasium and a CompleteMonster in general. Moreover, he is also not all there, hallucinating when he does not torment people around him. However the society appears to accept him as he is.

* CompleteMonster: Peredonov has nothing human remaining in him. He does not have feelings for anyone, be it his lover Varvara or his gymnasium students.

* {{Narm}}: The evilness of Peredonov becomes quite narmy. The author does not spare black paint, depicting him as an oh-so-wicked, depraved as well as dim-witted, character.

The Petty Demon is a notorious book by Fyodor Sologub which was gradually written in 1892-1902 and saw the light in 1905. It caused a scandal was was regarded an indictment aganst the Tsarist Russia of the time.

* AnimalMetaphor: Pavel Volodin is repeatedly, somewhat insistently likened to a ram regarding borh his appearance, his voice an his behavior. It is

* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: Peredonov abuses the household white cat, pulling him by the tail and ears. Poor animal cannot apply his teath to protec himself because then he will be brutally beaten.
* ChubbyChaser: It is said for Peredonov. Might be an informed thing, used to harass Varvara who is getting leaner with time.

** Once Peredonov, Varvara and their guest start kicking the wall i the sitting-room and spill the coffee on it because they have nothing better to do. Later comes their landlady, a vulgar and aggressive broad. They are fawning and try to accomodate her in another room so that she does not notice the recent havoc.

* ForTheEvulz: Peredonov acts evil only because of that. He torments his concubine and a household cat, is casually cruel to his gumnasium students. Because he enjoys being evil.
* GenderReveal: Sasha Pylnikov is dressed as a geisha and comes to the party in drag. After some misadventures he finds himself in a carriage with an actor who realises that the geisha is a boy. The actor acts magnanimously, promising to never tell anyone. Because when he was young he, as an actor, also experienced being in drag.
* ImaginaryEnemy: '''''Nedotykomka''''', a poltergeist whom Peredonov hallucinates in various corners of his apartment. The word became famous. In fact Nedotykomka was the creature that haunted Sologub himself, he even wrote a poem about that.

* {{Narm}}: The evilness of Peredonov becomes quite narmy. The author does not spare black paint, depicting him as an oh-so-wicked, depraved character.
* NotSoDifferent: Peredonov and the rest of the denizens of the city. That's the central theme: Peredonov is not especially evil and actually is a match to his millieu.
* TheParanoiac: Peredonov is certain that he is observed and some malevolent forces as well as actual people wish him bad and hurt his interests. For example, when his
* PassedOverPromotion: Peredonov is afraid of this. He is a gymnasium teacher but dearms of the job of inspector in the educational system.
* ProtagonistTitle: Peredonov is obviously the petty demon in the name of the novel.

* SacrificialLamb: Pavel Volodin is compared to a ram numerous times. In the end his thoat is cut by the crazed Peredonov without clear motive.

* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: Peredonov casually and groundlessly accuses Varvara of this when he is about to drink a cup of coffee. He is not seriously convinced of that, he is just the stupid evil.
* TrashTheSet: Once characters collectively kick the wall of the sitting room of Peredonov's apartment and spill the coffee on it

* VillainHasAPoint: When Peredonov reveals that the Rutilov sisters dress Sasha Pylnijov as a girl and generally pervert him, he reeals this information to the head of his gymnasium. However both Pylnikov and Rutilovs deny it outright. Rutilov girls are so fresh and charming while Peredonov is so disgusting that people generally believe the girls. It contributes to the final breakdown of Peredonov.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Peredonov is partly this. He is generally respected and the oddities in his behavior go either unnoticed or overlooked. All mothers are ready to let his daughters marry the gymnasium teacher. Moreover young girls themselves have nothing against wedding him. In fact he is quite well-established in life as his position is good enough to make him a satisfying party. Also he expectes to become an inspector.
* WholesomeCrossdresser: Present in the sub-plot of the novel, dealing with the romance of the schoolboy Sasha Pylnikov and Lyudmila Pylnikova. Sasha, perfumed and dressed in skirts and stockings looks attractive.
** Moreover, later a contest for the best costume is arranged at a party. Sasha, dressed a geisha, is the most popular female contestant and receives the most votes, although it is partly due to the efforts of the Rutilov sisters.

* DownerEnding: Peredonov in the bout of drunken rage cuts the throat of his "friend" [[note insofar as he could have friends]] Volodin. This is an obvious crime and Peredonov is bound to at last be punished. Of course this trope is downplayed as Peredonov was utterly unsympathetic and had it coming to him since long.

* ForTheEvulz: Peredonov acts evil only because of that. He torments his girlfriend and a household cat, is casually cruel to his gumnasium students. Because he enjoys being evil.

* ImaginaryEnemy: Nedotykomka, a poltergeist whom Peredonov hallucinates in various corners of his apartment. The word became famous. In fact Nedotykomka was the creature that haunted Sologub himself, he even wrote a poem about that.

* KissingCousins: Peredonov's girlfriend Varvara is his second cousin. Or so he says, because his landlady does not believe it a bit.. Of course they are not always kissing, quite frequently they try to hurt each other.

* NotSoDifferent: Peredonov and the rest of the denizens of the city.

Its main character, Ardalyon Borisych Peredonov, is a SadisticTeacher in a gymnasium and a CompleteMonester in general. Moreover, he is also not all there, hallucinating when he does not torment people around him. However the society appears to accept him as he is.

* ForTheEvuls: Peredonov acts evil only because of that. He torments his girlfriend and a household cat, is casually cruel to his gumnasium students. Because he enjoys being evil.

** Peredonov, an insane man, is actually coward to the [[ExaggeratedTrope unbelievable extent]]. Once he plays billiard and his opponent, Murin, starts to aim at him with his cue. Peredonov [[{{Narm}} seriously thinks]] that [[{{Marm}} Murin is going to shoot and kill him]] so he ducks. Peredonov has several other instances of the same.
* DownerEnding: Peredonov i the bout of drunken rage cuts the throat of his "friend" [[note insofar as he could have friends]]. This is an obvious crime and Peredonov is bound to at last be punished. Of course this trope is downplayed as Peredonov was utterly unsympathetic and had it coming to him since long.
* GenderReveal: Sasha Pylnikov is dressed as a geisha and comу to the party in drag. After some misadventures he finds himself in a carriage with an actor who realises that the geisha is a boy. The actor acts magnanimously, promising to never tell anyone. Because when he was young he, as an actor, also experienced being in drag.

* IUsedToBeALooker: Varvara is nearing 50 and her body is still young and awesome but her face has become ugly.

* SadisticTacher: Peredonov oh so much. He gets off when his students kneel in front of him. He is also very keen on punishing them.

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Present in the sub-plot of the novel, dealing with the romance of the schoolboy Sasha Pylnikov and Lyudmila Pylnikova. Sasha, dressed im skirts and stockings and perfumed, looks attractive.