The Devil

In Short

Written near the end of Leo Tolstoy’s life and published posthumously, The Devil is a gripping psychological portrait of a man torn between moral duty and irresistible desire. Eugene Irtenev inherits a debt-ridden Russian estate, manages to stabilize his affairs, and settles into a happy marriage with a refined woman. Yet his quiet life is shattered by his lingering, obsessive lust for Stepanida, a local peasant woman with whom he once had a fleeting affair. Incapable of banishing her image from his mind, Eugene spirals into severe psychological torment as his desperate attempt to remain honorable drives him toward ultimate tragedy.

The Story

Eugene Irtenev, a brilliant Petersburg university graduate in law, returns to his family’s country estate following his father’s death. Facing severe financial strain and heavy debts, Eugene devotes his energy to managing the land, freeing mortgages, and restoring order. Amid this intense labor, he experiences a period of involuntary bachelor celibacy that leaves him restless. To satisfy his physical needs and keep his mind focused on work, he arranges occasional clandestine meetings in the forest with Stepanida Pechnikova, a married peasant woman. Eugene treats the arrangement as a purely temporary physical necessity, paying for her time while resolving to end the encounters as soon as his life stabilizes.

Soon after, Eugene meets Liza Annenskaya, a gentle, devoted young woman. Falling genuinely in love with her, Eugene marries Liza and brings her to live on the estate. Believing his past bachelor indiscretions are entirely behind him, Eugene embraces married life. Liza proves to be a loving, capable wife, and together they construct an ideal domestic world, filled with mutual affection, estate improvements, and anticipation of their first child.

However, Eugene’s tranquil life is shattered during a routine walk around the estate when he catches sight of Stepanida working among the other peasants. The brief glimpse triggers an immediate, overpowering surge of lust. Despite his deep respect for his wife and his sincere desire to lead an honorable life, Eugene finds himself utterly unable to control his thoughts. Everywhere he looks on the estate, he imagines Stepanida’s face, her bright kerchief, and her laughing eyes.

Desperate to escape temptation, Eugene asks his steward never to employ Stepanida for house work, and later considers offering her husband money to relocate to another village. He tries intense physical labor, throws himself into local government duties with the Zemstvo, and even tries burning his own finger in a candle flame to shock himself out of his fixated state, but every measure fails. When Liza gives birth to a healthy daughter, Eugene feels temporary relief, but the obsession returns with terrifying force the next time he sees Stepanida working at the thrashing-floor.

Convinced that Stepanida is a literal demon possessing his mind, Eugene sees no clean escape from the ruin of his family. He realizes that his condition will inevitably destroy his marriage, lead him to public disgrace, or force a violent resolution. He retrieves a revolver from his study, returns to the shed where Stepanida is raking corn, and shoots her three times in the back, killing her. Eugene confesses immediately to the bystanders, bids a final farewell to his wife and child, and is taken into custody, where a jury ultimately finds him guilty while suffering from temporary mental insanity.

How It Unfolds

The journey begins Eugene Irtenev takes over his late father’s mismanaged estate, working tirelessly to secure loans and clear heavy debts. Seeking a practical outlet for his physical health, he uses the forester Daniel to arrange secret meetings with Stepanida, a local peasant woman.

A new life takes root Eugene courts and marries Liza Annenskaya, a gentle woman whose trusting eyes captivate him. He assures his mother that his past bachelor life is completely finished, leaving Stepanida and the summer encounters firmly behind him.

The shadow returns While overseeing renovations and work on the estate, Eugene unexpectedly spots Stepanida carrying out farm duties. A sudden, uncontrolled surge of desire unnerves him, making him realize that his former attraction is far from dead.

Desperate measures Eugene struggles against his growing fixation through intense farm labor, prayers, and even self-harm, yet nothing eradicates his thoughts of her. He confesses his moral conflict to his uncle, hoping that leaving for a trip to the Crimea will break the spell.

The fatal encounter After returning home to his wife and newborn child, Eugene encounters Stepanida again at the thrashing-floor and feels completely powerless under her gaze. Driven to absolute madness by his inability to conquer his lust, he pulls out a revolver and shoots her dead.

The People

• Eugene Ivanich Irtenev (Jenya)

A well-educated, conscientious young nobleman who wants nothing more than to clear his family debts, run his estate honorably, and be a faithful husband. What stands in his way is an unmanageable, intrusive sexual obsession that completely overwhelms his moral principles. Through his futile struggle against his own desires, he transforms from an idealist into a desperate man driven to murder.

• Liza Annenskaya

Eugene’s wife, a tall, delicate woman defined by her mild, trusting eyes and quiet elegance. She wants to build a harmonious family life with Eugene and support his goals, though her happiness is occasionally clouded by a subtle, suppressed jealousy. She ends up deeply hurt and bewildered by her husband's sudden emotional distance and tragic downfall.

• Stepanida Pechnikova

A handsome, bold, and quick-witted peasant woman whose husband works as a coachman in Moscow. She approaches her encounters with Eugene with merry carelessness and saucy confidence. She stands as the unwitting object of Eugene's destructive obsession, which ultimately leads to her death.

• Mary Pavlovna Irtenyeva

Eugene’s mother, who deeply values noble dignity, traditional social standing, and family honor. She wants her son to succeed socially and financially, but her presence adds to the domestic tensions surrounding Eugene.

In Its Own Voice

"He went up to her and, looking her over, touched her."

Eugene meets Stepanida in the woods beyond the ravine for their very first private encounter.

"My future family-life is so sacred to me that I should not infringe it in any case."

Eugene reassures his mother just before his marriage that his past bachelor life will have no place in his future.

"Really she is--a devil. Simply a devil. She has possessed herself of me against my own will."

Eugene agonizes in his study as he realizes he cannot banish the thought of Stepanida from his mind.

What It's Really About

The Devil explores the agonizing conflict between human morality and unbridled physical impulse. Tolstoy examines how an individual who considers himself rational, high-principled, and genuinely loving can be completely unmoored by sexual obsession. The novella argues that lust is not merely a passing physical weakness, but a destructive force capable of hijacking a person's reason and free will. Through Eugene’s internal monologue, the story questions whether a person can ever truly conquer their darkest desires through willpower alone, or if repressed temptation inevitably erupts into catastrophe.

Why Read It Today

The Devil offers a raw, unfiltered look at psychological self-torment written by one of world literature's greatest masters. Readers who appreciate tight, intense character studies will find Eugene’s descent into obsession deeply compelling and unsettlingly modern. Tolstoy’s prose is direct, precise, and devoid of unnecessary ornament, making the novella an remarkably fast and accessible read compared to his longer masterworks.

The story’s chief difficulty lies in its frank depiction of 19th-century class dynamics, where a noble estate owner freely uses his authority to arrange physical relationships with local peasant women. However, Tolstoy does not glamorize this imbalance; instead, he exposes the rot beneath Eugene’s facade of upper-class respectability. What stays with you long after finishing is the visceral depiction of a mind at war with itself, trapped in a nightmare where every effort to do good only pulls the protagonist deeper into ruin.