The Possessed, Chapter 3 summary

What happens

1. Stepan Trofimovitch hides from acquaintances, depends on the narrator, and fears that Liputin knows something about his uncertain engagement.
2. The narrator resents Stepan’s withdrawal, partly because it prevents an introduction to Lizaveta Nikolaevna.
3. An encounter with Karmazinov leaves the narrator feeling servile and humiliated, though he soon laughs at himself.
4. Varvara Petrovna sends instructions about receiving Karmazinov, while Stepan demands a meeting and a frank explanation from Darya Pavlovna.
5. A brief order to remain indoors prompts Stepan to leave, but Liputin arrives with Kirillov before he can go.
6. Kirillov repeatedly disputes Liputin’s claims about a message, Shatov’s wife, and his private thoughts on suicide.

In this chapter

What to notice

Stepan Trofimovitch’s demand makes uncertainty about the engagement explicit. Yet he also conceals his deepest suspicion from the narrator.

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