The Possessed: who's who, timeline and places

Everyone in The Possessed, what happens when, and where, without spoilers: tell us how far you have read and we show only what you already know.

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Stepan TrofimovitchA former university teacher, he depends on Varvara Petrovna and believes the authorities persecute him.First seen in chapter 1
Varvara PetrovnaShe supports Stepan Trofimovitch with money and care while exercising control over his life.First seen in chapter 1
StavroginVarvara Petrovna’s son returns after military disgrace and shocks the town with unprovoked assaults.First seen in chapter 2
LizaShe is an acquaintance to whom the narrator hopes Stepan Trofimovitch will introduce him.First seen in chapter 3
KirillovHe visits Stepan Trofimovitch with Liputin and objects to Liputin’s exaggeration of private information.First seen in chapter 3
LiputinHe visits Stepan Trofimovitch and has a habit of exaggerating private information.First seen in chapter 3
Pyotr StepanovitchHe has made a recommendation about printing that Liza mentions to Shatov.First seen in chapter 4
ShatovHe rejects Liza’s publishing proposal and warns about the treatment of Captain Lebyadkin’s sister.First seen in chapter 4
Marya TimofyevnaShe is Captain Lebyadkin’s mistreated sister, whom Liza privately asks to meet.First seen in chapter 4
Captain LebyadkinHis letter prompts questions about his sister, whose treatment concerns Shatov.First seen in chapter 4
Darya PavlovnaShe passes money to Captain Lebyadkin at Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch’s request and denies withholding any.First seen in chapter 5
Yulia MihailovnaShe welcomes Pyotr Stepanovitch while strengthening her influence in local society.First seen in chapter 6
FedkaA convict, he approaches Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch on a bridge and asks him for money.First seen in chapter 7
Mavriky NikolaevitchHe serves as a second in the duel between Gaganov and Stavrogin.First seen in chapter 8

Chapter 1
The narrator describes Stepan Trofimovitch’s dependence on Varvara Petrovna and questions his belief that the authorities persecute him.
Chapter 2
Stavrogin returns after military disgrace, commits public assaults, then recovers and apologizes.
Chapter 3
Stepan Trofimovitch demands an explanation of his uncertain engagement while resenting Varvara Petrovna’s silence.
Chapter 4
Shatov rejects Liza’s publishing proposal, and she privately seeks a meeting with Lebyadkin’s sister.
Chapter 5
Varvara Petrovna questions her guests about Marya Timofyevna as accusations and disputed payments deepen the confusion.
Chapter 6
Pyotr Stepanovitch gains influential friends and admits to Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch that his foolish manner conceals deliberate manipulation.
Chapter 7
Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch announces plans to reveal his marriage, but Marya Timofyevna rejects him as an impostor.
Chapter 8
Stavrogin survives three exchanges with Gaganov while deliberately avoiding killing him.
Chapter 9
Yulia Mihailovna turns suspicion of Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch into admiration and invites Stepan Trofimovitch to give a charitable reading.
Chapter 10
Liza kneels before a damaged icon and donates her diamond earrings while spectators mock.
Chapter 11
Pyotr implicates Shatov and Kirillov while asking for six days without interference.
Chapter 12
At Virginsky’s gathering, radicals submit to a test about reporting a planned political murder.
Chapter 13
Pyotr reveals his plan to spread disorder and present Stavrogin as a hidden claimant to power.
Chapter 14
Officials seize Stepan Trofimovitch’s books and papers, leaving him frightened of arrest and losing Varvara Petrovna’s respect.
Chapter 15
Lembke orders workers flogged, and Stavrogin publicly acknowledges his marriage to Lebyadkin’s sister.
Chapter 16
Yulia Mihailovna’s charity fête opens amid resentment, and Liputin’s insulting poem intensifies the disorder.
Chapter 17
Stepan Trofimovitch announces his departure while Pyotr urges Yulia Mihailovna to attend the ball despite the morning’s disgrace.
Chapter 18
Liza leaves Stavrogin after learning about the planned killings, then suffers an attack near the victims’ house.
Chapter 19
Pyotr secures the quintet’s agreement to kill Shatov and make Kirillov accept responsibility.
Chapter 20
Shatov welcomes his estranged wife and accepts an arrangement to recover a hidden printing press.
Chapter 21
Pyotr shoots Shatov during an ambush, directs the disposal of his body, and prepares to leave town.
Chapter 22
Stepan Trofimovitch accepts help from peasants and meets Sofya Matveyevna Ulitin, who cares for him during his fever.
Chapter 23
Lyamshin’s confession exposes the conspiracy, and Darya Pavlovna and Varvara Petrovna discover Stavrogin has hanged himself.
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