Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel that foreshadowed the Russian Revolution by depicting the rise of sadistic revolutionary terrorism in pre-revolutionary Russia. The book satirizes liberal Russian aristocrats of the 1840s, pointing out their hypocrisy and cowardice. These characters are more concerned with maintaining their status and image than with the chaos and death caused by the terrorists. The novel explores the desires and motives of individuals who have been consumed by their ideologies, showing that radical ideas are often just pretexts for desires such as domination and destruction. It also raises the question of whether desires come from within individuals or are influenced by external forces. The book suggests that external forces, like the internet, can possess and manipulate individuals and societies. The portrayal of the revolutionaries as more destructive and less sympathetic than a serial killer challenges modern sensibilities. Overall, Demons is a dark and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human desires and the consequences of radical ideologies.
https://www.thepsmiths.com/p/review-demons-by-fyodor-dostoevsky