The Devil

“The Devil” of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy is a dramatic and psychologically stressed tale that explores the destructive power of the unbearable flesh attraction, the suffering of conscience and the tragedy of man breaking between the moral duty and the all-absorbing temptation. Wishing to satisfy the Holstein needs, he enters a secret relationship with the married peasant Stepanida. Evgeny soon marries a beautiful, loving and clean girl from his circle, getting, apparently, family happiness and peace. However, accidentally again met Stephanid, he with horror understands that the wild, natural passion for it has not disappeared, but has become a real invasive idea, which he begins to perceive as a devil's pretext. Tolstoy, with impatient realism and profound psychology, reveals the inner struggle of the hero, showing how the secret passions are capable of instantly destroying the most organized life and the highest moral stands. **Who to read:** A lovers of psychological Russian classics, fans of deep dramatic stories about internal struggle and moral choice, as well as everyone who is interested in the study of the subject of human passions in the work of Leo Tolstoy.