The Devil by Maxim Gorky. Short summary

5 seconds

Ivan Ivanovich came in after a party meeting and saw the devil. He accused the man of meanness. That Ivan Ivanovich fought for the rights of ordinary people only to achieve his goals. The man was outraged.

1 minute

Ivan Ivanovich came in from speaking at a meeting of his party. He decided to take a nap, but suddenly saw an old acquaintance — the devil.

The guest said that Ivan Ivanovich’s meanness had surpassed his own. He is an instigator and provocateur, and devil himself can learn from him.

Devil remembers how Ivan Ivanovich fought for a long time for the rights of ordinary people. But this fight was only a fiction, a lie, because the man acted to achieve his own goals and never truly sought to make life easier for anyone.

Ivan Ivanovich tries to argue, but the devil’s arguments are irrefutable. The man shouts and is indignant, but suddenly notices that he is alone in the room.