Dostoevsky and World Culture Dostoevsky and World Culture 2619-0311 2712-8512 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/2619-0311-2024-2-83-100 Research Article Articles The Costume of Stepan Trofimovich Jasmina Vojvodić fedor@dostmirkult.ru 25 06 2024 1 2 83 100 Fyodor Dostoevsky Demons Stepan Trofimovich costume role Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article examines the costume of Stepan Trofimovich Verkhovensky, the main character of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel Demons. Unlike clothes, the costume is associated with theatricality, acting, and performing or with playing a role. During the novel Stepan Trofimovich “plays different roles” and Varvara Petrovna determines his costume. Other heroes from the novel are also costumed (especially the young generation or young “demons”), who play their roles on the stage of Skvoreshniki. Stepan Trofimovich sometimes accepts, sometimes renounces his role; he protests and withstands the costume intended for him. Analysing his behaviour and costume, the article concludes that Stepan Trofimovich, in the end of his life journey, frees himself from the role that was intended for him. In the very end he “stepped off the stage” of Skvoreshniki and found himself “naked” on the eternal path when he took off his “civil” and fake costume.