Dostoevsky once wrote in his ``Diary of Writers``: "Suppose one denies the existence of Jesus Christ, anything would happen in your life" ``The Devil`` was written for the purpose of showing the horrible fact. Stavrosin is a brilliant, attractive, but emotionally sterile young nobleman, afflicted with a genuine spiritual nihilism portrayed in the book. He has engaged in revolutionary activities and debauchery with a number of women including Lebyadikin, the crippled, weak-minded woman whom he married to show his mocking Contempt for social conventions, and Marya Shatov, who is carrying his child.