Pyotr has, during states of distress and heightened emotion, concocted a lot of nebulous, bizarre fantasies about how the Barge relates to the main story of his life, which is of course the story of Stavrogin. Everything is always about Stavrogin, and he is very aware of that. But never in those fantasies does Stavrogin end up a fellow inmate on the Barge, nor would he have any interest in a deal or keeping up the farce of being a warden. And after the way his image was desecrated during the hell flood? There are still times when Pyotr spitefully wants Stavrogin to suffer, but in his heart, he would never wish for the insults this place heaps upon its residents to touch the real Stavrogin. Such a thing is almost unthinkable.
It is to Pyotr these things happen to, not Stavrogin. He wouldn't say it's the way things should be, but it is the way they are.
"I can tell you're only placating me, though. That 'of course' was too much, particularly after that song with the puppets. Also, as someone who, prior to this boat, never had the opportunity to become numb to repetitive horror and demonic torture, I still have enough sense not to wish this place upon anyone, let alone someone I'm supposed to care about."
Maybe he would wish it upon Shatov. Why couldn't this be happening to Shatov instead of him? Maybe he's on some other ship, like the one with the Nurse.
Re: cw implied homophobia
Pyotr has, during states of distress and heightened emotion, concocted a lot of nebulous, bizarre fantasies about how the Barge relates to the main story of his life, which is of course the story of Stavrogin. Everything is always about Stavrogin, and he is very aware of that. But never in those fantasies does Stavrogin end up a fellow inmate on the Barge, nor would he have any interest in a deal or keeping up the farce of being a warden. And after the way his image was desecrated during the hell flood? There are still times when Pyotr spitefully wants Stavrogin to suffer, but in his heart, he would never wish for the insults this place heaps upon its residents to touch the real Stavrogin. Such a thing is almost unthinkable.
It is to Pyotr these things happen to, not Stavrogin. He wouldn't say it's the way things should be, but it is the way they are.
"I can tell you're only placating me, though. That 'of course' was too much, particularly after that song with the puppets. Also, as someone who, prior to this boat, never had the opportunity to become numb to repetitive horror and demonic torture, I still have enough sense not to wish this place upon anyone, let alone someone I'm supposed to care about."
Maybe he would wish it upon Shatov. Why couldn't this be happening to Shatov instead of him? Maybe he's on some other ship, like the one with the Nurse.