Writing
The Duel
Games within games. Stavrogin and Gaganov begin a classic duel of escalating brinkmanship. Stavrogin subverts the rules by firing into the air, playing a different game whose only equilibrium is his own death at Gaganov's hand.
Gaganov was insulted. A duel is set to restore his reputation. While the duel initially seems framed as a classic game of escalating brinkmanship between Stavrogin and Gaganov, Stavrogin subverts the very rules of the game with a different agenda.
We can model the duel's original game matrix with the following payoffs.
| Gaganov: Shoot to Kill | Gaganov: Don't Shoot | |
|---|---|---|
| Stavrogin: Shoot to Kill | (-5, -5) | (0, -10) |
| Stavrogin: Don't Shoot | (-10, 0) | (-1, -1) |
- If both choose "Shoot to Kill", they each get the worst payoff of -5 (mutually destructive).
- If Stavrogin chooses "Shoot to Kill" but Gaganov chooses "Don't Shoot", Stavrogin gets 0 (dominates) and Gaganov gets -10 (dominated).
- If Stavrogin chooses "Don't Shoot" but Gaganov chooses "Shoot to Kill", Stavrogin gets -10 (dominated) and Gaganov gets 0 (dominates).
- If both choose "Don't Shoot", they each get a moderate payoff of -1 (compromised outcome).
However, Stavrogin subverts these standard strategies by intentionally firing into the air, forcing an outcome that goes against both players' interests in the original payoff matrix. He is playing a different game, where the only possible equilibrium is his own death at Gaganov's hand.
We've seen this theme before, where one's ego and public image is seen as more important than life itself. For Gaganov, a duel can help save his reputation in the classical sense. Stavrogin, after the hideous rumors surrounding his conduct, feels that only his engineered martyrdom can redeem his. And while doing so, he has insulted Gaganov further.