XVII —The witch and other Stories

In the story “The Witch and Other Stories,” the scene is set in a village where the arrival of the engineer and his family at their new villa once stirred excitement and curiosity among the local peasants. The quarter reveals a vivid contrast between the lives of the peasants and the engineer’s family, marked by the introduction of a bridge that symbolized a shift in the village’s landscape and daily rhythms, eventually becoming an ordinary part of life as the villa changes hands.

By the chapter’s opening, the villagers, having assembled at the gate to celebrate a holiday, are deterred by the sight of the Lytchkovs, reflecting a mixture of respect and underlying social divisions. The rumor of the engineer selling his house introduces a sense of change and uncertainty, depicting the transient nature of the relationships formed between the villagers and the newcomers.

As the narrative progresses, time has softened the stark novelty of the bridge and the villa, embedding them into the fabric of the village’s existence. The new owner of the villa, a government clerk, represents a continuation of the distant and transactional relationships that typify the engagement between the locals and the seasonal inhabitants of the villa. Despite his lower rank, his demeanor towards the villagers emphasizes the persistent social hierarchy.

The passage of time is marked by personal losses and the growth of families, with the village and its inhabitants aging. The reference to Kozov’s death and the increase in Rodion’s family size underscores the natural progression of life in Obrutchanovo.

In a reflective moment, the peasants, engaged in their labor near the station, reminisce about the past festivities associated with the engineer’s presence—white horses, fireworks, and the elegance of his wife symbolize a fleeting era of wonder and novelty. The poignant memory of these past interactions, juxtaposed with their present labor and unchanged socioeconomic status, elicits a shared nostalgia among the villagers for a time when their lives briefly intersected with another world, suggesting a longing for connection and the transient joy brought by the engineer’s family.

This chapter captures the essence of change, memory, and the enduring gap between different worlds within the same community, all while underlining the immutable rhythm of village life against the backdrop of minor external influences.