IX -The witch and other Stories

The chapter opens with a somber scene following the funeral of Lipa’s child, Nikifor, where the guests and priests indulge in a feast, showing little regard for the somber occasion. Lipa, overwhelmed by grief and realizing her child is truly gone, breaks down, only to be met with harshness from Aksinya, who demands her to leave. Lipa decides to return to her mother in Torguevo the next morning, highlighting her complete alienation and loss within the Tsybukin household.

Years have passed, and changes within Tsybukin’s household and business reflect the shifting dynamics and power structures. Aksinya, now at the helm, has expanded their enterprise, collaborating with the Hrymin Juniors to open a tavern near the station, marking a notable increase in their economic and social influence in the village. Aksinya’s assertive business dealings and her interaction with a landowner, who is visibly charmed by her, underscore her dominant and persuasive persona in both business and personal matters. This expansion and Aksinya’s newfound role highlight a significant evolution from the bereaved and marginalized figures at the chapter’s beginning.

Meanwhile, old man Tsybukin, formerly the patriarch, has been relegated to a life of detachment and insignificance, wandering the village or sitting passively by the church gates. Rumors swirl about his mistreatment and neglect at the hands of Aksinya, painting a picture of a fallen patriarch whose authority and presence have diminished both within his household and the community. Varvara continues her charitable endeavors, almost unaffected by the profound changes within her family, suggesting a disconnect or compartmentalization of her concerns from the business’s and her family’s moral and ethical dilemmas.

Anisim’s life, marked by his absence and the receipt of a desperate letter, adds a layer of unresolved and poignant narrative about the consequences of the family’s actions and ambitions. The narrative closes with Tsybukin’s silent, solemn presence amidst village conversations that critique and reflect on the moral decay and transformation of the Tsybukin household under Aksinya’s reign. The characters’ evolution, the shifts in power, and the ethical implications of their pursuits paint a complex picture of loss, change, and adaptation to new social and economic realities.