THE SCHOOLMISTRESS

In a quiet, reflective tone, the chapter introduces Marya Vassilyevna, a meticulous schoolmistress pondering over her school’s upcoming examination while journeying home through desolate, muddy Russian countryside. Her thoughts are momentarily diverged by news of a government clerk’s arrest and the passing encounter with Hanov, a neighboring landowner known for his lethargy and alleged drinking habits, once an examiner at her school. Marya Vassilyevna reflects on Hanov’s inexplicable choice to live in such forsaken parts despite his wealth, contrasting it with her own resigned life of service and solitude dictated by necessity rather than passion.

As they proceed through the deteriorating roads and face adversities, Marya Vassilyevna’s inner monologue reveals her frustrations with the Zemstvo board’s neglect, the ineffectiveness of school inspections, and the daily hardships faced by educators like herself. Hanov’s contentment with his squalid surroundings puzzles her, drawing her into a contemplative state about the futility of their existences within these vast, despondent landscapes.

Marya Vassilyevna’s reflections turn towards her profession’s mundane and unrewarding reality, marked by a lack of acknowledgment and personal fulfillment. Despite the societal respect her position entails, she battles loneliness, the raw deal of her efforts, and a deep-seated yearning for a life beyond the confinements of her current condition, underscored by a fleeting thought of an impossible companionship with Hanov.

Amidst these musings, Marya Vassilyevna encounters brief, unassuming interactions with the local peasants, highlighting a disconnect and mutual mistrust between her and the community she serves. Her journey symbolizes the broader theme of isolation and the quest for meaning amidst the burdens of societal roles and expectations. The narrative closes on a somber note, as her crossing of a swollen river mirrors her turbulent struggle against the currents of her life, with the looming presence of Hanov—a ghostly reminder of unfulfilled desires and the inexorable passage of time.