III -The Witchand Other Stories

The chapter from “The Witch and Other Stories” unveils a poignant morning scene as the villagers, bathed in the dewy light, confront the harsh realities of poverty that starkly contrast their fleeting moments of beauty and peace. At the heart of the narrative is Marya, who experiences a profound sense of alienation and apprehension as she and others attend mass, a ritual that momentarily bridged the chasm between their impoverished existence and the opulent life of the newcomers from the great house. The ceremony at church becomes a canvas where class divisions and social disparities are starkly painted, with Marya’s sullen outlook towards the seemingly otherworldly visitors from the grand estate encapsulating the chasm between their worlds.

The chapter transitions into a reflection on the community’s entrenched social structure, illustrated through the custom of sending village boys to Moscow, a practice rooted in historical servitude but perpetuated as a means of survival and social mobility. Here, Nikolay’s narrative provides a personal thread, weaving his humble beginnings into a tapestry of communal history and personal achievement, albeit laced with the somber realizations of change and hardship.

As the village comes together in Nikolay’s hut, the act of reading from the Gospel becomes an emotional fulcrum, drawing the community closer through shared sentiments of hope, sorrow, and collective memory. The scene at the hut, with its detailed descriptions of the family and their interactions, creates a vivid portrait of rural Russian life, where the binds of tradition, family, and faith attempt to mediate the grim realities of their world.

The chapter closes on a note that balances between the serene and the tumultuous, encapsulated in Granny’s strenuous efforts to maintain order and sustenance in her household. Her skirmishes with the geese, her battle against perceived threats to her chickens, and her ceaseless chiding of the old man illustrate a microcosm of struggle and resilience. This domestic tableau, marked by the generational transfer of tales, grievances, and wisdom, subtly mirrors the broader narrative of community, identity, and the bittersweet essence of life amidst adversity.