THE WITCH

“The Witch” unfolds on a stormy evening, showcasing Savely Gykin, the sexton, and his wife, Raissa. As Savely lies in bed, a tempest rages outside their hut, symbolizing the tumultuous events to follow. Savely suspects the storm’s ferocity has mystical origins, specifically linked to his wife. Raissa, deeply absorbed in her sewing, seems indifferent to both the storm and her husband’s accusations of witchcraft.

Their monotonous existence is disrupted by the arrival of a lost postman and his driver, seeking shelter from the storm. The postman’s presence ignites a series of revelations and confrontations. Savely, already suspicious of Raissa’s supernatural abilities to attract men during storms, sees the postman’s arrival as proof of her witchcraft. He accuses her directly, but she dismisses his claims. However, Raissa is visibly affected by the postman, showcasing a rare display of emotion towards this outsider.

Raissa’s attraction to the postman is palpable, contrasting starkly with her cold, lifeless relationship with Savely. The postman, initially resistant, is drawn to Raissa’s beauty and the warmth of the hut. Despite his duty to deliver the mail, the harshness of the storm and Raissa’s allure tempt him to stay. A tense moment of shared vulnerability reveals the deep dissatisfaction and longing in Raissa’s life, hinting at what might have been in a different world, free of her loveless marriage to Savely.

The narrative crescendos when Raissa subtly encourages the postman to stay, underscored by a shared moment of weakness that is quickly interrupted, embodying the fleeting possibility of escape from their respective prisons. The postman’s departure marks the return to the cold reality for both him and Raissa, leaving her to face the harshness of her existence alongside Savely, who is both repulsed and oddly enchanted by the enigmatic qualities he attributes to his wife.

Savely’s complex feelings towards Raissa—oscillating between condemnation and a begrudging fascination—highlight the story’s exploration of the human condition, the mysteries of the heart, and the societal constraints that bind and define relationships. As the storm outside mirrors the inner turmoil of the characters, Chekhov masterfully weaves a tale that examines the intricate dance between duty, desire, and the longing for something beyond the confines of one’s life, ultimately leaving the reader to ponder the true nature of witchcraft and the deeper, perhaps unanswerable, questions of human existence and connection.