Excerpt

Excerpt from Master and Man, by graf Leo Tolstoy

The youthful landowner was asking ten thousand rubles for the grove
simply because Vasili Andreevich was offering seven thousand. Seven
thousand was, however, only a third of its real value. Vasili Andreevich
might perhaps have got it down to his own price, for the woods were in
his district and he had a long-standing agreement with the other village
dealers that no one should run up the price in another’s district, but
he had now learnt that some timber-dealers from town meant to bid for
the Goryachkin grove, and he resolved to go at once and get the matter
settled. So as soon as the feast was over, he took seven hundred rubles
from his strong box, added to them two thousand three hundred rubles of
church money he had in his keeping, so as to make up the sum to three
thousand; carefully counted the notes, and having put them into his
pocket-book made haste to start.

Nikita, the only one of Vasili Andreevich’s labourers who was not drunk
that day, ran to harness the horse. Nikita, though an habitual drunkard,
was not drunk that day because since the last day before the fast, when
he had drunk his coat and leather boots, he had sworn off drink and
had kept his vow for two months, and was still keeping it despite the
temptation of the vodka that had been drunk everywhere during the first
two days of the feast.

Nikita was a peasant of about fifty from a neighbouring village, ‘not
a manager’ as the peasants said of him, meaning that he was not the
thrifty head of a household but lived most of his time away from home
as a labourer. He was valued everywhere for his industry, dexterity, and
strength at work, and still more for his kindly and pleasant temper. But
he never settled down anywhere for long because about twice a year, or
even oftener, he had a drinking bout, and then besides spending all his
clothes on drink he became turbulent and quarrelsome. Vasili Andreevich
himself had turned him away several times, but had afterwards taken him
back again--valuing his honesty, his kindness to animals, and especially
his cheapness. Vasili Andreevich did not pay Nikita the eighty rubles
a year such a man was worth, but only about forty, which he gave him
haphazard, in small sums, and even that mostly not in cash but in goods
from his own shop and at high prices.

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Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Master and Man by Leo Tolstoy

Context of the Work

Master and Man (1895) is a late novella by Leo Tolstoy, written during a period when he was deeply engaged with moral and philosophical questions about wealth, greed, and the meaning of life. The story follows Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov, a wealthy merchant, and his servant Nikita as they embark on a journey in a snowstorm, leading to a profound moral reckoning. The excerpt provided introduces the two central characters and establishes key themes that will unfold in the narrative: greed, exploitation, social inequality, and the moral consequences of materialism.

Tolstoy, by this point in his life, had rejected his earlier aristocratic lifestyle and embraced a form of Christian anarchism, advocating for simplicity, non-violence, and the rejection of private property. Master and Man reflects these ideals, contrasting the selfish, acquisitive merchant with the humble, suffering peasant, while exploring whether redemption is possible for those consumed by greed.

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Analysis of the Excerpt

1. Character Introduction: Vasili Andreevich

The passage opens with Vasili Andreevich, a merchant obsessed with acquiring the Goryachkin grove—a plot of woodland. Several key details reveal his character:

• Greed and Manipulation:

  • The grove is worth ten thousand rubles, but Vasili initially offers seven thousand (a third of its value), hoping to exploit the seller.
  • He is willing to break an informal agreement with local dealers (who agreed not to outbid each other) because he learns that town merchants are interested. His greed overrides his sense of fair play.
  • He rushes to secure the deal, taking three thousand rubles (a mix of his own money and church funds he is supposed to be safeguarding). This suggests dishonesty and moral flexibility—he is willing to misuse sacred money for personal gain.

• Impulsiveness and Lack of Restraint:

  • Instead of negotiating patiently, he acts hastily, showing how his desire for profit controls his actions.
  • The fact that he counts the money carefully but is willing to use church funds highlights his hypocrisy—he is meticulous in business but careless with ethics.

• Power Dynamics:

  • Vasili is a landowner and employer, part of the ruling merchant class in 19th-century Russia. His wealth depends on exploiting laborers like Nikita, whom he underpays.

2. Character Introduction: Nikita

Nikita, the peasant laborer, is introduced in stark contrast to Vasili:

• A Man of Contradictions:

  • He is industrious, strong, and kind (especially to animals), yet he is an alcoholic who periodically drinks away his belongings (even his coat and boots).
  • The peasants describe him as "not a manager", meaning he is not a responsible head of a household—he drifts from job to job, unable to settle down due to his drinking.
  • Despite his flaws, he is valued for his work ethic and kindness, suggesting a moral depth that Vasili lacks.

• Exploitation by Vasili:

  • Nikita is underpaid—worth 80 rubles a year but given only 40, often in goods from Vasili’s shop at inflated prices rather than cash. This is a form of debt bondage, a common practice where merchants kept peasants indebted and dependent.
  • Vasili fires and rehires him repeatedly, showing that Nikita is disposable to him—useful when sober, a nuisance when drunk.
  • The fact that Nikita is the only sober laborer on a feast day (when others are drunk) suggests he is trying to reform, but his struggle with alcoholism keeps him trapped in poverty.

• Symbolism of Sobriety:

  • His two-month sobriety (despite temptation) foreshadows a moral resilience that will become important later in the story. Unlike Vasili, who is spiritually blind, Nikita has moments of self-awareness and restraint.

3. Themes in the Excerpt

Several major themes emerge in this passage:

• Greed vs. Humanity:

  • Vasili’s obsession with the grove symbolizes materialism and the corrupting nature of wealth. He is willing to cheat, rush, and misuse sacred funds to get what he wants.
  • Nikita, though flawed, represents human dignity despite suffering. His struggles (alcoholism, poverty) make him more sympathetic than the wealthy but morally bankrupt Vasili.

• Exploitation and Class Inequality:

  • The master-servant relationship is unequal and abusive. Vasili underpays, manipulates, and discards Nikita as needed.
  • The fact that Nikita is paid in goods at high prices reflects the economic oppression of peasants in Tsarist Russia.

• Moral Accountability:

  • Vasili’s misuse of church money suggests he will face divine judgment. Tolstoy, who believed in moral law, sets up Vasili for a spiritual reckoning.
  • Nikita’s attempt at sobriety hints at redemption—unlike Vasili, he is capable of change.

• Fate and Free Will:

  • Vasili’s haste to secure the deal (despite the storm foreshadowed later) suggests he is blind to consequences.
  • Nikita’s struggle with alcohol shows human frailty but also the possibility of choice.

4. Literary Devices

Tolstoy employs several stylistic and narrative techniques:

• Irony:

  • Vasili is wealthy but morally poor; Nikita is poor but rich in humanity.
  • The church money (meant for sacred purposes) is used for greedy business, highlighting hypocrisy.

• Foreshadowing:

  • The snowstorm (implied by the feast’s end and the urgency of the trip) will later become a symbol of divine judgment.
  • Nikita’s sobriety suggests he may be the one to survive morally, if not physically.

• Contrast (Juxtaposition):

  • Vasili’s greed vs. Nikita’s simplicity.
  • Vasili’s control over money vs. Nikita’s lack of control over drink.
  • Vasili’s haste vs. Nikita’s patience (in staying sober).

• Realism:

  • Tolstoy’s detailed description of economic transactions (the grove’s value, Nikita’s wages) grounds the story in social reality.
  • The portrayal of alcoholism is unflinching—Nikita’s relapses are part of a cycle of poverty and despair common in peasant life.

• Symbolism:

  • The grove represents earthly wealth that Vasili covets, contrasting with the spiritual wealth he lacks.
  • The church money symbolizes sacred trust violated by greed.
  • Nikita’s coat and boots (drunk away) symbolize the loss of dignity under poverty.

5. Significance of the Excerpt

This opening sets up the central conflict of the story:

• Vasili’s journey is not just physical (to buy the grove) but moral—will he recognize his greed before it’s too late?
• Nikita’s role is more than that of a servant—he becomes a moral mirror for Vasili, representing humility and suffering.
• The storm (which will trap them later) is both literal and metaphorical—a test of their humanity and faith.

Tolstoy uses this scene to critique capitalism, materialism, and the exploitation of the poor, themes that align with his later philosophical and religious beliefs. The story ultimately asks:

• Can a greedy man be saved?
• Is wealth worth the loss of soul?
• Who is truly the "master" and who is the "man"? (The title itself is ironic—Vasili may be the master in society, but Nikita, in his suffering, may be the true human.)

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Conclusion

This excerpt from Master and Man is a masterclass in character introduction and thematic setup. Tolstoy contrasts greed with humanity, power with vulnerability, and materialism with spirituality. Vasili Andreevich embodies the corrupting influence of wealth, while Nikita, despite his flaws, represents the dignity of the oppressed.

The passage also foreshadows the moral reckoning that will come in the storm, where physical survival becomes a metaphor for spiritual salvation. Tolstoy’s realism, irony, and symbolic depth make this more than just a story about a merchant and his servant—it is a profound meditation on what it means to be truly human.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect, such as Tolstoy’s philosophical influences or the historical context of Russian serfdom?