How It Was Done in Odessa by Isaac Babel
"How It Was Done in Odessa" is a compelling narrative by Isaac Babel that is part of his broader collection known as the Odessa Tales. Set in the early 20th century in Odessa, Ukraine, the story follows the exploits of Benya Krik, a Jewish gangster whose rise to notoriety unfolds through a blend of crime and dark humor. The tale is presented through the perspective of a first-person narrator who seeks to uncover how Benya earned the title "the King."
In a pivotal episode, Benya seeks to join a gang by attempting to rob Ruvim Tartakovsky, a prominent and wealthy figure in the Jewish community. The story takes an unexpected turn when a robbery goes awry due to the drunken antics of one of Benya’s accomplices, leading to an accidental shooting. Benya's reaction to this incident ultimately shapes his reputation, illustrating themes of power, responsibility, and the complexities of moral behavior within the underworld.
The narrative also touches upon community dynamics, as Benya negotiates with Tartakovsky regarding compensation for the victim's family, reflecting the intricate social ties and expectations in Odessa's Jewish society. The story culminates in a lavish funeral, emblematic of Benya's newfound status, where he delivers a eulogy that cements his identity as the "King." This tale encapsulates the gritty yet vibrant life in early 20th-century Odessa, showcasing Babel's unique blend of realism and rich character storytelling.
On this Page
How It Was Done in Odessa by Isaac Babel
First published: "Kak eto delalos v Odesse," 1923 (English translation, 1955)
Type of plot: Realism
Time of work: The early twentieth century
Locale: Odessa
Principal Characters:
The narrator , who listens to the storyReb Arye-Leib , the storytellerBenya Krik , a Jewish gangsterSavka Butsis , a member of the gangRuvim Tartakovsky , "Jew-and-a-Half," a wealthy Jewish merchantJoseph Muginstein , a clerkAunt Pesya , Joseph's mother
The Story
"How It Was Done in Odessa" belongs to a cycle of four stories known as the Odessa Tales, which were written by Isaac Babel between 1921 and 1923 and published as Odesskie rasskazy (1931; Tales of Odessa, 1955). All these tales concern the adventures of a Jewish gangster, Benya Krik. "How It Was Done in Odessa" is begun by a first-person narrator, who asks Reb Arye-Leib how Benya came to be known as "the King." The story that follows is told by Reb Arye-Leib in response to that question.
Reb Arye-Leib's story begins when Benya is twenty-five years old. Benya appeals to the then leading gangster for permission to join the gang, and the gangsters decide to test him by asking him to rob Ruvim Tartakovsky, one of the wealthiest and most influential Jews in Odessa, who has already been robbed nine times before.
Benya accepts the gangsters' challenge and sends an extremely polite letter to Tartakovsky requesting his cooperation. Tartakovsky actually replies to Benya's letter, but the reply is never received, and Benya and his companions proceed to Tartakovsky's office as threatened. When they arrive, the office is occupied only by the frightened clerk, Joseph Muginstein. The robbery proceeds without incident, but as they are emptying the safe, another member of the gang, Savka Butsis, arrives late and drunk. The drunken Savka accidentally shoots Muginstein in the stomach, and the gang runs away.
The shooting of Joseph Muginstein is an accident. It is the way in which Benya behaves after the shooting that earns for him the title "King." As the gang leaves, Benya threatens that if Muginstein dies, he will bury Savka alongside of him. Later, Benya visits the hospital and tells the doctors to spare no expense. If Joseph dies, Benya threatens, each doctor, "even if he's a doctor of philosophy," will receive six feet of earth for his pains. Joseph does die, however, and Benya next drives his red automobile, the horn of which plays the first march from the opera Pagliacci, to visit Aunt Pesya, Joseph's mother. There he meets Tartakovsky, who accuses him of "killing live people," but Benya in turn reproaches Tartakovsky for having sent Aunt Pesya a mere hundred rubles in compensation for her son's life. The two men argue and finally agree on five thousand rubles in cash and a pension of fifty rubles a month for the remainder of Aunt Pesya's life.
In the final scenes of the story, Reb Arye-Leib describes the magnificent funeral that Benya arranged for Joseph. Benya himself delivered a funeral oration, at the end of which he invited the crowd to pay their respects to the late Savka Butsis as well. It was at this funeral that the epithet "King" was first applied to Benya.