The Village: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Village: Analysis of Major Characters" offers a deep exploration of the intricate relationships and struggles within a rural community, focusing on a few key characters. Tikhon Ilitch Krasoff, the central figure, is portrayed as a bitter dram-shop keeper grappling with personal tragedies, including the loss of his illegitimate child and his wife's infertility, which drive him to alcoholism. His character reveals a harsh worldview, shaped by his own experiences, which leads him to judge others through a cynical lens.
Rodka, another significant character, represents the darker side of rural life as a cruel husband, instilling fear among those around him. His wife, referred to as The Bride, endures a life of suffering that culminates in her act of poisoning Rodka, reflecting themes of desperation and survival. Kuzma Ilitch Krasoff, Tikhon's brother, adds another layer to the narrative as a poet who struggles with his aspirations amid familial conflict. His journey illustrates the tension between artistic ambition and personal fulfillment, especially as he reconciles his uneducated background with his dreams of literary success. Together, these characters embody the complexities and harsh realities of village life, highlighting universal themes of suffering, aspiration, and the search for meaning in difficult circumstances.
The Village: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ivan Bunin
First published: Derevnya, 1910 (English translation, 1923)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Russia
Plot: Social
Time: Early twentieth century
Tikhon Ilitch Krasoff (TIH-khon ihl-YIHCH krah-SOHF), a dram-shop keeper and an entrepreneur. He is bitter because his illegitimate child is killed accidentally and his wife cannot bear him any children. When his crops fail because of bad weather, he turns to drink. Little better than a brute, he is sensually aroused by The Bride, who does not respond but who finally impassively endures his crude seduction. He believes all people are like himself and judges them accordingly.
Rodka (ROHD-kuh), one of the peasants on Tikhon's estate. He beats his wife cruelly, causing his master to fear him.
The Bride, Rodka's beautiful wife. She poisons her brutal husband and later becomes Kuzma Krasoff's housekeeper. Her employer feels sorry for her because of the life she has led. Later, she marries another peasant, but without expectation of any happiness.
Kuzma Ilitch Krasoff (kooz-MAH), Tikhon's brother, a poet. He and Tikhon work together as peddlers but eventually quarrel and go their separate ways. After many years, Kuzma returns and becomes overseer of his brother's estate at Durnovka. Although he is uneducated, he fulfills a lifelong dream by seeing a volume of his poetry published. He regards his life as a failure because he has not devoted it entirely to poetry. He believes Russia's troubles are all caused by a lack of education.