Poor Folk · Chapter
July 27th: My Dearest Makar Alexievitch explained
Barbara writes to Makar, expressing shock and dismay upon learning that he has been spending his entire salary and even selling his clothes to support her.
What happens
Barbara writes to Makar, expressing shock and dismay upon learning that he has been spending his entire salary and even selling his clothes to support her. She reproaches him for his lack of openness and for his recent drunken behavior, which led to him being brought home by the police. Barbara urges him to be comforted and to write frankly, while acknowledging her own role in his misfortunes.
Themes in this chapter
Poverty and Deprivation
Barbara's distress over Makar's financial ruin—selling his clothes and borrowing money—highlights the crushing weight of poverty that forces desperate sacrifices.
Love and Sacrifice
Makar's extreme sacrifices for Barbara, including spending his entire salary and selling his belongings, are framed as acts of love that ultimately cause mutual suffering.
Characters to notice
- Barbara Alexievna Dobroselova
Writes a letter to Makar expressing shock and reproach for his reckless spending and drunken behavior.
- Makar Alexievitch Dievushkin
Subject of Barbara's letter; his recent conduct and letters have frightened and plunged her into doubt.
- Thedora
Informed Barbara that Makar was discovered drunk in the street and taken home by the police.
Key passages
“Your latest conduct and letters have frightened me, and left me thunderstruck and plunged in doubt”
Your recent actions and letters have terrified me and left me shocked and uncertain.
Barbara opens the letter expressing her emotional turmoil over Makar's behavior.
“You have forced me to recognise that I have been the cause of your unhappy plight, as well as that my own conduct has brought upon myself a twofold measure of sorrow.”
You have made me see that I am the reason for your misery, and that my own actions have doubled my grief.
Barbara blames herself for Makar's suffering, feeling a heavy burden of guilt.
“Ah, friend, an infectious disease is indeed a misfortune, for now we poor and miserable folk must perforce keep apart from one another, lest the infection be increased.”
Alas, a contagious illness is a calamity, because we poor wretches must stay apart to avoid spreading it further.
Barbara uses the metaphor of disease to describe how poverty and misfortune isolate the poor from each other.