Russian Folktales · Chapter
God’s Blessing Compasses All Things explained
Two peasants, Iván and Naúm, argue over whether God's blessing or personal effort brings wealth.
What happens
Two peasants, Iván and Naúm, argue over whether God's blessing or personal effort brings wealth. They consult a devil in disguise, who sides with Iván, leading Naúm to lose his money and later his right hand. Naúm overhears devils discussing remedies and uses their secrets to regrow his hand, heal a lord's daughter, and fix a mill, becoming rich. Iván tries to replicate the scheme but is caught and killed by the devils.
Themes in this chapter
Good vs. Evil
Naúm's faith in God is contrasted with the devil's deception, and ultimately divine justice prevails over evil.
Fate and Divine Justice
Naúm's trust in God leads to his reward, while Iván's greed and reliance on the devil result in his demise.
Characters to notice
- The Devil
Appears in human guise to mislead the peasants, later revealed as the source of the devils' gathering.
- The Old Man
Iván and Naúm are peasants; Iván is the skeptical one, Naúm the faithful one.
Key passages
“No, Brother, without God’s blessing you can do nothing; you cannot gain a groat.”
Naúm insists that divine favor is essential for any success.
This line encapsulates the central conflict of the story.
“If he were to wave his hand, three times over the dew, his hand would grow again”
A devil reveals that Naúm's severed hand can be restored by a simple ritual.
This is the first secret Naúm overhears and uses.