Russian Folktales · Chapter
The Poor Widow explained
Christ and the twelve Apostles, disguised as simple wanderers, are refused lodging by a rich peasant but welcomed by a poor widow who shares her meager food.
What happens
Christ and the twelve Apostles, disguised as simple wanderers, are refused lodging by a rich peasant but welcomed by a poor widow who shares her meager food. Christ miraculously multiplies the food, then commands a wolf to take the widow's cow and sends a keg of money to the rich peasant, perplexing the Apostles. Later, the Apostles experience two wells: one foul and one paradisiacal, where they spend three years in an instant. Christ explains that the first well represents the rich peasant's fate and the second the poor widow's reward.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and Divine Justice
Christ's actions—taking the widow's cow, giving money to the rich peasant, and the contrasting wells—illustrate a mysterious divine justice that rewards humility and punishes greed.
Good vs. Evil
The poor widow's selfless hospitality is contrasted with the rich peasant's selfishness, embodying the moral dichotomy of good versus evil.
Characters to notice
- Christ
Travels with the twelve Apostles as a simple wanderer; performs miracles and teaches divine justice.
- The Old Woman
A poor widow who generously hosts Christ and the Apostles despite her extreme poverty.
- The Wolf
A grey wolf who asks Christ for food and is sent to take the widow's cow.
- The Rich Peasant
Refuses lodging to Christ and the Apostles; later receives a keg of money but remains discontented.
Key passages
“The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away. Hallowed be His will!”
The widow accepts the loss of her cow with pious resignation, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all things.
Reflects the widow's unwavering faith and acceptance of divine will.
“You were not there three little minutes, but three whole years.”
Christ reveals that the Apostles' brief experience at the beautiful well actually lasted three years, illustrating the timeless nature of paradise.
Highlights the miraculous and otherworldly quality of the second well.