# The Story of Tsar Angéy and How He Suffered for Pride explained — Russian Folktales

> Chapter companion for Russian Folktales by A. N. Afanasyev.

## What happens

Tsar Angéy, proud and mighty, rejects the Gospel verse 'He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek,' imprisoning the priest and tearing the page. He is humbled when an angel takes his form and his kingdom, leaving him naked and beaten. After suffering as a beggar, he repents and is restored, learning humility.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fate and Divine Justice

Tsar Angéy's pride leads to divine punishment through an angel, and his repentance restores his kingdom, emphasizing the theme of divine justice.

### Social Class and Hierarchy

The tsar's fall from power to a beggar and his eventual restoration highlight the instability of social hierarchy and the virtue of humility.

## Character check-ins

### Tsar Angéy

The proud tsar who rejects the Gospel and is humbled by an angel, losing his kingdom and suffering as a beggar before repenting.

### The Tsarítsa Harpist

The tsaritsa who initially believes the angel is her husband and later has the real Tsar Angéy beaten when he writes to her.

### The Priest

The priest who reads the Gospel verse that angers Tsar Angéy and is imprisoned for it.

### The Old Woman

A widow who gives Tsar Angéy shelter and informs him that the current tsar has reigned for thirty-five years.

### The Servant

The poor men who hire Tsar Angéy to carry burdens and later bring him to the palace for alms.

## Key lines

> He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.

God has removed the powerful from their positions and lifted up the lowly.

_The Gospel verse that triggers Tsar Angéy's pride and subsequent downfall._

> I am very rich and famous. How shall I be put down from my seat and the humble and meek be exalted?

I am wealthy and renowned; how could I possibly be brought low while the humble are raised?

_Tsar Angéy's arrogant rejection of the Gospel's message._

> Woe to me! What have I done! I was wroth with the Sovereign, and He has deprived me of my kingdom and has brought me to ruin, and I have suffered all this through the word of the Gospel.

Alas! I angered the Lord, and He took my kingdom and destroyed me; all this suffering came from the Gospel's words.

_Tsar Angéy's moment of repentance and recognition of his sin._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/the-story-of-tsar-ang-y-and-how-he-suffered-for-pride
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/russian_folktales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters