Short Fiction · Chapter
XXIX explained
During luncheon, the post arrives brought by Grisha, a cheerful fourteen-year-old.
What happens
During luncheon, the post arrives brought by Grisha, a cheerful fourteen-year-old. He hands over the black leather bag to Sofia Alexandrovna, who eagerly searches for letters but finds none. The women—Sofia, Natasha, and Elena Kirillovna—then turn to their newspapers, reading silently and attentively.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Inequality
Grisha, a young servant, is treated with impatience by Sofia Alexandrovna, highlighting the class divide between the household and the help.
Illusion vs. Reality
The eager anticipation of letters contrasts with the reality that letters rarely come, underscoring the gap between hope and actuality.
Characters to notice
- Grisha Igumnov
The fourteen-year-old who fetches the post on horseback, cheerful and sunburnt.
- Sofia Alexandrovna Ozoreva
Rises abruptly to take the post bag, eagerly searches for letters, then reads Rech.
- Natasha Ozoreva
Knits her brows and asks Grisha about letters; reads Slovo silently and attentively.
- Elena Kirillovna
Reads Russkiya Vedomosti, slowly tearing the wrapper and scanning the lines.
Key passages
“I’ve fetched the post!”
Grisha announces his arrival with the mail.
Grisha's joyful proclamation marks the daily ritual of bringing the post.
“The letters are being written, barishnya .”
Grisha replies that letters are still being composed.
His standard response to Natasha's inquiry about missing letters.