Short Fiction · Chapter
XXV explained
Sofia Alexandrovna prepares the house for the imminent return of Borya, ordering his favorite dishes and ensuring his study is perfectly arranged.
What happens
Sofia Alexandrovna prepares the house for the imminent return of Borya, ordering his favorite dishes and ensuring his study is perfectly arranged. She is anxious and distracted, listening for any sign of his arrival, while Stepanida and Glasha respond to her with sadness and humility.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Betrayal
Sofia's anxious preparations for Borya's return reflect deep maternal love and devotion.
Freedom and Confinement
Sofia is confined by her anxious waiting and the rigid order she imposes on the household, while Borya's absence represents an uncertain freedom.
Characters to notice
- Sofia Alexandrovna Ozoreva
Anxiously prepares for Borya's return, ordering his favorite dishes and meticulously arranging his study.
- Stepanida
Listens sadly to Sofia's orders and replies in a tearful voice.
- Glasha
Asked about household matters, she humbly begs forgiveness for any disorder and wipes away tears.
- Borya
Expected to return at any moment; Sofia prepares his favorite dishes and ensures his study is in order.
Key passages
“She orders the things for dinner at the same time. She chooses dishes loved by Borya.”
She simultaneously plans the meal, selecting dishes that Borya enjoys.
Shows Sofia's focus on pleasing Borya upon his return.
“She seems all the while to be listening intently, either for the sound of a distant little bell, or for the rumble of wheels on the road.”
She appears to be constantly straining to hear any sign of his approach, whether a bell or carriage wheels.
Highlights her anxious anticipation.
“If anything is out of place she gives way to tears, then rings for Glasha, and heaps reproaches upon her.”
If anything is not perfectly arranged, she bursts into tears, summons Glasha, and scolds her.
Illustrates Sofia's emotional fragility and need for control.