Short Fiction · Chapter
Sleepy explained
Varka, a thirteen-year-old nursemaid, is exhausted from constant work and lack of sleep.
What happens
Varka, a thirteen-year-old nursemaid, is exhausted from constant work and lack of sleep. She rocks a crying baby while hallucinating from fatigue, recalling her father's death and her mother's struggles. Over the course of a day and night, she is repeatedly ordered to perform chores, and her sleep deprivation drives her to a horrifying conclusion: the baby is the source of her torment, and she resolves to kill it to finally rest.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Compassion
Varka's physical and mental exhaustion, her father's painful death, and the lack of compassion from her employers highlight the theme of suffering.
Social Class and Inequality
The stark contrast between Varka's endless labor and the comfortable life of her masters underscores class divisions.
Isolation and Loneliness
Varka is isolated in her suffering, with no one to help or comfort her, leading to a tragic breakdown.
Characters to notice
- Varka
The exhausted thirteen-year-old nursemaid, driven to the brink by sleep deprivation and endless chores.
- Pavel Ignatyevitch Klimov
The master of the house, who beats Varka and orders her to work.
- Mariya
The mistress of the house, who constantly gives Varka orders and feeds the baby.
- The Stranger
The young doctor who visits Varka's dying father, Yefim Stepanov.
Key passages
“Hush-a-bye, my baby wee, While I sing a song for thee.”
Varka sings a lullaby to the crying baby as she rocks the cradle.
This lullaby is repeated throughout the story, contrasting the soothing words with Varka's growing desperation.
“Kill the baby and then sleep, sleep, sleep.”
Varka decides that murdering the baby is the only way to finally get rest.
This chilling thought reveals the extreme psychological toll of sleep deprivation and abuse.