Short Fiction · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
The narrator reflects on his transformed life as a workman and contractor, finding dignity and acceptance despite his noble birth.
What happens
The narrator reflects on his transformed life as a workman and contractor, finding dignity and acceptance despite his noble birth. He visits the cemetery with his niece, encounters Anyuta Blagovo, and muses on the lasting significance of every action. The chapter closes with updates on various characters, including his former wife, father, and others.
Themes in this chapter
Mortality and Legacy
The narrator's visits to the grave of Kleopatra and his belief that 'nothing passes away' emphasize the lasting impact of life's actions and the memory of the dead.
Social Class and Inequality
The narrator's transition from nobleman to respected workman highlights shifting social roles and the persistence of class distinctions.
Suffering and Compassion
The narrator's patience through great troubles has earned him compassion from others, who now offer tea and kind words.
Characters to notice
- Anyuta Blagovo
Meets the narrator at the cemetery by Kleopatra's grave; they walk in silence and she caresses the child.
- Mariya Viktorovna
The narrator's former wife, now living abroad.
- Ivan Tcheprakov
Poor Ivan Tcheprakov, after a period of drinking and unemployment, briefly worked as a painter but returned to Dubetchnya and allegedly plotted robbery and murder.
- Moisey Moisevitch
Now wears a bowler hat, drives a racing droshky, and is buying up mortgaged estates, including Dubetchnya.
Key passages
“I believe that nothing passes away without leaving a trace, and that every step we take, however small, has significance for our present and our future existence.”
Every action, no matter how minor, has lasting consequences that shape both our current and future lives.
The narrator's philosophical reflection on the enduring impact of all deeds.
“My great troubles, my patience, have touched people’s hearts, and now they don’t call me “Better-than-nothing,” they don’t laugh at me, and when I walk by the shops they don’t throw water over me.”
My suffering and endurance have moved others, so they no longer mock or mistreat me.
Illustrates the narrator's earned respect and the theme of suffering leading to compassion.