# V: The Lord’s Fish explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Aleksandr Kuprin.

## What happens

The narrator recounts a charming ancient legend told by Kolya Konstandi, a Balaklava fisherman, about the 'Lord's Fish'—a small golden fish with two azure spots that, according to local lore, were left by Christ's fingers when he resurrected a fish to convince his doubting mother. The chapter also immerses the reader in fishermen's lore, customs, and superstitions, and describes the narrator's encounter with the rare fish itself.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Sublime

The chapter celebrates the mystery and beauty of the sea, from the rare Lord's Fish to the vast ocean and its legendary creatures.

### Fate and Absurdity

The legend intertwines divine miracle with a humble fish, highlighting the absurdity and wonder of faith and fate.

### Human Observation and Psychology

The narrator's careful observation of fishermen's customs and the fish itself reflects a deep curiosity about human belief and natural phenomena.

## Character check-ins

### Kolya Konstandi

The ataman and fisherman who teaches the narrator sea lore and relates the legend of the Lord's Fish.

## Key lines

> It is not permissible, during the catch, to whistle aboard the craft or to spit except overboard; one should never mention the devil, though one is permitted to curse by faith, the grave, the coffin, the soul, one’s forefathers, their eyes, livers, spleen, and so on; it is well to leave in the net, as if by chance, a little fish: this brings luck, and God forbid that any article of food be thrown overboard while the boat is at sea.

Fishermen have strict taboos: no whistling or spitting inside the boat (except overboard), never speak of the devil, but cursing by sacred or bodily things is allowed; leaving a small fish in the net is considered lucky, and throwing food overboard is forbidden.

_This passage illustrates the rich superstitions and customs of the fishing community._

> When our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day after his burial, no one believed him. Many miracles wrought by him were witnessed while he was alive, but people could not believe this one and they were afraid.

After Christ's resurrection, even those who had seen his earlier miracles doubted and feared, including his disciples and mother.

_This sets up the central legend of the chapter, explaining the origin of the Lord's Fish._

> Then our Lord’s mother had faith in the miracle and joyfully worshipped her resurrected Son. And ever since then there remained on the fish the two spots of heavenly azure. These are the traces of our Lord’s fingers.

The mother believed after the fish was revived, and the two blue spots on the fish are said to be the marks of Christ's fingers.

_This concludes the apocryphal tale, linking the fish's markings to a divine touch._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_se/chapters/v-the-lord-s-fish
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_se/chapters