# XI explained — The Peasants > Chapter companion for The Peasants by Władysław Reymont. ## What happens The chapter depicts the wedding day of Yagna and Maciej Boryna, with villagers gathering and preparing for the feast. Conversations among the men reflect on poverty, injustice, and the hardships of peasant life, while Yagna feels detached and troubled by thoughts of Antek. Dominikova warns Yagna about Antek and the smith, but Yagna defends Antek, leading to a tense moment. The chapter ends with Yagna refusing to have her hair cut after the wedding, sparking a dispute with her mother. ## Themes in this chapter ### Peasant Life and Labor The men's discussion highlights the harsh realities of peasant labor, poverty, and the yoke of daily toil, as well as the fleeting respite of communal celebration. ### Tradition and Religion The wedding preparations and rituals, including the 'Unplaiting' and the debate over hair-cutting, underscore the importance of tradition and religious customs in peasant life. ### Gender Roles and Family Yagna's defiance of the tradition to cut her hair after marriage and her emotional conflict with her mother and Antek reveal tensions within family and gender expectations. ## Character check-ins ### Yagna Borynova The bride, feeling indifferent and troubled on her wedding day, defends Antek against her mother's warnings and insists on keeping her hair uncut. ### Dominikova Yagna's mother, who warns her about Antek and the smith, and argues with her about cutting her hair after the wedding. ### Antek Boryna Mentioned as having spoken ill of Yagna and avoiding her, causing her distress and revolt. ### Maciej Boryna The groom, who gave Yagna coral beads at the 'Unplaiting' and is preparing for the wedding. ### Ambrose A talkative elder who leads the men's discourse on poverty, duty, and the old ways during the feast. ### Eva A woman from the miller's who helps with cooking and tries to persuade Yagna about cutting her hair. ## Key lines > What is’t aggravates our misery, setting men one against the other, like dogs quarrelling for a fleshless bone? What makes our suffering worse, causing people to fight each other like dogs over a worthless bone? _A peasant laments the divisive nature of poverty and conflict._ > Man, you have to know but one thing—to do your duty, live as God commands you, and not look too far ahead. A person only needs to know one thing: to fulfill their duty, live according to God's will, and not worry about the future. _Ambrose advises acceptance and faith as a response to hardship._ > Yagna! will you have done with those fancy things of yours? The people are assembling, the band is marching through the village: and that girl is amusing herself with drolleries! Yagna! Stop playing with those decorations! The guests are arriving and the band is coming, but you're still amusing yourself with trifles! _Dominikova scolds Yagna for focusing on paper cuttings instead of preparing for the wedding._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/xi - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_peasants_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters