# III explained — The Village

> Chapter companion for The Village by Ivan Bunin.

## What happens

Tikhon Ilitch grapples with the loss of hope for an heir, his wife's secret prayers and superstitious rituals, and the government's liquor monopoly, which he sees as a personal blow. His bitterness and sense of futility grow as the summer drought ruins the rye crop.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Heredity

Tikhon's obsession with having a child and his despair over childlessness highlight the theme of family legacy and the fear of dying without an heir.

### Search for Meaning and Faith

Nastasya's secret prayers and the couple's recourse to an oracle and a holy man reflect a desperate search for spiritual comfort and answers.

## Character check-ins

### Tikhon Ilitch

Ages visibly upon losing hope of children; becomes bitter and sarcastic about the government's liquor monopoly and the ruined rye crop.

### Nastasya Petrovna

Secretly prays and weeps, consults an oracle, and asks to be taken to a holy man; her desperation is palpable.

## Key lines

> Without children a man is not a man. He’s only so-so⁠—a sort of spot missed in the sowing.

A man without children is incomplete, like a missed spot in a field.

_Tikhon's early jesting about his childlessness._

> He loves you as a dog loves a stick.

He loves you the way a dog loves being beaten with a stick.

_The oracle's insulting answer to Nastasya's question about her husband's love._

> What’s the object of all this convict hard labour, anyway? devil take it!

What is the point of all this backbreaking work? To hell with it!

_Tikhon's growing despair and loss of motivation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-i-iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_village_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_village_se/chapters