# IV explained — Yama

> Chapter companion for Yama by Aleksandr Kuprin.

## What happens

Horizon, a pimp, stays at the Hotel Hermitage for three days, conducting business with various madams and go-betweens. He visits Madame Barsukova, offering her three women, including his own wife, whom he presents as his bride. They negotiate a deal, and Horizon leaves his wife with Barsukova, claiming political reasons force him to depart.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dehumanization and Commodification

Women are treated as goods to be bought, sold, and photographed for profit, with Horizon bargaining over prices and offering his own wife as a commodity.

### Hypocrisy of Society

The characters engage in the trade with a veneer of civility, calling each other 'aunt' and 'friend' while exploiting women, and Horizon feigns tears when leaving his wife.

## Character check-ins

### Simon Yakovlevich Horizon

Arrives in the city and engages in the trade of women, bargaining with Madame Barsukova and offering his own wife as part of the deal.

### Madame Barsukova

A retired wench and brothel keeper who negotiates with Horizon to buy women, including his wife, and discusses the demand for innocent girls.

### Bella

A straw-like girl taken by Horizon to a photographer for pictures, receiving a rouble per negative.

### Mr. Shepsherovich

Mentioned as a genius pimp who transported women to Argentina and traded negresses across Russian cities.

## Key lines

> Horizon lived at the Hotel Hermitage for not more than three days and nights, and during this time he managed to see some three hundred people.

Horizon stayed at the Hotel Hermitage for just three days, meeting about three hundred people in that time.

_Highlights Horizon's extensive network and the scale of his operations._

> Not so much out of an interest in booty as out of professional pride, Horizon tried, at all costs, to bargain for as much profit as possible, to buy a woman as cheaply as possible.

Horizon's motivation was professional pride rather than greed, driving him to negotiate the lowest possible price for women.

_Reveals Horizon's competitive nature and the dehumanizing view of women as commodities._

> I’m also offering you a perfectly educated woman. Do with her what you like. In all probability you’ll find a connoisseur.

Horizon offers an educated woman, suggesting she can be sold to a discerning buyer.

_Illustrates the complete commodification of women, including their education as a selling point._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/yama_se/chapters/part-ii-iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/yama_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/yama_se/chapters