The novella explores the relationship between a wealthy landowner and his peasant servant. The story revolves around their contrasting worldviews and moral codes. The landowner represents the aristocracy's values of wealth, power, and social status, while the peasant embodies the simplicity and humility of rural life. Their interactions reveal the tension between these two ideologies, highlighting the societal issues of the time.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1880 · Genre: Social Commentary, Philosophical, Realism