Poor Folk · Chapter
August 13th: My Beloved Makar Alexievitch explained
Barbara writes to Makar, describing a series of misfortunes: she burned her left hand with an iron, can no longer work, and Thedora has been ill for three days.
What happens
Barbara writes to Makar, describing a series of misfortunes: she burned her left hand with an iron, can no longer work, and Thedora has been ill for three days. She sends him thirty kopecks, nearly her last coins, and asks him to visit her for comfort.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Varvara’s desp…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Poverty and Deprivation
Barbara's inability to work due to a burn and her meager offering of thirty kopecks highlight the constant financial desperation.
- Isolation and Loneliness
Barbara's plea for Makar to visit underscores her emotional isolation and need for companionship in the face of accumulating misfortunes.
Characters to notice
- Barbara Alexievna Dobroselova
Writes to Makar in distress, having burned her hand and unable to work.
- Makar Alexievitch Dievushkin
Recipient of Barbara's letter; she urges him to visit.
- Thedora
Has been ailing for three days, adding to Barbara's anxiety.
Key passages
“It is true that misfortune is following upon misfortune. I myself scarcely know what to do.”
Barbara feels overwhelmed by a cascade of bad luck and is at a loss for how to cope.
Expresses the theme of helplessness in the face of relentless adversity.
“Nevertheless, I send you thirty kopecks—almost the last coins that I have left to me”
Despite her own dire straits, Barbara sends Makar nearly all her remaining money.
Illustrates Barbara's self-sacrificial generosity and the depth of their bond.
