The Peasants · Character

Matthew Golab

A tireless young peasant and suitor to Nastka, everywhere at once at the sawmill, urging frozen men to work harder in the killing cold.

supporting

Also known as Matthew, Golab

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in The Peasants, Matthew Golab is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Visits Yagna at her hut; a strong, proud bachelor known for his skills and fiery nature, he is the subject of village gossip regarding Yagna.

In the storyChapter VIIOpen this moment free

See Matthew Golab in Chapter VII Book page

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Matthew Golab drives the sawmill crew through a brutal frost, shouting, joking, and working harder than any man on the platform above the rushing river. Even Antek, who resents him, admits he is a good craftsman—and well paid for it. His energy and ambition mark him as a rising figure among the village's younger men, and his courtship of Nastka threads him into the web of rural alliances and rivalries.

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The fuller portrait of Matthew Golab sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Matthew Golab in i

Character Web

48 connections

A slice of how Matthew Golab sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Rivalry
Family
Other

Character groups

Core village community
Extended background villagers
Protagonist

+43 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it forces Yanek to confront the shattering revelation that his ideal…

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Relationships

Yagna Borynova
romantic · ambivalent
Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her. How this plays out →
Antek Boryna
rivalry · negative
Teresa
family · positive
Antek Boryna
rivalry · negative
Antek Boryna
rivalry · negative
Yagna Borynova
romantic · ambivalent
Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her. How this plays out →
Yagna Borynova
romantic · ambivalent
Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her. How this plays out →
Teresa
family · positive

Yagna Borynova
Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her.
Antek Boryna
Fierce rivals and antagonists, competing for Yagna's affections and clashing violently.
Teresa
Matthew and Teresa are siblings, with Teresa often trying to guide or restrain her hot-headed brother.
Antek Boryna
Fierce rivals and antagonists, competing for Yagna's affections and clashing violently.
Antek Boryna
Fierce rivals and antagonists, competing for Yagna's affections and clashing violently.
Yagna Borynova
Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her.
Yagna Borynova
Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her.
Teresa
Matthew and Teresa are siblings, with Teresa often trying to guide or restrain her hot-headed brother.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Matthew Golab in i

In the story

Matthew Golab appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter VII
Visits Yagna at her hut; a strong, proud bachelor known for his skills and fiery nature, he is the subject of village gossip regarding Yagna.
III
Oversees the work at the mill, shouts at the workers to keep them on task.
VII
Observes the dance and shouts encouragement, though his ribs prevent him from joining.
XII
Matthew is a friend of Antek who speaks in his favor after the fire.
Chapter VIII
Inspects a ruined hut at Staho's and declares the timber useless; he is later mentioned as a potential reader of Teresa's letter.
IX
Matthew advocates for aggressive action against the Germans, suggesting threats and intimidation to prevent them from buying Podlesie, and later tries to defend Yagna's reputation.
The Stirring Against the Germans
Leads the agitation against the Germans, curses the women's opposition, and threatens war.
Chapter XI
Unable to speak with Yagna, he wrangles with Pete and later speaks harshly to someone by the millpond.
Chapter V
Antek's friend; he advises him and shares news of Simon's broken betrothal.
Simon's Wedding and the Struggle for Land
Plays fiddle at the wedding, flirts with Yagna, and is cheerful despite Teresa's tears.
Chapter VII
Confesses his loathing of rural life and hints at marriage to Yagna, but is rebuffed.
VIII
Raucously denounces the officials and the compliant peasants after the vote.
The Search for Roch
Helps orchestrate Roch's escape and drives him away in the britzka.
Chapter XI
Warned by Antek about John's return, he is troubled but decides to marry Yagna after learning about her inheritance.
Chapter XIII
Matthew meets the blind dziad at Podlesie, expresses anger at the mob's injustice, and shows compassion for Yagna's suffering.

Chapter companion notes

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See Matthew Golab in i

See Matthew Golab in Chapter VII