# Matthew Golab — The Peasants character guide > Matthew Golab in The Peasants by Władysław Reymont. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Matthew, Golab **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot A tireless young peasant and suitor to Nastka, everywhere at once at the sawmill, urging frozen men to work harder in the killing cold. ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Yagna Borynova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/yagna_borynova) _romantic_ Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her. ### [Antek Boryna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/antek_boryna) _rivalry_ Fierce rivals and antagonists, competing for Yagna's affections and clashing violently. ### [Teresa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/teresa) _family_ Matthew and Teresa are siblings, with Teresa often trying to guide or restrain her hot-headed brother. ### [Antek Boryna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/antek_boryna) _rivalry_ Fierce rivals and antagonists, competing for Yagna's affections and clashing violently. ### [Antek Boryna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/antek_boryna) _rivalry_ Fierce rivals and antagonists, competing for Yagna's affections and clashing violently. ### [Yagna Borynova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/yagna_borynova) _romantic_ Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her. ### [Yagna Borynova](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/yagna_borynova) _romantic_ Matthew is a persistent suitor of Yagna, driven by lust and a desire to possess her. ### [Teresa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/teresa) _family_ Matthew and Teresa are siblings, with Teresa often trying to guide or restrain her hot-headed brother. ## In the story ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/iii) Oversees the work at the mill, shouts at the workers to keep them on task. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/vii) Observes the dance and shouts encouragement, though his ribs prevent him from joining. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/xii) Matthew is a friend of Antek who speaks in his favor after the fire. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/x) Leads the agitation against the Germans, curses the women's opposition, and threatens war. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/xi) Unable to speak with Yagna, he wrangles with Pete and later speaks harshly to someone by the millpond. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/v) Antek's friend; he advises him and shares news of Simon's broken betrothal. ### [Simon's Wedding and the Struggle for Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/vi) Plays fiddle at the wedding, flirts with Yagna, and is cheerful despite Teresa's tears. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/vii) Confesses his loathing of rural life and hints at marriage to Yagna, but is rebuffed. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/viii) Raucously denounces the officials and the compliant peasants after the vote. ### [The Search for Roch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/x) Helps orchestrate Roch's escape and drives him away in the britzka. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/xi) Warned by Antek about John's return, he is troubled but decides to marry Yagna after learning about her inheritance. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/chapters/xiii) Matthew meets the blind dziad at Podlesie, expresses anger at the mob's injustice, and shows compassion for Yagna's suffering. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters/matthew_golab - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_peasants_se/characters