The Village · Chapter
IV explained
Tikhon Ilitch attends the Fair in town during the Fast of St.
What happens
Tikhon Ilitch attends the Fair in town during the Fast of St. Peter, enduring heat, sleepless nights, and frustration. He fails to sell his horses, is bored and irritated by the crowds and other traders, and is overwhelmed by the poverty and wretchedness of the region. His physical ailments and low spirits lead him to reflect on the futility of his struggles.
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 Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Kuzma’s emotional peak is his sudden, desperate need for his brother Tikhon Ilitch—he rushes to the window wit…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Rural Poverty and Decline
The chapter highlights the vast poverty and wretchedness of the region, despite its fertile black-loam soil, with famines occurring every five years.
- Class and Social Hierarchy
Tikhon Ilitch's interactions at the Fair, particularly with Prince Bakhtin, illustrate the rigid social hierarchy, where the wealthy merchant is treated with deference by the lower classes.
- Isolation and Loneliness
Tikhon Ilitch feels overwhelmed and out of place at the Fair, experiencing boredom and a sense of being disconnected from the bustling activity around him.
Characters to notice
- Tikhon Ilitch
Attends the Fair, fails to sell his horses, suffers from boredom, illness, and a sense of futility.
- Prince Bakhtin
A hussar officer at the Fair who inspects horses but does not condescend to speak to Tikhon Ilitch.
- Khvostoff
A decrepit hero of the Sevastopol campaign who repeatedly asks the price of Tikhon Ilitch's horse.
Key passages
“Lord God, what a country! Black-loam soil over three feet deep! But—what of that? Never did five years pass without a famine.”
Tikhon Ilitch reflects on the paradox of the region's fertile soil and its recurring famines, highlighting the deep-seated poverty.
This quote underscores the theme of rural poverty and decline.
“Might as well be a criminal condemned to hard labour in prison!”
Tikhon Ilitch feels his life is as miserable and constrained as that of a prisoner, struggling with trivialities and heading toward ruin.
This reflects Tikhon's growing despair and sense of futility.
