The Village · Chapter
XV explained
Tikhon Ilitch wakes to a rainy morning after a restless night filled with anxious dreams about his shop being looted and his horses stolen.
What happens
Tikhon Ilitch wakes to a rainy morning after a restless night filled with anxious dreams about his shop being looted and his horses stolen. He inspects the farm, confronts the cook and Oska about their debauchery, and violently expels an old workman who mocks him. The chapter depicts Tikhon's growing paranoia, his harsh treatment of his workers, and his sense of isolation and boredom.
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
- Isolation and Loneliness
Tikhon's sleepless night and his interactions with his workers highlight his profound isolation and distrust.
- Cruelty and Moral Degradation
Tikhon's violent expulsion of the old workman and his disgust at the cook's behavior illustrate the moral decay and brutality of the estate.
Characters to notice
- Tikhon Ilitch
Restless and paranoid, he dreams of thieves and looters, and reacts violently to a workman's insolence.
- Oska
Found asleep after a night of debauchery with the cook, he is later forced to work.
- The Cook
Sleeps in the kitchen after a night of revelry, and is later seen preparing food.
- Shaggy Buyan
The dog is energetic despite the rain, and Tikhon chains him under the granary.
Key passages
“That devil has been at the lad!”
Tikhon suspects the cook has corrupted the young Oska.
Shows Tikhon's judgmental and disgusted view of his workers' morality.
“I'm listening to a vile profligate.”
The old workman quietly retorts to Tikhon's insult, calling him a profligate.
This act of defiance triggers Tikhon's violent reaction.
