The Village · Character

Syery

A hired hand who quits every place on principle, Syery tells the same story of a priest's household that would welcome him back with open arms.

supporting

Also known as V Syery

First appearance: the village

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

Reported to be 'perishing with hunger' by his son Deniska.

In the storyXIIIOpen this moment free

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V Syery sits idle all winter, cold and hungry, regaling neighbours with the tale of two noble years spent at a priest's house near Eletz — a story everyone has heard and no one believes. At Rusanoff's he refuses to haul husks at the wrong hour, hurls his pitchfork into the straw, and walks off rather than be called a dog. His stubborn, theatrical dignity in the face of starvation captures the village's mixture of pride, idleness, and quiet rebellion.

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Character Web

18 connections

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

Relationship types

Friendship
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Core community and clergy
Village household and social figures
Protagonist
Minor villagers and transient figures

+13 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

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…

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Relationships

Kuzma
friendship · positive
Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and… How this plays out →
Deniska
friendship · positive
Yakoff
friendship · ambivalent
Tikhon Ilitch
rivalry · negative
Kuzma
friendship · positive
Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and… How this plays out →
Tikhon Ilitch
rivalry · negative
Kuzma
friendship · positive
Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and… How this plays out →
Yakoff
friendship · ambivalent
Deniska
friendship · positive

Kuzma
Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and commiserating together.
Deniska
Deniska and Syery are drinking buddies and casual friends, sharing a rough-and-tumble companionship.
Yakoff
Syery and Yakoff are acquaintances who share a bond over their lowly status and mutual grievances.
Tikhon Ilitch
Syery resents Tikhon's authority and wealth, leading to a simmering antagonism.
Kuzma
Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and commiserating together.
Tikhon Ilitch
Syery resents Tikhon's authority and wealth, leading to a simmering antagonism.
Kuzma
Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and commiserating together.
Yakoff
Syery and Yakoff are acquaintances who share a bond over their lowly status and mutual grievances.
Deniska
Deniska and Syery are drinking buddies and casual friends, sharing a rough-and-tumble companionship.

Relationship notes

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

See Syery in the village

In the story

Syery appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XIII
Reported to be 'perishing with hunger' by his son Deniska.
III
The Grey Man, who occupies Kuzma's attention and is a subject of his notes.
IV
A poor, grey, and lean peasant with a large family, known for his idle talk and failed schemes. He dreams of a fine farmstead but is trapped in poverty and bad luck.
V
Syery recounts his past, including his daughter's marriage and his quarrel with a manager, and is depicted as a degenerate and self-aggrandizing peasant.
VI
A poor peasant whom Kuzma visits and compares himself to; lives in extreme poverty with his family.
XI
Kills an old horse for Tikhon Ilitch, and is later beaten by Deniska for peeling newspaper off the ceiling. He believes Deniska's tales of wealth and curries favor with him.
XIII
Acts as matchmaker for his son Deniska, bringing modest gifts to the Bride.
XIV
Prepares the pig for the wedding feast, tending the fire and managing the dogs.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Syery unlock in the free preview.

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