# Syery — The Village character guide

> Syery in The Village by Ivan Bunin.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** V Syery

**First appearance:** 0001-the-village

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Kuzma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/kuzma)

_friendship_

Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and commiserating together.

### [Deniska](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/deniska)

_friendship_

Deniska and Syery are drinking buddies and casual friends, sharing a rough-and-tumble companionship.

### [Yakoff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/yakoff)

_friendship_

Syery and Yakoff are acquaintances who share a bond over their lowly status and mutual grievances.

### [Tikhon Ilitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/tikhon_ilitch)

_rivalry_

Syery resents Tikhon's authority and wealth, leading to a simmering antagonism.

### [Kuzma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/kuzma)

_friendship_

Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and commiserating together.

### [Tikhon Ilitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/tikhon_ilitch)

_rivalry_

Syery resents Tikhon's authority and wealth, leading to a simmering antagonism.

### [Kuzma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/kuzma)

_friendship_

Kuzma and Syery share a bond of camaraderie and mutual support, often drinking and commiserating together.

### [Yakoff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/yakoff)

_friendship_

Syery and Yakoff are acquaintances who share a bond over their lowly status and mutual grievances.

### [Deniska](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/deniska)

_friendship_

Deniska and Syery are drinking buddies and casual friends, sharing a rough-and-tumble companionship.

## In the story

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-i-xiii)

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

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-iii)

The Grey Man, who occupies Kuzma's attention and is a subject of his notes.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-vi)

A poor peasant whom Kuzma visits and compares himself to; lives in extreme poverty with his family.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-xiii)

Acts as matchmaker for his son Deniska, bringing modest gifts to the Bride.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/chapters/part-iii-xiv)

Prepares the pig for the wedding feast, tending the fire and managing the dogs.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters/syery
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_village_se/characters