how much land does a man need full text
"After having run allthat way they will call me a fool if I stop now," thought he. Andhe ran on and on, and drew near and heard the Bashkirs yelling andshouting to him, and their cries inflamed his heart still more. "There's no need for me to leave my land," thought Pahom. One word led toanother, and the man went on to say that many people were settlingin those parts. Ourland is crowded, and the soil is exhausted; but you have plenty ofland and it is good land. So Pahom hurriedly dug a hole, and turned straight towards the hillock. Pahom turned them out again and again, and forgavetheir owners, and for a long time he forbore from prosecuting anyone. "Look at that," thought he, "the land is all being sold, and I shallget none of it." The Bashkirs talked again for a while and began to dispute. Pahom passing through the wood one day noticedsomething white. Authors: 267, Books: 3,607, Poems & Short Stories: 4,435, Forum Members: 71,154, Forum Posts: So Pahom began looking out for land which he could buy; and he cameacross a peasant who had bought thirteen hundred acres, but havinggot into difficulties was willing to sell again cheap. But the Devil had been sitting behind the oven, and had heard allthat was said. Plot Summary. Pahom's eyes glistened: it was all virgin soil, as flat as the palmof your hand, as black as the seed of a poppy, and in the hollowsdifferent kinds of grasses grew breast high. They hadall but clinched the matter, when a passing dealer happened to stopat Pahom's one day to get a feed for his horse. Having done this, Pahom chose out a farm of forty acres, some of itwooded, and went to the lady to bargain for it. The main character of " How Much Land Does A man Need ?” is a clear example of an insatiable desire for possessions and wealth which at the end destroys the person. In the short story How Much Land Does a Man Need? He knew it was the peasants' want of land, and no evilintent on their part, that caused the trouble; but he thought: "I cannot go on overlooking it, or they will destroy all I have.They must be taught a lesson.". “You have much land, and I only want a little. Wherever there was good land to behad, the peasants would rush for it and it was taken up at once, sothat unless you were sharp about it you got none. By Leo Tolstoy An elder sister came to visit her younger sister in the country. I. I gave awayabout one hundred roubles' worth of dressing-gowns and carpets,besides a case of tea, and I gave wine to those who would drink it;and I got the land for less than two cents an acre. They stopped at a town on their way, and bought a case oftea, some wine, and other presents, as the tradesman had advised.On and on they went until they had gone more than three hundredmiles, and on the seventh day they came to a place where theBashkirs had pitched their tents. He left his wife tolook after the homestead, and started on his journey taking his manwith him. - Part VII at Owl Eyes He longs to be prosperous and frequently compares himself to his neighbors. He was still ten miles from the goal. How Much Land Does a Man Need? It was still light there. If I take it out there, I can get more than ten timesas much for the money.". They are as simple as sheep,and land can be got almost for nothing. Pahom was furious. What measure is that? Pahom looked back. "I can easily gothirty-five miles in a day. "Our price is always the same: one thousand roubles a day. You muststart from that spot and make your round, taking a spade with you.Wherever you think necessary, make a mark. "Oh dear," he thought, "if only I have not blundered trying for toomuch! Read Full Text and Annotations on What Men Live By and Other Tales How Much Land Does a Man Need? ", "How can I take as much as I like?" "I must get adeed to make it secure, or else they may say, 'It is yours,' andafterwards may take it away again. It was growing warmer; he took off his under-coat,flung it across his shoulder, and went on again. thought he. "And what will be the price?" 1. Pahom was dead! Inthis crowded place one is always having trouble. Pahombargained and haggled with him, and at last they settled the priceat 1,500 roubles, part in cash and part to be paid later. He looked towards the hillock and at the sun. a jesuit priest wrote 300 aphorisms on living life called "The Art of They met twice todiscuss it, but could not settle the matter; the Evil One soweddiscord among them, and they could not agree. Finally he decided: "Itmust be Simon-no one else could have done it." By Leo Tolstoy I AN elder sister came to visit her younger sister in the country. ", He sat down, and ate some bread and drank some water; but he did notlie down, thinking that if he did he might fall asleep. But, on the other hand, it is sure; and we neednot bow to any one. As the sisters sat over their tea talking,the elder began to boast of the advantages of town life: saying howcomfortably they lived there, how well they dressed, what fineclothes her children wore, what good things they ate and drank, andhow she went to the theatre, promenades, and entertainments. Threatsto burn his building began to be uttered. Just as he reached thehillock it suddenly grew dark. I have lost my life, I have lost my life! In the winter the news got about that the lady was going to sell herland, and that the keeper of the inn on the high road was bargainingfor it. At first he walkedeasily: the food had strengthened him; but it had become terriblyhot, and he felt sleepy; still he went on, thinking: "An hour tosuffer, a life-time to live.". He considered forsome moments which way he had better go--it was tempting everywhere. One peasant, he said, had brought nothingwith him but his bare hands, and now he had six horses and two cowsof his own. "No matter," he concluded, "I will go towards the rising sun.". When they reached the steppe,the morning red was beginning to kindle. "I must lose no time," he thought, "and it is easier walking whileit is still cool.". “I must get a deed to make it secure, or else they may say, ‘It is yours,’ and afterwards may take it away again.” “Thank you for your kind words,” he said aloud. "Ah!" Learn about the different symbols such as Pahom's Spade in How Much Land Does a Man Need? How Much Land Does A man Need? How Much Land Does a Man Need?In Leo Tolstoy’s short story “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” he attempts to answer that very question.Some of the themes of the story are: learn to be content with what you have, having more doesn’t always make you happier, and greed can consume and destroy your life. However, even when he acquires hundreds of acres of land and ascends to a higher socioeconomic status, Pahom adheres to the ideals of an economic system that equates property ownership with freedom. As much as you can go round on your feet in a day isyours, and the price is one thousand roubles a day.". Though he grudged the fodder whenthey could no longer graze on the pasture-land, at least he was freefrom anxiety about them. It-was decided to start early next morning.They talked a while, and after drinking some more kumiss and eatingsome more mutton, they had tea again, and then the night came on.They gave Pahom a feather-bed to sleep on, and the Bashkirsdispersed for the night, promising to assemble the next morning atdaybreak and ride out before sunrise to the appointed spot. He went down the Volga ona steamer to Samara, then walked another three hundred miles onfoot, and at last reached the place. They had one hundred roubles laid by. Language: English: LoC Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature: Subject: Russia -- Fiction Subject: Peasants -- Russia -- Fiction Category: Text: EBook-No. Before it sat the Chief laughing and holdinghis sides. "They wish to tell you," said the interpreter, "that they like you,and that it is our custom to do all we can to please a guest and torepay him for his gifts. He looked up--the sun had alreadyset. Characters. He began running,threw away his coat, his boots, his flask, and his cap, and keptonly the spade which he used as a support. How Much Land Does A Man Need? It happened inthe third year that he and a dealer together rented a piece ofpasture land from some peasants; and they had already ploughed itup, when there was some dispute, and the peasants went to law aboutit, and things fell out so that the labor was all lost. "What a large tract I will mark off!" The Bashkirs talked among themselves for a while. The dealer said that he was justreturning from the land of the Bashkirs, far away, where he hadbought thirteen thousand acres of land all for 1,000 roubles. I will buy two ox-teams, and hire two morelaborers. How many acres would that be? I can't get there before the sun sets.". Again Pahom remembered his dream, and he uttered a cry:his legs gave way beneath him, he fell forward and reached the capwith his hands. As it is, Iam still too cramped to be comfortable.". thought Pahom. The land was so good, he said, that therye sown on it grew as high as a horse, and so thick that five cutsof a sickle made a sheaf.