How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy is a Russian writer. This story is a realistic portrayal of life. It was written and published in 1886. This story represents the corruptive power of greed. It tells us that man's quest for materialistic pleasure can never be quenched.

Plot

Pahom, a peasant, is the protagonist of the story. He lives with his family and is occasionally tempted by the Devil. One day, Pahom was visited by his wife's elder sister. 

The elder sister was married to a tradesman and lived in the city. She boasted about the life in the city. The way they dressed, ate and about its theatres. The younger sister was always content with life in the village. She said that the villagers are spared from anxiety. They earn for their necessities. They may never grow rich but shall have enough to eat. The elder sister sneered at the younger sister. The peasants doesn't know anything about the elegance or manners which may end their life on a dung heap. The younger sister retorted. The peasant folk may live a coarse life, and but need not bow their heads. Fortune might be favourable and unfavourable. The Devil may tempt them with cards, wine or women.

Pahom overhears this conversation. He thought that the elder sister was right. The peasants life is full of endless toil and misery. They have not got enough land. Pahom thinks that if he had enough land he wouldn'teven fear the Devil himself. The Devil, who was sitting behind the oven, overhears Pahom and decides to tempt Pahom by giving him more land. 

A lady, the land owner, who owned 300 acres, was in good term with the neighbours of land. She appointed a steward, who was a cunning fellow. He unnecessarily fined the poor peasants when their cattle trespassed on the lady's property. The lady was deciding to sell her land to the innkeeper who lived on the high road. The peasants worried as this inn keeper was worse than the steward. The peasants went on behalf of their commune. They asked her not to sell her land and instead, they will offer a better price for it. 

Peasants decided to buy the land jointly. The Devil had already set the trap for Pahom. The evil one sowed seeds of discord among them. They decided to buy the land individually, according to each of their means.

Pahom heard that his neighbours was buying 50 acres, half paid and half due. Pahom was envious. He spoke to his wife and decides to buy 20 acres of land.

They had about a 100 roubles. They sold their colt, half of their bees, hired his own son as a labourer. and borrowed the rest from his brother-in-law.

Pahom signed the agreement, paid half the amount and agreed to pay the rest in 2 years.

He borrowed seeds which led to a fine harvest. He paid off debts to the lady and brother-in-law within one year and thus, became a land owner.

Everything went fine until the neighbouring peasants trespassed on his cornfields and meadows. Pahom politely forgave them, but finally, he went to the district court. He only wanted to teach them a lesson. The peasants were duly fined. The peasants bore a grudge on him and looted his land. They cut down five young lime trees. Simon, the court set him that there was lack of evidence. Pahom was furious and quarelled with the judges too.

Many peasants relocated to many other places.

Pahom was visited by a travelling peasant, who came from Volga. Many of his commune had already bought land. The land was blessed with fertile soil which produced more yield. The people who were empty-handed were left with 6 horses and 2 cows of their own.

A wave of desire instilled in Pahom's heart. He decided to sell his land and went to enquire about the land. Pahom was impressed of the land. It was exactly same as the stranger described. Everyman had 25 acres of land. Pahom sold his land, home and belongings and withdrew his membership. He applied for the membership- 5 shares of communal land for himself and his sons. There were 125 acres in total.

Pahom bought all that he needed. He also had plenty of fertile cultivable land.  At first, he was content but, he gradually became greedy. He wanted more and more. He wanted to sow more wheat. He took a land for lease for a period one year. Pahom noticed that the peasants living in the freehold land were growing wealthier day by day. So he thought of buying freehold land. 

After 3 years, he finally decided to buy the freehold land rather than the leasing out land. he finally found the land. He made an agreement with the peasant for 1500 roubles.

One day, a passing dealer visited Pahom and was just returning from Bashkirs. He would get 1300 acres for 1000 roubles. All that they needed to do was to make friends with the chief. The dealer got land by giving the chief gifts and got the land for 2 pence. The land was fertile and had a river bed.

Pahom started off and reached the Bashkins tent on the 7th day. The people had plenty of cattle and horses. The mares were milked. Kumiss (a drink made of fermented milk)  and cheese was made from the milk. A woman prepared/ate mutton and played on their pipes merrily. 

The Bashkins didn't know Russian and therefore had an interpreter. Pahom was taken to the best tent. He was given kumiss and mutton and Pahom distributed the gifts. The chief of the Bashkirs told Pahom that he can ask whatever he liked. The chief told Pahom that he can have as much as he wished. He only needs to point it out. Pahom gave out the best gift (a fur cap) and the chief signed the land deed. Pahom would get a 1000 roubles a day. There was a condition though - one could go around one's feet as much as he wished in a single day and the land covered is his. Pahom thought of covering a large tract land.

There was another condition though - If he was not able to return on  the same day, he would lose money. He had to return before sunset and could carry a spade and start from any spot.

Pahom was delighted and could not sleep. He was only thinking of the land he would get the next day. He laid awoke all night and also had a dream.

Dream

Someone was chuckling. Pahom went out and saw the chief sitting infront of the tent and laughing. As he went closer to check why he was laughing, he realised it was the dealer, who brought him to Bashkins and then, the peasant from Volga, and then, it was the Devil himself with hoofs and horns. Suddenly Pahom noticed a man lying prostrate before the Devil. The man was dead and it was Pahom himself. Pahom awoke, horror-struck.

The next morning he got up to acquire his dream land. Pahom drank Kumiss and move to the land.

The Chief took off his cap and placed it on the ground to mark the starting point - 1000 roubles on the cap. Pahom started towards the direction of the rising sun. He took off his boots after 3 miles. Before midday, he covered a huge square of land. The journey was quite difficult. Faraway from the hillocks, he threw off his coat, his boot and his cap and kept only the spade. The Sun was hearing the rim. A strange fear crept over his mind - Will God let me live on ill? Mustering all his strength, he ran fast. He could see the Bashkins shouting. Pahom took a deep breath and ran toward the hillock. He saw the Bashkins sitting on the top and laughing. He recounted the dream he had the previous night and fell out dead, oozing out blood. His servant took his spade, dug a 6 feet grave and buried his body in it . That was all he needed. 

Themes

It was the selfish desire, the ultimate course of all evil. Greed can never be satisfied. 

Man's free will  to decide on what's Right and wrong, and the use of it, which leads to a contented life. 

 This story can be considered as a parable (that gives us a lesson). The story ends with an ironical answer to the question posed in the title of the story

Prepared by:

Dr. Susan Mathew

CMS College Kottayam