A Dead Body (Chekhov)
Short summary
On an August night, two peasants sat watching over a dead body in the forest. One was a tall young man making a wooden spoon, while the other was an older, simple-minded man called Syoma. They talked to pass the time, with the younger man criticizing Syoma for his lack of intelligence.
Their conversation was interrupted by strange sounds from the forest, which Syoma identified as an owl hunting birds. As they continued their watch, a pilgrim in a cassock appeared, startled by the sight of the corpse. The pilgrim claimed to be the nephew of a local brickyard foreman and asked for directions.
Upon learning about the dead body, the pilgrim became visibly frightened. He contemplated leaving a kopeck for the deceased's burial but hesitated, unsure if the man had died naturally or by suicide.
"And only fancy! while this man was alive he wasn't noticed, while now when he is dead and given over to corruption we tremble before him as before some famous general or a bishop... Such is life; was he murdered, or what?"
Too afraid to continue his journey alone in the dark, the pilgrim begged the peasants to accompany him to the village. The young man agreed to go for five kopecks, leaving the simple-minded Syoma alone with the corpse. After they departed, Syoma dozed off by the dying fire as a large shadow fell over the dead body.
Detailed summary
Division into sections is editorial.
Night setting and introduction of the dead body and watchmen
On a still August night, a mist rose from the fields, creating an opaque veil over the landscape. Near a byroad running along the edge of a forest, a small fire glowed in the darkness. Under a young oak tree lay a dead body covered from head to foot with new white linen, a wooden icon placed on its breast.
A dead body, covered from head to foot with new white linen, is lying under a young oak tree. A wooden icon is lying on its breast. Beside the corpse almost on the road sits the "watch"—two peasants performing one of the most disagreeable and uninviting of peasants' duties.
Beside the corpse sat two peasants who were keeping watch over the body. One was a tall young fellow with a scarcely perceptible mustache and thick black eyebrows, wearing a tattered sheepskin and bark shoes. He sat on the wet grass with his feet stretched out, carving a wooden spoon to pass the time.
The other watchman was a little scraggy, pockmarked peasant with an aged face, a scanty mustache, and a little goat's beard. He sat motionless with his hands resting on his knees, staring listlessly at the fire. Between them, a small campfire burned lazily, casting a red glow on their faces.
Conversation between the two peasants about intelligence and fear
In the perfect stillness of the night, the young man warned his companion not to fall asleep. When Syoma stammered that he was not sleeping, the young man suggested that Syoma tell him a story to help pass the time. The young man then criticized Syoma for his inability to converse properly, noting that despite being around fifty years old, Syoma had less sense than a child.
The young man expressed sorrow at seeing Syoma's foolishness and advised him on how to gain more understanding. He suggested that Syoma should listen carefully to good conversations, note them well, and keep thinking about what he heard. If there were words Syoma didn't understand, he should make an effort to determine their meaning. The young man warned that without gaining some sense, Syoma would remain a simpleton his entire life.
"You are a good-natured, sober peasant, and the only trouble is that you have no sense in your head. You should have picked up some sense for yourself if the Lord has afflicted you and given you no understanding. You must make an effort, Syoma."
The owls cry and the gathering of firewood
Suddenly, a long drawn-out moaning sound came from the forest. Something rustled in the leaves as though torn from the treetop and fell to the ground. The eerie sound was faintly repeated by the echo. The young man shuddered and looked questioningly at his companion.
All at once a long drawn-out, moaning sound is heard in the forest. Something rustles in the leaves as though torn from the very top of the tree and falls to the ground. All this is faintly repeated by the echo. The young man shudders and looks enquiringly at his companion.
Syoma explained glumly that it was an owl hunting small birds. The young man remarked that it was time for birds to migrate to warmer countries and complained about the cold at dawn. He asked Syoma to gather more wood for the fire.
Syoma rose and disappeared into the dark undergrowth to collect firewood. While he was away, his companion covered his eyes and started at every sound. When Syoma returned with an armful of wood and placed it on the fire, the flames caught the black twigs and cast a crimson light on their faces, the road, and the white linen covering the corpse.
Arrival of the pilgrim and his fearful reaction
The silence was suddenly broken by a falsetto voice singing a religious verse. Slow footsteps approached, and a dark figure of a man in a short monkish cassock and broad-brimmed hat, with a wallet on his shoulders, appeared on the road in the firelight.
The pilgrim greeted them with religious phrases, explaining that he had seen their fire from a distance and his soul had leapt for joy. At first, he had wondered if they were thieves, robbers, or gypsies offering sacrifices, but now he could see they were good orthodox people. He asked for directions to the Makuhinsky Brickyards.
The young man provided directions, explaining that the pilgrim should follow the road for a mile and a half to reach Ananova village, then turn right by the riverbank to find the brickyards two miles further. When the pilgrim asked why they were sitting there, the young man explained they were watching over a dead body.
Upon noticing the white linen with the icon, the pilgrim started violently. He stood rooted to the spot with wide-open mouth and staring eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. After three minutes of shocked silence, he began muttering about the unexpected affliction he had encountered on his journey.
The pilgrim revealed he was traveling from monastery to monastery and claimed to be the nephew of Mihail Polikarpitch, the foreman of the brickyard. He expressed his fear of the dead, noting the irony that while a person might go unnoticed in life, in death they inspired fear like a famous general or bishop. He asked if the man had been murdered.
The young man replied that they didn't know whether the man was murdered or died naturally. He added that the soul of the dead man was still hovering near his body and would not depart for three days.
"His soul is still hovering here, near his body," says the young man. "It does not depart from the body for three days."
The pilgrims dilemma and departure with the young peasant
The pilgrim commented on the chilly night and prepared to continue his journey. After taking a few steps, he stopped, remembering he had forgotten to leave a kopeck for the burial of the dead man. He asked the watchmen if he should give the money.
The young man suggested that if the man died a natural death, the money would benefit his soul, but if it was a suicide, it would be a sin. The pilgrim decided to keep his money, remarking that he wouldn't sit by a dead body for a thousand rubles. He bid farewell but stopped again, unable to decide what to do.
Torn between staying by the fire until daybreak and continuing his journey alone in the dark, the pilgrim confessed his fear. Though not afraid of wolves, thieves, or darkness, he was terrified of the dead. He begged the watchmen to accompany him to the village.
"I am not afraid of wolves, of thieves, or of darkness, but I am afraid of the dead. I am afraid of them, and that is all about it. Good orthodox brothers, I entreat you on my knees, see me to the village."
When the watchmen explained they had been instructed not to leave the body, the pilgrim offered five kopecks to be escorted. The young man considered the offer and asked if Syoma would stay alone. When Syoma agreed, the young man decided to accompany the pilgrim. A minute later, the sound of their steps and conversation faded away.
Left alone, Syoma closed his eyes and gently dozed. The fire began to dim, and a big black shadow fell across the dead body.
Syoma shuts his eyes and gently dozes. The fire begins to grow dim, and a big black shadow falls on the dead body.