Alyosha the Pot (Tolstoy)
Short summary
A peasant boy nicknamed 'the Pot' after breaking a milk pot as a child grew up working hard on his family's farm. When Alyosha turned nineteen, his brother was drafted as a soldier, so his father sent him to work for a merchant in town as a yard-porter.
The merchant's family initially doubted his usefulness but soon discovered Alyosha worked even better than his brother. Everyone ordered him about constantly, yet he remained cheerful and willing, running from task to task without complaint. After a year and a half, something remarkable happened - he discovered that the cook Ustinia cared for him not just for his usefulness, but as a person. She saved him food, mended his clothes, and they fell in love.
When Alyosha's father learned of their plans to marry, he forbade it, as did the merchant who didn't want married servants. Alyosha obediently gave up the idea. During Lent, while clearing snow from the roof, Alyosha slipped and fell onto iron, fatally injuring himself.
He lay in wonderment, then stretched himself, and died.
Detailed summary
Section titles are editorial.
Alyoshas life, work, and forbidden love
Alyosha received his nickname 'the Pot' after breaking a pot of milk while running an errand for his mother to the deacon's wife. His mother beat him for this mishap, and the village children teased him mercilessly. Alyosha was a small, thin boy with prominent wing-like ears and a large nose that made him the target of constant mockery.
Despite his poor performance at the village school, Alyosha worked from an early age helping his father with various tasks. By six, he watched cows and sheep in the pasture with the girls, later tended horses day and night, and by twelve was already plowing and driving carts. Though lacking physical strength, he possessed the necessary skills and maintained a cheerful disposition.
He was always cheerful. Whenever the children made fun of him, he would either laugh or be silent. When his father scolded him he would stand mute and listen attentively.
When Alyosha turned nineteen, his elder brother was conscripted as a soldier. His father then placed him with a merchant as a yard-porter, giving him his brother's old boots and his father's coat and cap. The merchant was initially unimpressed with Alyosha's appearance, questioning what use such a small person could be.
The merchant's household consisted of his wife, her elderly mother, a poorly educated married son working in the family business, another son who had been expelled from university, and a daughter still attending school. Initially unwelcoming to the uncouth, badly dressed newcomer, the family gradually accepted Alyosha as he proved himself an even more willing worker than his brother had been.
The more he did, the more he was given to do... And Alyosha ran here, looked after this and that, forgot nothing, found time for everything, and was always cheerful.
Everyone in the household constantly ordered him about from morning till night. His daily routine included chopping wood, sweeping the yard, feeding animals, lighting stoves, cleaning boots, preparing samovars, running errands, and helping with various household tasks. He rarely managed proper meals, eating in snatches while working, though the cook kept food warm for him out of sympathy.
After a year and a half of this life, Alyosha made a startling discovery about human relationships. Through his friendship with Ustinia, the young cook, he realized that beyond mere usefulness, people could care for him as a person. Ustinia was an orphan who worked as hard as Alyosha and showed him genuine kindness and affection.
He felt for the first time in his life that he—not his services, but he himself—was necessary to another human being.
When Ustinia asked about marriage, Alyosha expressed his willingness to marry her rather than any village girl. However, their hopes were crushed when the merchant's wife learned of their intentions and disapproved, refusing to keep married servants in the house.
Alyoshas accident and death
When Alyosha's father came to collect his wages at Shrovetide, the merchant informed him of his son's marriage plans. The father was outraged and immediately confronted Alyosha, forbidding the marriage and promising to find him a decent village wife instead. Alyosha obediently agreed to abandon his plans, though he burst into tears after assuring his mistress he would give up 'that nonsense.'
From that day forward, Alyosha continued his work as usual and no longer spoke to Ustinia about marriage. During Lent, while clearing snow from the roof as instructed by the clerk, Alyosha's foot slipped and he fell. Unfortunately, instead of landing in snow, he struck a piece of iron over the door, sustaining serious internal injuries.
Despite his pain, Alyosha initially claimed he was fine, but he could not rise. The doctor examined him and confirmed his serious condition. After two days in bed, they sent for the priest. When Ustinia asked if he was really dying, Alyosha accepted his fate philosophically, even expressing gratitude that their marriage had been prevented.
What a lucky thing they didn't let us marry! Where should we have been now? It's much better as it is.