The Candle (Tolstoy)
Short summary
Russia, time of serfdom before 1862. A nobleman appointed Michael Simeonovitch as superintendent of his estate.
Michael brutally oppressed the serfs, forcing them to work excessive hours and selling bricks for personal profit. The peasants secretly met to discuss killing him. Vasili Minayeff advocated violent resistance.
Peter Mikhayeff opposed violence, urging patience and saying evil cannot defeat evil.
On Easter Monday, Michael forced the serfs to plough. Peter worked with a burning candle between his ploughshares, singing hymns. When Michael learned of this, he became terrified and exclaimed:
He has conquered me, and my end is near!... He has conquered me! I am lost!
His wife persuaded him to release the serfs. Riding to the field, Michael fell from his horse onto a fence picket which pierced his stomach, killing him. The nobleman freed the serfs, and they understood God's power manifests through goodness, not evil.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The tyrannical superintendent and the suffering serfs
During the era of serfdom, many years before Alexander II's liberation of sixty million serfs in 1862, the Russian peasantry endured various forms of lordship. While some nobles treated their serfs humanely, the most barbarous rulers were often former serfs who had risen from poverty to positions of power. These newly elevated officials made life unbearable for those under their control.
One nobleman chose Michael Simeonovitch as superintendent from the peasantry of another estate.
Despite having sufficient wealth to live comfortably, Michael began practicing outrageous cruelties upon the serfs. He forced them to work more days than legally required and established a brickyard where men and women performed excessive labor, selling the bricks for his personal profit. When desperate serfs sent a delegation to Moscow to complain to their lord, they received no satisfaction, and Michael's revenge made their lives even worse.
Secret meetings and plans for revenge
Among the serfs were treacherous people who falsely accused their fellows, sowing discord that enraged Michael further. The peasants lived in terror, hiding when the superintendent passed through their village like a wild beast. From overwork and ill-treatment, their suffering became unbearable, and they began holding secret meetings to discuss how to rid themselves of their inhuman tormentor.
How much longer can we tolerate such a villain to rule over us? Let us make an end of it at once, for it were better for us to perish than to suffer.
The boldest among them declared it would be no sin to kill such a devil in human form. They spoke of their desperate situation - being worked nearly to death with no rest for themselves or their women, facing brutal floggings that had already killed some, including poor Simeon and Anisim who died from torture.
The confrontation in the woods and the decision to act
Before the Easter holidays, the serfs held a meeting in the woods where Michael had sent them to clear land. At noon, they gathered to eat and consult. Vasili Minayeff, who suffered more than most from Michael's cruelty, spoke passionately.
That evening, Michael arrived on horseback and found fault with their work, particularly angry about lime-trees that had been cut down. He slapped Sidor for the offense and severely punished Vasili for insufficient work before riding safely home. Later, Vasili compared his fellow serfs to sparrows who conspired against a hawk but scattered when danger appeared, urging them to stand firm in their murderous resolve.
Peter Mikhayeffs opposition and the moral divide
When Michael ordered the serfs to work during Easter holidays, they gathered in Vasili's house for another meeting. However, Peter Mikhayeff opposed their violent plans.
The law of God is not to return evil for evil; indeed, if you try in this way to stamp out wickedness it will come upon you all the stronger.
Peter warned that killing Michael would stain their souls and plant seeds of greater wickedness within them. This created a division among the peasants between Vasili's followers and those who supported Peter's peaceful approach.
Easter Sunday labor and the miracle of Peters candle
On Easter Sunday, no work was done, but an elder came from the nobleman's court ordering the peasants to plough the next day. Despite their grief, none dared disobey. On Easter Monday morning, while church bells called others to worship, the unfortunate serfs went to the fields. Michael arose late, enjoyed tea with his wife and visiting daughter, then sent the elder to check on the workers and report their complaints.
Michael's wife pleaded with him to show mercy on this holy day, but he threatened her with violence and rudely thrust his hot pipe against her cheek. After a hearty meal, he demanded the elder's report. The elder described how the peasants cursed Michael, but then told of something remarkable about Peter:
It was a small, five-kopeck wax candle, burning brightly, and the wind was unable to blow it out... the bright little object between the colters remained undisturbed.
Michaels realization and accidental death
Upon hearing about Peter's miraculous candle that burned undisturbed while he ploughed and sang hymns, Michael ceased his ridicule and became deeply troubled, moaning "He has conquered me, and my end is near!" His wife persuaded him to mount his horse and go release the serfs from their labor. When he reached the village, everyone fled in terror. At the gate, his horse was frightened by pigs and sprang aside, causing Michael to fall across a sharp fence picket that pierced his stomach fatally.
When the serfs returned that evening, only Peter had courage to approach the dead superintendent's body. He closed Michael's eyes and took the corpse home. Learning of the brutal treatment his superintendent had inflicted, the nobleman freed the serfs, requiring only small rent for land use.
And thus the peasants clearly understood that the power of God is manifested not in evil, but in goodness.