The Witch (Chekhov)
Short summary
Rural Russia, late 19th century. During a violent snowstorm, sexton Savely Gykin lay in bed in his hut adjoining the church, listening to the howling wind. He was convinced that his wife was a witch who controlled the weather to lure men to their home.
His wife Raissa sat by the window making sacks. When she heard bells in the distance, Savely grew agitated, certain that his wife had conjured the storm to bring a traveler to their door. Soon, a lost postman and his driver arrived seeking shelter from the blizzard.
The handsome young postman warmed himself by walking around the hut. Raissa was clearly attracted to him, and when Savely stepped out to help the driver, she tried to persuade the postman to stay longer. They almost embraced, but were interrupted when the driver and Savely returned. The postman departed with his companion.
When Savely returned hours later, he taunted his wife about the postman's departure. Raissa erupted in frustration:
"How miserable I am!" sobbed his wife. "If it weren't for you, I might have married a merchant or some gentleman! If it weren't for you, I should love my husband now! And you haven't been buried in the snow..."
After she fell asleep, Savely, despite his accusations and anger, found himself mysteriously attracted to his wife's beauty. He reached out to touch her hair and neck, but she elbowed him violently in response.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The storm and Savelys suspicions
As night approached, a fierce snowstorm raged outside the church hut where Savely Gykin, the sexton, lay in bed. He was not asleep, despite usually retiring with the hens. Savely listened intently to the violent weather, convinced that he knew the cause of the tempest.
A victorious force was in full chase over the fields, storming in the forest and on the church roof, battering spitefully with its fists upon the windows, raging and tearing, while something vanquished was howling and wailing.
By the window sat his wife, Raissa Nilovna, making sacks from coarse hemp. Her hands moved quickly while her body remained still, absorbed in the monotonous work. Occasionally she glanced at the window where snowflakes melted against the panes.
Raissas mysterious allure
Raissa's beauty stood in stark contrast to her surroundings. Her handsome face with its turned-up nose and dimples showed no emotion as she worked. The hut was dirty and cramped, with a large bed taking up nearly half the room. Everything was greasy and smutty, making her white neck and delicate skin seem out of place in such squalor.
Suddenly, Raissa thought she heard someone coming. The sound of bells from the posting road two miles away reached them through the storm. Savely grew anxious, pacing back and forth by the stove as the bells grew louder, then faded, then returned again.
Savelys accusations of witchcraft
Savely was convinced that his wife was responsible for the storm and for the post carriage losing its way. He accused her directly, claiming she was a witch who controlled the weather to lure men to their home.
"I know that it's all your doing, you she-devil! Your doing, damn you! This snowstorm and the post going wrong, you've done it all—you!" "You're mad, you silly," his wife answered calmly.
Savely continued his accusations, recounting previous instances when men had sought shelter during storms. Last year during a snowstorm, a mechanic had come to warm himself. On St. Alexey's Day, when the ice broke on the river, a district policeman had visited and talked with Raissa all night. During the August fast, a huntsman had appeared during two separate storms.
"A witch is a witch," Savely pronounced in a hollow, tearful voice... "Why, God have mercy upon us! Last year on the Eve of the Prophet Daniel and the Three Young Men there was a snowstorm, and what happened then? The mechanic came in to warm himself."
The arrival of the postman
Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the window. A voice called out, begging to be let in to get warm. The post carriage had indeed lost its way in the storm. Savely saw this as confirmation of his suspicions about his wife's witchcraft.
Two snow-covered figures entered the hut. The first was a fair-haired young postman who angrily removed his hood and coat, then began pacing to warm himself before sitting at the table. Despite his anger and exhaustion, his face was handsome.
The second figure was the driver, who brought in large mailbags and the postman's sword. After arranging the bags along the wall, he went to the outer room and lit his pipe.
Tension and temptation
Raissa offered the postman tea, explaining that they lived by the church and belonged to the clergy. She told him that her husband was on the retired list and worked as a watchman for the church. She complained about Father Nikodim, who took most of their crops when he came to celebrate services twice a year.
Savely defended Father Nikodim, calling him a saintly soul and a luminary of the Church. The postman grinned at their disagreement and asked how long they had been married. Raissa explained that they had wed three years ago, after her father, the previous sexton, had died. The Consistory had sent Savely to marry her so she could keep her place.
The postman stretched and lay down on a mailbag, quickly falling asleep. Savely noticed his wife staring at the sleeping man with an immovable face, pale cheeks, and eyes glowing with a strange fire. Disturbed by her interest, Savely placed a handkerchief over the postman's face, claiming it was to keep the light out of his eyes.
This mysteriousness, this supernatural, weird power gave the woman beside him a peculiar, incomprehensible charm of which he had not been conscious before... made her seem, as it were, whiter, sleeker, more unapproachable.
The departure and lingering desire
The postman awoke and, still half-asleep, saw Raissa's white neck and alluring eyes. She urged him to stay for tea, touching his sleeve. He stroked her neck and shoulders, drawn to her beauty. Just as he was about to put out the lamp, the driver appeared in the doorway with Savely peering over his shoulder. The postman quickly dropped his hands and followed the driver out.
After they left, Raissa paced the hut in agitation. Her face was contorted with hate, her eyes gleaming with savage anger as she moved like a caged tigress. When Savely returned hours later, he found her in bed pretending to sleep. He taunted her about the postman's departure, and she responded with bitter words about her miserable marriage.
Yet, waiting till she was quiet and began breathing evenly, he touched her head with his finger... held her thick plait in his hand for a minute. She did not feel it. Then he grew bolder and stroked her neck.