The Village

Main Ideas

• Depiction of a Russian village at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, its customs and way of life.
• Illustration of the decline and degradation of village life, and the moral decay of the peasantry.
• Critique of social injustice and the harsh conditions faced by peasants.
• Exploration of the human soul, its darker sides and vices.
• The problem of alienation from nature and traditional values.
• The theme of loneliness and hopelessness in the lives of village residents.
• Examination of the impact of historical and social changes on village life.