Genre
Short story; parable.
Setting and Context
The story is set in a small town in the Russian countryside called Vladimir in the 19th century.
Narrator and Point of View
The story is narrated from a third-person limited omniscient perspective that follows Aksionov's point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone is objective and matter-of-fact; the mood is anxious and nightmarish, but ultimately calm.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Ivan Dmitrich Aksionov is the protagonist; his primary antagonist is Makar Semyonich.
Major Conflict
The story's major conflict is that Aksionov is found guilty of a murder he didn't commit; finding no justice, Aksionov puts his faith in God's plan.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Semyonich grovels for Aksionov's forgiveness after Aksionov decides not to tell the authorities of Semyonich's involvement in the escape tunnel. Aksionov finds himself released from the burden of his resentment after he grants God's forgiveness.
Foreshadowing
At the beginning of the story, Aksionov's wife has a dream in which her husband comes home with grey hair. Aksionov laughs it off, but this portentous image foreshadows how his wrongful imprisonment will prematurely age him.
