Ivan the Fool Page #3

"Ivan the Fool" is a novella by Leo Tolstoy that examines the themes of wisdom, folly, and the nature of happiness. The story follows the life of Ivan, a simple and good-hearted peasant who is often regarded as foolish by those around him. Despite his lack of worldly wisdom, Ivan possesses a profound understanding of what truly matters in life—love, kindness, and contentment. Throughout the narrative, Tolstoy contrasts Ivan's humble perspective with the greed and pretentiousness of others, ultimately suggesting that genuine wisdom may reside in sincerity and simplicity rather than in societal conventions. Through a blend of humor and moral reflection, Tolstoy invites readers to reconsider their definitions of intelligence and success.

								

the one who was sent to your brother Simeon.”

“Well,” said Ivan, “it matters not who you are. I will fix you all the
same.”

As Ivan was about to strike the first blow the devil pleaded: “Let me
go and I will do you no more harm. I will do whatever you wish.”

“What can you do for me?” asked Ivan.

“I can make soldiers from almost anything.”

“And what will they be good for?”

“Oh, they will do everything for you!”

“Can they sing?”

“They can.”

“Well, make them.”

“Take a bunch of straw and scatter it on the ground, and see if each
straw will not turn into a soldier.”

Ivan shook the straws on the ground, and, as he expected, each straw
turned into a soldier, and they began marching with a band at their
head.

“Ishty [look you], that was well done! How it will delight the
village maidens!” he exclaimed.

The small devil now said: “Let me go; you do not need me any longer.”

But Ivan said: “No, I will not let you go just yet. You have converted
the straw into soldiers, and now I want you to turn them again into
straw, as I cannot afford to lose it, but I want it with the grain on.”

The devil replied: “Say: ‘So many soldiers, so much straw.’”

Ivan did as directed, and got back his rye with the straw.

The small devil again begged for his release.

Ivan, taking him from the pitchfork, said: “With God’s blessing you may
depart”; and, as before at the mention of God’s name, the little devil
was hurled into the earth like a flash, and nothing was left but the
hole to show where he had gone.

Soon afterward Ivan returned home, to find his brother Tarras and his
wife there. Tarras-Briukhan could not pay his debts, and was forced to
flee from his creditors and seek refuge under his father’s roof. Seeing
Ivan, he said: “Well, Ivan, may we remain here until I start in some
new business?”

Ivan replied as he had before to Simeon: “Yes, you are perfectly
welcome to remain here as long as it suits you.”

With that announcement he removed his coat and seated himself at the
supper-table with the others. But Tarras-Briukhan’s wife objected to
the smell of his clothes, saying: “I cannot eat with a fool; neither
can I stand the smell.”

Then Tarras-Briukhan said: “Ivan, from your clothes there comes a bad
smell; go and eat by yourself in the porch.”

“Very well,” said Ivan; and he took some bread and went out as ordered,
saying, “It is time for me to feed my mare.”

CHAPTER V.

The small devil who had charge of Tarras finished with him that night,
and according to agreement proceeded to the assistance of the other two
to help them conquer Ivan. Arriving at the plowed field he looked
around for his comrades, but found only the hole through which one had
disappeared; and on going to the meadow he discovered the severed tail
of the other, and in the rye-field he found yet another hole.

“Well,” he thought, “it is quite clear that my comrades have met with
some great misfortune, and that I will have to take their places and
arrange the feud between the brothers.”

The small devil then went in search of Ivan. But he, having finished
with the field, was nowhere to be found. He had gone to the forest to
cut logs to build homes for his brothers, as they found it inconvenient
for so many to live under the same roof.

The small devil at last discovered his whereabouts, and going to the
forest climbed into the branches of the trees and began to interfere
with Ivan’s work. Ivan cut down a tree, which failed, however, to fall
to the ground, becoming entangled in the branches of other trees; yet
he succeeded in getting it down after a hard struggle. In chopping down
the next tree he met with the same difficulties, and also with the
third. Ivan had supposed he could cut down fifty trees in a day, but he
succeeded in chopping but ten before darkness put an end to his labors
for a time. He was now exhausted, and, perspiring profusely, he sat
down alone in the woods to rest. He soon after resumed his work,
cutting down one more tree; but the effort gave him a pain in his back,
and he was obliged to rest again. Seeing this, the small devil was full
of joy.

“Well,” he thought, “now he is exhausted and will stop work, and I will
rest also.” He then seated himself on some branches and rejoiced.

Ivan again arose, however, and, taking his axe, gave the tree a
terrific blow from the opposite side, which felled it instantly to the
ground, carrying the little devil with it; and Ivan, proceeding to cut
the branches, found the devil alive. Very much astonished, Ivan
exclaimed:

“Look you! Such nastiness! Are you again here?”

“I am another one,” replied the devil. “I was with your brother
Tarras.”

“Well,” said Ivan, “that makes no difference; I will fix you.” And he
was about to strike him a blow with the axe when the devil pleaded:

“Do not kill me, and whatever you wish you shall have.”

Ivan asked, “What can you do?”

“I can make for you all the money you wish.”

Ivan then told the devil he might proceed, whereupon the latter began
to explain to him how he might become rich.

“Take,” said he to Ivan, “the leaves of this oak tree and rub them in
your hands, and the gold will fall to the ground.”

Ivan did as he was directed, and immediately the gold began to drop
about his feet; and he remarked:

“This will be a fine trick to amuse the village boys with.”

“Can I now take my departure?” asked the devil, to which Ivan replied,
“With God’s blessing you may go.”

At the mention of the name of God, the devil disappeared into the
earth.

CHAPTER VI.

The brothers, having finished their houses, moved into them and lived
apart from their father and brother. Ivan, when he had completed his
plowing, made a great feast, to which he invited his brothers, telling
them that he had plenty of beer for them to drink. The brothers,
however, declined Ivan’s hospitality, saying, “We have seen the beer
moujiks drink, and want none of it.”

Ivan then gathered around him all the peasants in the village and with
them drank beer until he became intoxicated, when he joined the
Khorovody (a street gathering of the village boys and girls, who sing
songs), and told them they must sing his praises, saying that in return
he would show them such sights as they had never before seen in their
lives. The little girls laughed and began to sing songs praising Ivan,
and when they had finished they said: “Very well; now give us what you
said you would.”

Ivan replied, “I will soon show you,” and, taking an empty bag in his
hand, he started for the woods. The little girls laughed as they said,
“What a fool he is!” and resuming their play they forgot all about him.

Some time after Ivan suddenly appeared among them carrying in his hand
the bag, which was now filled.

“Shall I divide this with you?” he said.

“Yes; divide!” they sang in chorus.

So Ivan put his hand into the bag and drew it out full of gold coins,
which he scattered among them.

“Batiushka,” they cried as they ran to gather up the precious pieces.
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