The Servant by S. T. Semyonov
🧑💼 About the
Author: S. T. Semyonov (1870–1922)
- Full name:
Stepan Trofimovich Semyonov.
- A Russian
realist writer known for depicting the lives of peasants and the
working class.
- His
stories highlight poverty, social injustice, and human compassion.
- “The
Servant” is one of his most famous short stories that reveals the harsh
conditions of the poor and the moral struggles of ordinary people.
📖 Summary of
“The Servant”
“The
Servant” tells the story of Gerasim, a poor, honest, and loyal peasant
who comes to the city in search of work. He meets his friend Yegor Danilych,
who has been a servant for a long time and helps Gerasim find a job.
Gerasim
works hard and faithfully for his master, but soon the master dismisses him
without any reason. Poor Gerasim again turns to Yegor for help. Yegor feels
pity for him and tries to find him another position.
When
Gerasim finally finds another job, Yegor secretly takes a bribe from the master
for recommending Gerasim. Later, when Gerasim loses that job too and comes to
Yegor again, Yegor becomes irritated and avoids him.
The
story ends with Gerasim realizing the cruelty and selfishness of the
city people. He leaves the city — broken, hopeless, but still honest and
innocent.
🧍♂️ Main Characters
- Gerasim
- The
protagonist; a poor, simple, and honest peasant.
- Hardworking
and sincere, but life constantly treats him unfairly.
- Symbolizes
the innocent and exploited poor.
- Yegor
Danilych
- Gerasim’s
friend, also a servant.
- Initially
kind and helpful, but later becomes selfish.
- Represents
how poverty and city life corrupt human kindness.
- The
Masters / Employers
- They
treat servants as replaceable objects.
- Represent
the indifferent upper class of society.
🌆 Important
Places
- The City:
Represents corruption, materialism, and harshness of modern life.
- The Village:
Symbolizes innocence, simplicity, and moral purity (Gerasim’s origin).
- Masters’
Houses: Show the class divide between rich
employers and poor servants.
💡 Themes
- Poverty
and Struggle:
- The story
shows how the poor must struggle to survive in an unjust society.
- Corruption
and Moral Decay:
- Yegor’s
betrayal of Gerasim reflects how selfishness grows out of poverty.
- Innocence
and Exploitation:
- Gerasim’s
honesty makes him vulnerable to exploitation.
- Humanity
vs. Inhumanity:
- The
contrast between Gerasim’s kindness and others’ cruelty highlights lost
humanity.
- Social
Injustice:
- The
system favors the rich while neglecting the poor and honest workers.
🗣️ Important
Extract (under Fair Use)
“He
worked faithfully, never complained, and was ready to serve anyone who would
take him. Yet no one seemed to need such a servant.”
This
line captures the central irony — an honest man finds no place in a
corrupt society.
📚 Word Meanings
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Servant |
A person
employed to work for others |
|
Bribe |
Money offered
dishonestly to influence someone |
|
Poverty |
The state of
being extremely poor |
|
Loyalty |
Faithful
devotion to duty or person |
|
Exploitation |
Taking unfair
advantage of someone |
|
Dismissed |
Sent away
from employment |
|
Innocence |
The quality
of being morally pure |
|
Hopeless |
Without hope
or expectation |
📝 Important
Questions
🩵 A. Short Answer Type Questions (2–3 marks
each)
Q1.
Who is the central character of the story “The Servant”?
Ans: The central character is Gerasim, a poor, honest peasant who
comes to the city in search of work.
Q2.
Who helps Gerasim find a job in the city?
Ans: His old friend Yegor Danilych, who has been working as a
servant for a long time, helps him find work.
Q3.
What kind of man is Gerasim?
Ans: Gerasim is simple, hardworking, loyal, and honest. He represents
the innocence and honesty of the poor.
Q4.
Why does Gerasim lose his job?
Ans: Gerasim loses his job not because of any fault of his own but due
to the cruelty and indifference of his masters.
Q5.
How does Yegor betray Gerasim?
Ans: Yegor takes a bribe from the master who hires Gerasim, and
later avoids helping Gerasim when he becomes unemployed again.
Q6.
What does Gerasim’s character symbolize?
Ans: Gerasim symbolizes the innocent and honest poor, who are
exploited and ignored by society.
Q7.
What does the city represent in the story?
Ans: The city represents corruption, selfishness, and moral decay,
where good people like Gerasim suffer.
Q8.
What kind of relationship exists between Yegor and Gerasim?
Ans: They are old friends, but Yegor’s selfishness and greed destroy
their friendship.
Q9.
Why does Gerasim leave the city?
Ans: Gerasim leaves the city in disappointment after realizing
that honesty has no value in a corrupt world.
Q10.
What is the meaning of the title “The Servant”?
Ans: The title refers to Gerasim, but also symbolizes all the poor
workers who serve the rich yet remain powerless and forgotten.
💬 B. Long Answer
Type Questions
Q1.
Discuss the character of Gerasim.
Ans:
Gerasim is the main character of the story. He is poor but honest, hardworking,
and loyal. Despite his faithfulness, he is treated cruelly by his masters and
betrayed by his friend Yegor. Gerasim never loses his goodness even when he
faces injustice. He represents the innocent and exploited poor who suffer
silently in society.
Q2.
Write a short note on Yegor Danilych.
Ans:
Yegor Danilych is Gerasim’s friend and also a servant. At first, he appears
kind and helps Gerasim find a job. But later, he becomes selfish and greedy. He
takes a bribe for recommending Gerasim and avoids him afterward. His character
shows how poverty and city life corrupt even good-hearted people.
Q3.
What are the main themes of “The Servant”?
Ans:
The main themes are poverty, exploitation of the poor, loss of
humanity, and social injustice. Semyonov shows that society neglects
the honest and rewards the corrupt. The story also highlights the inner
conflict between morality and survival.
Q4.
How does Semyonov portray social injustice in “The Servant”?
Ans:
Semyonov presents a society divided between the rich and the poor. The rich
exploit servants like Gerasim, who work sincerely but are treated unfairly.
Even people like Yegor, who belong to the same poor class, become selfish. The
story reflects a deep criticism of social inequality and moral corruption.
Q5.
Why is Gerasim considered a tragic figure?
Ans:
Gerasim is a tragic figure because, despite being honest and hardworking, he
faces repeated suffering and betrayal. His loyalty goes unrewarded, and his
innocence leads to his downfall. His tragedy reflects the fate of all good
people in a cruel and unjust world.
💭 C. Value-Based
/ Critical Thinking Questions
Q1.
What message does S. T. Semyonov convey through “The Servant”?
Ans:
Semyonov’s message is that poverty and social inequality destroy human
kindness. He shows how honesty and hard work are not enough to survive in a
corrupt world. The story urges readers to feel sympathy for the poor and to
value humanity over wealth.
Q2.
Compare the characters of Gerasim and Yegor.
Ans:
Gerasim and Yegor are opposites. Gerasim is honest, loyal, and innocent, while
Yegor is cunning, selfish, and corrupted by city life. Gerasim’s goodness
remains pure despite suffering, whereas Yegor’s heart hardens under poverty.
Their contrast highlights the story’s moral — poverty can test and destroy
human virtue.
Q3.
What is the moral of the story “The Servant”?
Ans:
The moral is that honesty and goodness often suffer in a selfish and unjust
society. It also teaches that true humanity lies in compassion and
fairness, not in wealth or position.
Q4.
How is the story “The Servant” a realistic portrayal of life?
Ans:
The story is realistic because it reflects the true struggles of poor
servants in society. The language, setting, and characters are simple and
lifelike. Semyonov portrays real emotions — hunger, betrayal, and despair —
which make the story deeply human and believable.
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