28 pages • 56 minutes read
Leo TolstoyWhat Men Live By
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1885A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Character Analysis
Michael
The action of the story centers around Michael and his journey back to God. His otherworldly and ethereal characteristics become increasingly pronounced as the story progresses, culminating in the reveal of his holy origins. An angel, who even in human form could see “the spirit of death” and “the presence of God” (Part 11, paragraph 1) within people, Michael is representative of the divine and awesome power of God.
His presence as a symbol of God’s will supports the major themes of the story, allowing selflessness to both occur and be rewarded while also impressing upon readers the mysterious nature of God’s plan. Appearing seemingly from nowhere and deeply in need, good deeds toward him are rewarded, and his presence and assistance propel Simon and his family into prosperity. He possesses uncanny knowledge, predicting deaths and recognizing people he has presumably never met. The reveal of his origins and true power at the end of the tale act as both climax and conclusion, his presence on Earth being the story’s driving force. The story’s parable structure allows this ending to reinforce the religious message, placing the holy and divine behind the narrative’s progression.
Michael further presides over these moral and psychological themes as a direct connection to the divine, proving that God is concerned with and has plans for everyone. The good that Simon and Matryona experience, as well as the knowledge of human nature they gain, are due to the act of God that led Michael to them. The narration does not go inside Michael’s head or trace his psychology; the story instead focuses on the effect Michael has on others’ thoughts and actions. He is a tool in the hands of the Lord. Indeed, when not serving God’s plan by discovering a truth, he almost ceases to exist, as “When work was over he sat silently, looking upwards. He hardly went into the street, spoke only when necessary, and neither joked nor laughed” (Part 5, paragraph 6).
Michael is at his least human and most angelic when he inspires moral acts, serving God’s purpose without referencing his own wants or desires. When Michael finally speaks at length to reveal his origins and the truth he has learned, he becomes so connected to God that his voice appears to come “not from him but from heaven above” (Part 12, paragraph 2), and at last, he returns to heaven, completely dissolving his humanity to be one with the divine.
Simon
Simon is the first character introduced, a poor shoemaker attempting to buy materials for a coat. He represents the archetype of the poor craftsman—struggling yet kind and generous. Matryona’s description of him reinforces this, saying “My good man is much too simple; he cheats nobody, but any child can take him in” (Part 3, paragraph 5). This depiction is complicated by the focus given to his internal moral conflicts. Faced with failing his task and seemingly at the end of his patience, he drinks and grows angry, even berating those who owe him. His initial reluctance to help Michael and, in turn, the resurgence of his conscience not only keep his portrayal from being one-noted but introduce the key dichotomy of Generosity Versus Pragmatism in the story. He is the everyman of rural Russia, his good nature representing the same capacity for goodness in the rest of humanity, an assertion confirmed by the story’s truth that what “dwells in men” is love (Part 11, paragraph 2).
This key conflict is first portrayed through Simon as the character who facilitates action within the story. He is the one to find Michael, and it is his profession that brings both the gentleman and the twins to the house. The nature of shoemaking furthers this purpose. By providing shoes, Simon allows others to move through the world and interact with other people. This reinforces the theme of Human Connection as Divine, or in the story’s words, that “God does not wish men to live apart” (Part 12, paragraph 6). Simon’s role as both Michael’s discoverer and the shoemaker allows him to facilitate these connections.
Matryona
Matryona is Simon’s wife and represents the cares of the home throughout the story. Indeed, she is never seen outside of it. Her first appearance is rooted in the work she completes around the home and how she “had everything ready early that day” (Part 3, paragraph 1). She acts as quartermaster, controlling to whom and when to distribute resources such as food and clothing. The comforts of home are meted out by Matryona’s hand alone. In keeping with this role, she takes a watchful interest in the goings on in her home; she takes quick stock of both Michael and Simon when they enter for the first time, and she is the first to notice that Michael is cutting slippers and not boots for the gentleman. Even after deciding to care for Michael, she worries over how to provide said care, telling Simon that they have eaten the last of the bread and saying “I don’t know what we shall do tomorrow. Perhaps I can borrow some off the neighbor” (Part 4, paragraph 14). This all reinforces her knowledge and skill in managing her domain.
Matryona’s role as a housewife does not make her unimportant. If Simon brings things into the plot, Matryona is the one who cares for them. Simon finds Michael and can allow him initial entry into the home, but Matryona controls whether or not he will stay. Her providing care to Michael and accepting him into the fold is the catalyst for his recognition of the love that resides within humanity. Matryona’s representation of the home extends to the spiritual realm. Her actions reveal not only the story’s first truth but the third as well, citing the proverb that causes Michael’s revelation. Matryona exemplifies both sides of the home—the practicality of material needs and the wisdom of the hearth.
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