Greed

Egorushka learns a great deal about the nature of greed in the novella on account of his close dealings with the merchant class. Characters like Kuzmichov and Varlamov epitomize avarice. Solomon, on the other hand, is the antithesis of greed.

To begin, Kuzmichov cares about money more than anything in the world. Egorushka cannot help but compare him to Father Khristofor as he watches them sleep: “A fanatic for his business, Kuzmichov always thought about his affairs, even in his sleep… But Father Khristofor was a gentle man, light-minded and given to laughter… Thus, in the present journey, he was interested not so much in wool, Varlamov, and prices as in the long route, the conversation on the way, sleeping under the britzka, eating at odd times… And now, judging by his face, he must have been dreaming of Bishop Khristofor, the Latin discussion, his wife...