Land

Pahom’s land acquisitions symbolize the self-feeding nature of greed. At the beginning of the story, Pahom feels that all he needs in order to be completely content is a little more land. However, whenever he acquires more land, his greed only grows stronger. His endless quest for more and more land ultimately leads to his death.

The Sisters’ Argument

The argument between the sisters symbolizes the tensions between contentment and excess. The younger sister is content with being a farmer’s wife. Although her life is a humble one, she does not feel the need to pursue luxuries or excess. She declares that her older sister, who lives in the city with her tradesman husband, is in danger of losing her stability to the pursuit of luxuries.

Neighbor Disputes

Pahom’s disputes with his neighbors symbolize the ways in which greed can destabilize communities. After...