The Road

The road symbolizes the difficult of rustic living. The road on which Marya and Semyon travel during their journey is in very bad condition. These conditions make the journey difficult. Marya’s resulting dissatisfaction with the journey parallels her overall unhappiness with the dreary and unfulfilling nature of her life in the countryside.

Cart

The cart symbolizes the perseverance of life, even in the face of difficulty and unhappiness. Marya’s is generally unhappy with her life, as well as with her means of transportation on her journey. Nonetheless, she rides the cart and collects her salary, as she has no other ready means of supporting herself. She continues to make a living in order to continue living in general.

Embezzlement

Embezzlement in the story symbolizes injustice. Marya’s does not embezzle money, and yet some of the locals believe that she does so. Meanwhile...