Question

Based on this excerpt from "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" by Leo Tolstoy, how is the author using the character of the Devil? "Of course our work is rough and coarse. But, on the other hand, it is sure; and we need not bow to any one. But you, in your towns, are surrounded by temptations; to-day all may be right, but to-morrow the Evil One may tempt your husband with cards, wine, or women, and all will go to ruin. Don't such things happen often enough?" Pahom, the master of the house, was lying on the top of the oven, and he listened to the women's chatter. "It is perfectly true," thought he. "Busy as we are from childhood tilling mother earth, we peasants have no time to let any nonsense settle in our heads. Our only trouble is that we haven't land enough. If I had plenty of land, I shouldn't fear the Devil himself!" The women finished their tea, chatted a while about dress, and then cleared away the tea-things and lay down to sleep. But the Devil had been sitting behind the oven, and had heard all that was said. He was pleased that the peasant's wife had led her husband into boasting, and that he had said that if he had plenty of land he would not fear the Devil himself. "All right," thought the Devil. "We will have a tussle. I'll give you land enough; and by means of that land I will get you into my power." as a foil as an antagonist as a dynamic character as the protagonist

Answer 1

Based on the excerpt from Leo Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?", the author uses the character of the Devil as an antagonist. This is because the Devil, after hearing the conversation between the woman and her husband, decided to give the man enough land to corrupt him and make him follow his evil ways.