Feudalism was still present in mid-century Russia; this created a class struggle in the Russian society. In the short story “Mumu”, the author Ivan Turgenev, demonstrates a feudalism government through the events of an old lonely woman lord and her serfs. The woman is extremely powerful and acts in a selfish behaviour towards her serfs, in a society where economic status exists among the latter.
In the story, the author speaks of a society in a lord’s estate as well as the power and selfishness a lord carries amongst her serfs. Turgenev writes, “…trembled at the very name of her mistress…” (P. 5). The narrator demonstrates the serfs’ feelings towards their lord. The woman’s loneliness, misery of losing her husband and the departure of her children are reasons which suggests why she behaves the way she does to the serfs. The woman forces two serfs into marriage and says, “…now, if we were to marry him…” (P. 4). Hence, perhaps this woman is very controlling and selfish, because she wants to recreate the memory she had when her daughters were getting married. The woman is very content with the marriage, and never stops talking about it. Turgenev writes, “The old lady was so much taken up with the idea of Kapiton’s wedding, that even in the night she talked of nothing else…” (P. 10). The author is showing the feeling of excitement the woman once had when her daughters were to get married. This type of society demonstrates the kind of power a lord has on their serfs during mid-century Russia.
Throughout the story, it is shown that the lord does not care about anyone else’s feelings but her own. When her serf, Gerasim, had a dog, she seemed to be somewhat surprised. According to the author, Gerasim is described as being a tree that grows on fruitful soil. Gerasim raised his dog up with a lot of love and care. Turgenev writes, “No mother could have looked after her baby as Gerasim looked after his little nursling” (P. 12). According to his fellow serfs is regarded as a short-tempered man. When the woman first sets her eyes on the dog, she seemed to be in a state of disbelief. After the dog disobeyed one of the lord’s commands, she ordered the dog to be taken away and killed. The lord is very selfish individual who cares not about Gerasim’s feelings. The woman is trying to inflect the misery she has within herself on other people around her. Essentially, the lord believes that if she cannot live a happy and joyful life, no one can. For instance, when the lord ordered Gerasim’s dog to be killed it suggested that she wanted him to feel the same way she did when it came to the loss of someone you really and deeply care about. When Gerasim leaves the estate of the women, he is very miserable, and does not even keep a single dog. This feudal government discourages and gives no rights to servants.
“Mumu” is a story that reveals a society within a feudalism system. This type of society is an example of the power a lord had on their serfs. This created a class struggle in mid-century Russia.
