How Much Land Does a Man Need

Tolstoy’s protagonist ultimately succumbs to the temptations of greed. Do you think Tolstoy believed wealth, consumerism, and greed are inevitably linked? Why or why not? How does his opinion compare with your response to the Personal Connection Prompt?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt invites students to consider the perspective of Tolstoy in relation to the themes of Envy, Greed, and Loss and Temptation and the Deadly Sins. For Tolstoy, acquiring private property, which would inevitably lead to the amassment of wealth, was a detriment to humanity. Incorporating his views on Christian morality into the story, Pahóm’s spiraling trajectory of Envy, Greed, and Loss only occurs after the Devil enters his life. While Tolstoy’s narrative focuses primarily on land ownership and greed, we can view these as an extension of the collection of material goods and growing wealth as temptations for society. This prompt relates to the second Full Essay Assignment, so asking students to hold onto their work may be advantageous.