How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Lev Tolstoy

There's two major ideas I can draw from How Much Land Does a Man Need? The first is that the desire for money and power can distract you from the important things in life, and can literally destroy you if you're not careful. The other is that Russian life has very little upward mobility, and the government is intensely oppressive. Tolstoy was an Anarchist, and believed that all government hurts its citizens. The story is a representation of his personal beliefs: the government is corrupt, and instead people should support Anarchy, love others, exercise patience, and live with the bare minimum.

Tolstoy was born into nobility. After dropping out of university he gambled away most of his wealth. He then enlisted in the army during the War of Crimea. During his service, he was promoted to lieutenant for "outstanding bravery and courage"(War). After his service, he was disgusted by the death and destruction of war and became a non-violent anarchist. He is quoted as saying,

The truth is that the State is a conspiracy designed not only to exploit, but above all to corrupt its citizens ... Henceforth, I shall never serve any government anywhere. (A. N. Wilson)

The Anarchists are right in everything; in the negation of the existing order, and in the assertion that, without authority, there could not be worse violence than that of authority under existing conditions. (Maude)

In the story, the Devil is representative of the state. Tolstoy believed the government sparked conflict between people with glory, wealth, or patriotism. In the story, the Devil uses wealth and glory to drive Pahom to take as much as possible from the people around him. The answer to the question posed in the title is answered in the end of the story- the 6 feet needed to bury Pahom. Tolstoy is advocating for minimalism, saying hard work is more important than generational wealth. Pahom's discussions with the Pashkirs, in which they give gifts and drink kumiss, is an opportunity for love and friendship with the group, which Pahom rejects. Tolstoy believes love is the highest morality, so here Pahom has been driven to amoral actions by the Devil. Pahom is also impatient at the end of the story, refusing kumiss so that he can start his day. This contrasts to the beginning of chapter 3, in which he is initially patient with neighbors. This again is an example of the Devil corrupting Pahom.

How Much Land Does a Man Need? tells the inverse story to Tolstoy's life. Pahom begins patient and compassionate, but by the work of the symbolic government he becomes corrupted, and ultimately dies because of it. Tolstoy believes people should shed their government and their belongings and embrace the people around them, needing only enough land for them to rest.

A. N. Wilson. Tolstoy, 1988. (Sourced from Wikiquote)

Maude, Aylmer. “On Anarchy.” Pamphlets : Translated from the Russian, 1900, p. 22. (Available on archive.org)

“War and Peace - Ten Things You Didn't Know About Tolstoy.” BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3GL3DPct7D5GPQzB7GlrrBW/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-tolstoy.

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