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The beggar
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Answer the following:

1. Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstances or by choice?
Ans. Lushkoff formerly worked as a singer in a Russian choir. He was fired from
his job due to his habit of drinking He kept this a secret because if he told people
about it he would not get work anywhere. He had become very weak and
debilitated due to his drunkenness and consequently was unable to do any work
that required hard physical labour. Left with no choice, he resorted to begging and
lying about his real identity to make a living. Later in the story, when Sergei
provided him with the opportunity to work as a copying clerk with his friend he
made the best use and emerged a successful notary. The motivation and guidance
provided by Sergei and his cook, Olga changed him for good. So we can say that
Lushkoff had become a beggar by circumstances not by choice.

2. What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies?

Ans. Lushkoff, the beggar lied to Sergei and many other people on several
occasions. He was caught in this habit of lying due to his miserable condition. He
had no work to do and nothing to eat. On one of the occasions, he told Sergei that
he had been a village school teacher but lost his job through intrigues. He fell a
victim to calumny. He also lied about the fact that he could not take up a position
in the province of Kaluga, offered to him as he didn't have the money to get there.
When Sergei threatened to handover Lushkoff to the police he revealed the truth
about himself. He told that he had been a singer in the Russian choir but was
forced out of employment due to his drunkenness. He also revealed that he kept
this fact from people because if he had told the truth nobody would have offered
him work anywhere.
3. Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for
Sergei?
Ans. Lushkoff had got into the habit of drinking. His strength had been
undermined by Vodka and he was unhealthy. His conduct and physical condition
reflected that he didn't feel the slightest inclination for toil. When Sergei refused to
give alms to Lushkoff and instead of that offered him a job to chop wood for him,
he could not say no to him. He agreed to do his work but in reality he was not
willing to work. His drunkenness got him into a weak and debilitated situation. It
was obvious from his gait that he had not consented to go and chop wood because
he was hungry and wanted work but simply from pride and shame and because he
had been trapped in his own words. He had already agreed to do the work. If he
had refused to work probably Sergei would not have given him any alms and also
might have handed him ever to the police for lying about his identity.
4. Sergei says, "I am happy that my words have taken effect." Why does he say so?
Is he right in saying so?
Ans. Lushkoff was a waif and had to resort to begging as he had become too weak
to do any physical labour due to his drinking habit. He started lying to people
about his identity so that they would give him alms out of sympathy. Sergei saw
him in this condition and offered to provide him the work of chopping wood at his
house. Later when Sergei moved into another house he hired him to help in the
packing and hauling of the furniture. He noticed that the waif became sober,
gloomy and silent. He hardly touched the furniture and walked behind the wagons.
He was hanging his head, not even making a pretence of appearing busy He only
shivered in the cold and became embarrassed when the carters jeered at him for his
idleness, his feebleness and his tattered, fancy overcoat. After the moving was over
Sergei sent for him and gave the statement "I am happy that my words have taken
effect." I think he was right in saying so because his efforts transformed him into a
respectable and self- dependent man. He became a notary and started earning
thirty-five roubles per month.

5. Lushkoff is earning thirty five roubles a month. How is he obliged to Sergei for
this?
Ans. When Sergei moved into another house, he hired Lushkoff to help him in
packing and hauling the furniture. Although he was weak and debilitated to work
but still showed no reluctance. He didn't complain about the work, didn't even
pretend to be busy. Sergei was impressed by his willingness to work. He found him
sober and showing no objection to work. Having known his ability to write, he
offered him a cleaner employment. He asked his friend to employ him as a copying
clerk. Lushkoff accepted the new job offer. With his hard work and determination
to work, he soon became a notary officer and started earning thirty five roubles per
month. Lushkoff was grateful to Sergei for his kind words and deeds. He thanked
him for his protection and guidance which ultimately led him to become a
respectable and self-dependent man.

6. During their conversation Lushkoff reveals that Sergei's cook, Olga, is

responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff?
Ans. Olga, Sergei's cook was a noble and kind hearted woman. She had been a
great support to Lushkoff when he was at his low and ultimately helped him
become a responsible and respectable man. She treated him like his son and
showed motherly concern for him. When she noticed that Lushkoff was trying hard
to chop the wood but was unable to do so skilfully due to his debility, she herself
chopped the wood for him and did other works so that he could get some money
and feed himself. She would get angry at him and take him to task for drinking too
much Vodka and spoiling his health. She cried and yelled at him. She cursed him
and called him unlucky and warned him that if he didn't change his ways he would
die in hell and there would be no pleasure in this world for him. Her words created
a positive impact on Lushkoff. He stopped drinking Vodka and became a
respectable person. He got the job as a notary. Olga thus played an important role
in transforming Lushkoff’s life and saving him from all troubles.