When I read Master and Man, I kept noticing the difference between being selfish and being unselfish. Right away Vasili Andreevich, the rich merchant, came across as bossy, greedy, and kind of rude. He only cared about money and his own status, and he didn’t even notice how bad the storm was getting or how much Nikita, his servant, was suffering. At first that really annoyed me. The way he treated Nikita like his life didn’t matter made me think about how, even today, people sometimes treat others like objects instead of real people.
As the story went on, my feelings about him started to change. When Vasili realized he might actually die in the snow, I could almost feel his panic. The heavy snow and freezing wind made it clear that nature doesn’t care how rich or important someone is. Everyone is fragile when they face death, and that idea kind of unsettled me.
The part that stayed with me most was when Vasili finally gave up his own warmth and life to save Nikita. It wasn’t just the action itself, but the calm and peace he felt once he let go of his greed and showed real kindness. It made me wonder if people only find real freedom when they stop worrying about money and control. I liked that Tolstoy shows that someone can change for the better, even after a lifetime of being selfish.
In the end, I wouldn’t say this was the most exciting or fun book I’ve ever read, but it had a strong message. It made me think about what really matters in life and how we can always try to do better.