The Bad Wife
by W. R. S. Ralston · from Russian Folk Tales
Original Story
The Bad Wife
THE BAD WIFE.[53]
A bad wife lived on the worst of terms with her husband, and
never paid any attention to what he said. If her husband told
her to get up early, she would lie in bed three days at a stretch;
if he wanted her to go to sleep, she couldn't think of sleeping.
When her husband asked her to make pancakes, she would say:
"You thief, you don't deserve a pancake!"
If he said:
"Don't make any pancakes, wife, if I don't deserve them,"
she would cook a two-gallon pot full, and say,
"Eat away, you thief, till they're all gone!"
"Now then, wife," perhaps he would say, "I feel quite sorry
for you; don't go toiling and moiling, and don't go out to the
hay cutting."
"No, no, you thief!" she would reply, "I shall go, and do
you follow after me!"
One day, after having had his trouble and bother with her
he went into the forest to look for berries and distract his grief,
and he came to where there was a currant bush, and in the middle
of that bush he saw a bottomless pit. He looked at it for
some time and considered, "Why should I live in torment with
a bad wife? can't I put her into that pit? can't I teach her a
good lesson?"
So when he came home, he said:
"Wife, don't go into the woods for berries."
"Yes, you bugbear, I shall go!"
"I've found a currant bush; don't pick it."
"Yes I will; I shall go and pick it clean; but I won't give
you a single currant!"
The husband went out, his wife with him. He came to the
currant bush, and his wife jumped into it, crying out at the top
her voice:
"Don't you come into the bush, you thief, or I'll kill you!"
And so she got into the middle of the bush, and went flop
into the bottomless pit.
The husband returned home joyfully, and remained there
three days; on the fourth day he went to see how things were
going on. Taking a long cord, he let it down into the pit, and
out from thence he pulled a little demon. Frightened out of his
wits, he was going to throw the imp back again into the pit,
but it shrieked aloud, and earnestly entreated him, saying:
"Don't send me back again, O peasant! let me go out into
the world! A bad wife has come, and absolutely devoured us
all, pinching us, and biting us--we're utterly worn out with it.
I'll do you a good turn, if you will."
So the peasant let him go free--at large in Holy Russia.
Then the imp said:
"Now then, peasant, come along with me to the town of
Vologda. I'll take to tormenting people, and you shall cure
them."
Well, the imp went to where there were merchant's wives
and merchant's daughters; and when they were possessed by
him, they fell ill and went crazy. Then the peasant would go to
a house where there was illness of this kind, and, as soon as he
entered, out would go the enemy; then there would be blessing
in the house, and everyone would suppose that the peasant was
a doctor indeed, and would give him money, and treat him to
pies. And so the peasant gained an incalculable sum of money.
At last the demon said:
"You've plenty now, peasant; arn't you content? I'm going
now to enter into the Boyar's daughter. Mind you don't go
curing her. If you do, I shall eat you."
The Boyar's daughter fell ill, and went so crazy that she
wanted to eat people. The Boyar ordered his people to find out
the peasant--(that is to say) to look for such and such a physician.
The peasant came, entered the house, and told Boyar to
make all the townspeople, and the carriages with coachmen, stand
in the street outside. Moreover, he gave orders that all the
coachmen should crack their whips and cry at the top of their
voices: "The Bad Wife has come! the Bad Wife has come!"
and then he went into the inner room. As soon as he entered
it, the demon rushed at him crying, "What do you mean, Russian?
what have you come here for? I'll eat you!"
"What do you mean?" said the peasant, "why I didn't
come here to turn you out. I came, out of pity to you, to say
that the Bad Wife has come here."
The Demon rushed to the window, stared with all his eyes,
and heard everyone shouting at the top of his voice the words,
"The Bad Wife!"
"Peasant," cries the Demon, "wherever can I take refuge?"
"Run back into the pit. She won't go there any more."
The Demon went back to the pit--and to the Bad Wife too.
In return for his services, the Boyar conferred a rich guerdon
on the peasant, giving him his daughter to wife, and presenting
him with half his property.
But the Bad Wife sits to this day in the pit--in Tartarus.[54]
Our final illustration of the Skazkas which satirize women is the
story of the Golovikha. It is all the more valuable, inasmuch as it
is one of the few folk-tales which throw any light on the working of
Russian communal institutions. The word Golovikha means, in its
strict sense, the wife of a Golova, or elected chief [Golova =
head] of a Volost, or association of village communities; but here
it is used for a "female Golova," a species of "mayoress."
Story DNA
Moral
Sometimes, the most difficult people can be used to solve even greater problems, and defiance can lead to unexpected, dire consequences.
Plot Summary
A peasant is tormented by his extremely contrary wife, who always does the opposite of what he asks. He discovers a bottomless pit and tricks her into falling in. Later, he pulls a demon from the pit, who begs not to be sent back, claiming the wife is far worse. The peasant and demon form a partnership: the demon possesses people, and the peasant 'cures' them for money. When the demon possesses a noble's daughter, the peasant tricks the demon into returning to the pit by making it believe the 'Bad Wife' has come for it, thus freeing himself from both the demon and his wife, and gaining wealth and a new spouse.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects traditional Russian social hierarchy (peasant, merchant, boyar) and common folk beliefs in demons and possession. The mention of 'Golovikha' and 'Volost' in the accompanying text suggests a connection to local governance structures, though this specific story doesn't delve deeply into them.
Plot Beats (15)
- A peasant's wife is extremely contrary, always doing the opposite of what her husband asks.
- The husband, seeking relief from his torment, finds a bottomless pit in the forest.
- He tricks his wife into falling into the pit by forbidding her to go near a specific currant bush.
- After three days, the husband checks the pit and pulls out a demon.
- The demon, terrified of the wife, begs the peasant not to send him back and offers to do him a good turn.
- The demon and peasant agree to a scheme: the demon will possess people, and the peasant will 'cure' them, earning money.
- The peasant becomes wealthy by 'curing' merchant's wives and daughters.
- The demon, having made the peasant rich, warns him not to cure the Boyar's daughter, whom he plans to possess.
- The Boyar's daughter falls ill, and the peasant is summoned.
- The peasant instructs the townspeople to shout, 'The Bad Wife has come!' outside the Boyar's house.
- Inside, the peasant tells the demon that the Bad Wife has arrived, causing the demon to panic.
- The demon, hearing the shouts, asks the peasant where to hide.
- The peasant tells the demon to return to the pit, claiming the wife won't go there anymore.
- The demon flees back into the pit, joining the bad wife.
- The peasant is rewarded with the Boyar's daughter in marriage and half his property.
Characters
The Bad Wife ⚔ antagonist
Not explicitly described, but implied to be physically capable of going into the woods and causing trouble.
Attire: Likely simple, practical clothing of a Russian peasant woman, such as a sarafan, blouse, and head covering.
Contrarian, disobedient, aggressive, argumentative, stubborn, domineering.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cruel-faced woman in her late 30s with sharp, angular features and a cold, sneering expression. Her dark, ink-black hair is pulled back severely into a tight bun, accentuating her high cheekbones and thin, pressed lips. She wears an elegant but oppressive-looking gown of deep burgundy velvet with a high, stiff collar and long, pointed sleeves. Her posture is rigid and arrogant, standing tall with one hand resting imperiously on her hip, fingers curled with long, sharp nails. Her gaze is direct and disdainful. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Husband ★ protagonist
Not explicitly described, but capable of going into the forest and carrying a long cord.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing of a Russian peasant man, such as a rubakha (tunic) and trousers.
Long-suffering, cunning, resourceful, patient, joyful after his wife's disappearance, later clever and strategic.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with kind, weary eyes and a neatly trimmed brown beard. He wears a simple, earth-toned tunic over dark trousers, with sturdy leather boots. His hair is slightly disheveled, and his expression is gentle yet determined. He stands in a relaxed but ready posture, one hand resting on a worn leather satchel at his hip. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Little Demon ◆ supporting
A small, imp-like creature, capable of shrieking and tormenting people.
Attire: None, or implied to be naked/scantily clad as a demon.
Mischievous, easily tormented, fearful of the Bad Wife, grateful, cunning, opportunistic.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, mischievous-looking creature with bright red skin and two small, pointed horns peeking through messy, dark hair. It has large, expressive yellow eyes and a sharp, playful grin. The creature wears a simple black tunic with a brown leather belt and pointed boots. It stands in a dynamic pose, one foot slightly forward, as if ready to dart away, with small, leathery bat-like wings folded on its back and a thin, spaded tail curled behind it. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Boyar's Daughter ○ minor
Initially well, then described as 'ill and went so crazy that she wanted to eat people' when possessed.
Attire: Fine clothing appropriate for a Boyar's daughter, perhaps disheveled during her illness.
Initially normal, then aggressive and deranged due to demonic possession.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young girl of about eight years old with long, straight flaxen hair adorned with a delicate pearl-beaded headband. She wears an ornate crimson velvet sarafan dress with gold brocade trim over a white linen blouse with puffy sleeves. A small fur-trimmed jacket rests on her shoulders. She holds a small, carved wooden horse toy in one hand, looking at it with a curious, gentle smile. Her posture is slightly tilted, standing with one foot slightly forward. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
The Boyar ○ minor
Not described, but implied to be a man of wealth and authority.
Attire: Rich, formal clothing befitting a Boyar, such as a kaftan and fur hat.
Concerned for his daughter, authoritative, generous, grateful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a stern, weathered face and a thick, graying beard. He wears a richly embroidered brocade kaftan in deep red and gold, trimmed with dark fur at the collar and cuffs. A tall, cylindrical fur hat sits on his head. He stands with a proud, upright posture, one hand resting on a sheathed sword at his hip. His expression is solemn and authoritative. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Husband's Home
The dwelling where the bad wife and her husband live, characterized by constant domestic strife.
Mood: tense, argumentative, frustrating
The initial depiction of the bad wife's contrarian nature and the husband's suffering.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dilapidated thatched-rook cottage at dusk, its crooked chimney leaking smoke into a turbulent, purple-gray sky. The surrounding garden is choked with weeds and thorny brambles, a broken wooden fence sagging forward. Harsh, uneven light spills from a single, cracked window, casting long, distorted shadows across the muddy path. The air feels heavy and still, with a sense of lingering discord. Muted, oppressive colors of muddy brown, bruised purple, and ashen gray dominate the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Forest with the Currant Bush and Bottomless Pit
A forest where the husband goes to find berries and distract his grief, containing a specific currant bush with a hidden bottomless pit in its middle.
Mood: initially melancholic, then cunning and decisive for the husband, later terrifying for the wife and demon
The husband discovers the pit and devises a plan to get rid of his wife; the wife falls into the pit; the husband pulls out a demon.
Image Prompt & Upload
Deep in an ancient, shadowed forest at dusk, where twisted oaks and pines form a dense canopy filtering the last golden rays of sunset. Mist clings to the mossy ground. In a small clearing, a single, vibrant currant bush thrives, its branches heavy with glistening, ruby-red berries. At its heart, a subtle, dark void opens—a bottomless pit, its edges softened by roots and ferns, creating a mysterious contrast of life and endless depth. The air is still, colors rich with deep greens, earthy browns, and the sharp crimson of the berries, all under a soft, fading twilight. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Town of Vologda (Merchant's Homes)
Various homes of merchants in the town of Vologda, where the demon possesses women and the peasant 'cures' them.
Mood: initially sickly and chaotic, then blessed and prosperous
The peasant and demon execute their scheme to gain wealth by 'curing' possessed women.
Image Prompt & Upload
Twilight descends upon a row of ornate merchant homes in Vologda, their intricate wooden carvings casting long, distorted shadows. The air is heavy with a cold, damp mist that clings to the cobblestone street. Warm, amber light spills from small, deep-set windows, contrasting with the deep indigo sky. The houses, with their steep, shingled roofs and elaborate gables, seem to lean inward, their details unnaturally sharp in the fading light. A few gnarled birch trees stand sentinel, their white bark glowing faintly. The atmosphere is thick with a silent, watchful tension, the picturesque scene holding a hidden unease. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Boyar's House (and Street outside)
The grand residence of a Boyar, where his daughter is possessed, and the street outside filled with townspeople and carriages.
Mood: desperate and chaotic inside, then boisterous and alarming outside
The peasant tricks the demon into returning to the pit by making it believe the Bad Wife has arrived.
Image Prompt & Upload
A grand, imposing Boyar's house of dark timber and intricate wood carvings dominates a cobblestone street at dusk. The sky is a moody, overcast grey, casting a cold, diffuse light. The house features steep, multi-gabled roofs, tall narrow windows with dark shutters, and ornate, faded folk motifs. One upper window emits a single, unsettling warm glow. The empty street is slick with recent rain, reflecting the somber sky. A few abandoned market stalls and a single, unattended horse cart add to the atmosphere of eerie stillness. Bare, twisted trees line the lane, their branches clawing at the twilight. The overall palette is desaturated: deep browns, slate greys, and muted blues. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
