Antek’s Descent and Return
The PeasantsThis thread traces Antek’s rebellion, estrangement, public disgrace, arrest, and return to the farm and village.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
A Son’s Resentment

A Son’s Resentment
Work without ownership
Antek Boryna works his father’s land but feels denied a fair inheritance and resents Maciej’s authority.
Desire intensifies conflict
His love for Jagna Paczesiówna compounds the land dispute and draws him toward defiance rather than reconciliation.
Exile and Labor

Exile and Labor
A household expelled
After a violent dispute, Antek, Hanka, and their children leave Maciej’s farm and face poverty in a poorer cottage.
Work and isolation
Antek eventually takes work at the sawmill, but his labor does not resolve his resentment or restore his sense of belonging.
A Brief Reconciliation

A Brief Reconciliation
Old rivalry erupts
Antek attacks Mateusz after hearing him boast about Jagna, then later makes peace with him at the inn.
Confidence regained
Their reconciliation briefly restores Antek’s standing among young villagers, but it does not restore his place in the family.
The Forest and the Prison

The Forest and the Prison
Battle and violence
During the fight over the forest, Antek kills the woodsman after seeing his father struck down.
Consequences
He is arrested with the other men, remains in prison after many return, and learns that legal judgment may keep him from his family for years.
Home, Work, and Uncertainty

Home, Work, and Uncertainty
A return to the farm
Antek comes back to Lipce and resumes farm work, presenting himself as ready to accept responsibility for the household.
An unresolved future
His reunion with Hanka does not settle his case, land claims, or his relationship with Jagna and the village.
autumn
early winter
winter
spring
summer