Combat and Classics is a series of podcasts and online seminars that explores the nature of man in conflict and cooperation through socratic dialogue and the great books. For more info visit 
In this episode, Lise, Jeff and Brian discuss “The Student,” a (very) short story by Anton Chekhov. The central character is Ivan, a student, or disciple, whose depression is transformed into elation during the course of his conversation with a peasant mother and daughter about the suffering of Peter as he realizes his betrayal of Jesus.
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I think Lise created a longer story than Chekhov did, creating a whole storyline about the man’s coat. There are a thousand reasons she might have been wearing a man’s coat, having nothing to do with killing and yet that becomes the whole basis of the interpretation of the story. How about this – Vasilisa had the coat as a hand-me-down from one of the gentry class for whom she had once worked and both men, Valisa and Lukerya’s husbands died of natural causes. Maybe the story is about a young student who despairs that continual poverty, hunger, and oppression he sees in the world. Until he encounters a scene that reminded him of betrayal and the possibility of redemption and he recognizes that the season’s change that life is good and bad and made of sinners and saints, one and the same.