PRINCESS MYMRA

YOUNG ATYA FALLS IN LOVE WITH THE LODGER IN THEIR ST. PETERSBURG APARTMENT. HE IDEALIZES HER, NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE IS A KEPT WOMAN. HE WANTS TO SHARE HIS BELOVED HOME VILLAGE OF KLUCHI (WHICH MEANS “KEYS” IN RUSSIAN) WITH HER. THE INNOCENCE OF VILLAGE LIFE IS COMPARED TO THE OPPRESSIVE CYNICSM OF URBAN CIVILIZATION. REMIZOV’S DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAGAN MYTHOLOGY OF NORTHERN RUSSIA, THE PERSISTENCE OF THE MARI LANGUAGE IN RUSSIAN, AND THE MIXTURE OF CHRISTIAN PRACTICES AND SUPERSTITION ARE BRILLIANTLY DISPLAYED HERE. Atya was happy in Kluchi, so happy that only the very last little tip of