What do you think?
Rate this book
Alyosha the Pot
A short story from the Classic Shorts collection: Family Happiness by Leo Tolstoy
16 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1911
About the author
Leo Tolstoy
8,658 books29.8k followersLev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: Лев Николаевич Толстой; most appropriately used Liev Tolstoy; commonly Leo Tolstoy in Anglophone countries) was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist fiction. Many consider Tolstoy to have been one of the world's greatest novelists. Tolstoy is equally known for his complicated and paradoxical persona and for his extreme moralistic and ascetic views, which he adopted after a moral crisis and spiritual awakening in the 1870s, after which he also became noted as a moral thinker and social reformer.
His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and anarcho-pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
See also:
French → Léon Tolstoï
Spanish → León Tolstói
His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and anarcho-pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
See also:
French → Léon Tolstoï
Spanish → León Tolstói
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 15, 2018
اليوشا حمار الشغل.
هكذا يجب تسمية هذه القصة التي تعبر عن سذاجة الانسان البسيط الذي لا يكل ولا يمل من العمل ومهمته ارضاء الناس.
حتى عندما كان يموت كان همه ارضاء الناس بان لا يتعبهم ولا يغضبهم.
وكان موته راحة له
هكذا يجب تسمية هذه القصة التي تعبر عن سذاجة الانسان البسيط الذي لا يكل ولا يمل من العمل ومهمته ارضاء الناس.
حتى عندما كان يموت كان همه ارضاء الناس بان لا يتعبهم ولا يغضبهم.
وكان موته راحة له
Read
December 22, 2021Tolstoy is a man of extremes, with novels tipping the scales at over 1000 pages, to short stories you can read in a few flicks. Each magnificent. His short stories however, read like a big novel in miniature form. It’s like a tall ship in a bottle, or a city in a snow globe. Everything is there in all its detail - just shrunk to fit.
Such a sad little tale of unrealised potential. Alyosha, a poor peasant boy, simple minded who is taken advantage of and exploited. In only half a dozen or so pages - Tolstoy depicts the shameful misery of his seemingly unaware protagonist, who just accepts his fate and ultimate destiny. This was sad. Exquisite, but tragic.
Such a sad little tale of unrealised potential. Alyosha, a poor peasant boy, simple minded who is taken advantage of and exploited. In only half a dozen or so pages - Tolstoy depicts the shameful misery of his seemingly unaware protagonist, who just accepts his fate and ultimate destiny. This was sad. Exquisite, but tragic.
August 8, 2021
اليوشا الإناء افنى نفسه فى العمل و ازهقت روحه كانه فى ساقية لا تنتهى حتى الحب عندما احس به كان ليس سيد القرار فضحى به و الشئ الوحيد الذى كان هو صاحب القرار فيه هو الموت , عمل على ارضاء الجميع حتى فقد روحه .
تولستوى بديع كلماته كالمعزوفة الحزينة .
تولستوى بديع كلماته كالمعزوفة الحزينة .
June 2, 2024
Quickest short story ever.
July 28, 2026
Alyosha, our main character in this story, strives always to please. He is both willing and able to do all the chores and tasks thrown at him, and he does it with good cheer, despite being constantly abused. No thought is given to his happiness by others, and he is unaware that anyone could like a person for any other reason than the service they can render.
I admit that I took one view of this story before reading George Saunders’ commentary in A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, and decided on a completely different view afterward. I actually liked the ambiguity of the story and believe that is its strength.
I admit that I took one view of this story before reading George Saunders’ commentary in A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, and decided on a completely different view afterward. I actually liked the ambiguity of the story and believe that is its strength.
September 5, 2013
Once you finish it, you will carry the story with you for the rest of your life. Read cautiously.
November 18, 2024
I’m angry. Maybe reading Alyosha’s story wouldn’t have hurt me this much if I didn’t know real-life “Alyoshas”.
When my grandmother died, some people who loved her sighed with relief “she suffered her share; she can finally rest”. This Russian (or, in my case, Soviet) mentality has been with me throughout my childhood—for the virtuous, we saw death as the reward for all the pain they endured.
That’s Tolstoy in this case. Alyosha spent his life servicing others, denying his chance at happiness (and rest), only to receive mistreatment and ingratitude in return. But to Tolstoy, his life was worthwhile, for he lived up to his morals and died like a saint.
Not even a saint, like Jesus himself! Alyosha was mistreated, exploited, and then sacrificed. Yet, unlike Jesus, Alyosha’s sacrifice forgave no sins, only enabled them to spread.
When my grandmother died, some people who loved her sighed with relief “she suffered her share; she can finally rest”. This Russian (or, in my case, Soviet) mentality has been with me throughout my childhood—for the virtuous, we saw death as the reward for all the pain they endured.
That’s Tolstoy in this case. Alyosha spent his life servicing others, denying his chance at happiness (and rest), only to receive mistreatment and ingratitude in return. But to Tolstoy, his life was worthwhile, for he lived up to his morals and died like a saint.
Not even a saint, like Jesus himself! Alyosha was mistreated, exploited, and then sacrificed. Yet, unlike Jesus, Alyosha’s sacrifice forgave no sins, only enabled them to spread.
August 16, 2014
Clearly Tolstoy supported the worker and the peasant, and this short story written in his waning years was likely a rallying cry for the revolutionaries. "The Pot." What was a pot good for? Eating from, and at that time, using as a toilet (which no doubt Aloysha was forced to clean in the houses he served). The would-be wife he loved was a cook, would have filled his pot with love and food, had the marriage been permitted. We have to remember that to this day, some children and adults in every country are kept in this sort of servanthood or slavery. This story still speaks.
February 16, 2019
“What’s to be done? We must do as we're told.”
Every day, working inhumanely hard with a smile on his face, Alyosha existed. And then you fall on a piece of iron over the door.
Completely uninspiring. Faith is needed to enjoy this.
Feb 16, 19
Every day, working inhumanely hard with a smile on his face, Alyosha existed. And then you fall on a piece of iron over the door.
Completely uninspiring. Faith is needed to enjoy this.
Feb 16, 19
May 23, 2024
Another tale in George Saunders’s A Swim in a Pond in the Rain. I wasn't a huge fan of this one, I'm not the biggest Tolstoy fan and I think Saunders nails why in his analysis of one of his tales. He's very matter of fact and descriptive.
September 5, 2017
Sad, sad story about a young Russian boy who lives for others and receives no reward in this life. Raises questions about social obedience.
February 5, 2026
I wish I could figure out what to say about this story. Only I can’t except to say I didn’t care for it at all.
I seem to be in the minority on this one judging by all the glowing reviews. Problem is this is one of those occasions where I’m really questioning what it is I did not get.
In case you don’t know if this is considered to be a little bit of a classic short story in Russian literature.
The problem for me is, it had very little plot, very little dialogue, and held very little interest from me.
I do wish, my friends, I could talk about the plot without posting spoilers, but I can’t. In this case, there’s too much to give away, and I don’t want to spoil anyone else’s enjoyment or lack thereof.
But a quick breakdown of the plot, being as vague as I can.
So this is a story of a Russian servant boy, and the way he conforms to societies expectations, which seem to be, in this story, at least , shut up and do as you’re told.
The story takes a few minutes to read at most.
Now , I’m going to have to post spoilers because I cannot talk about it any other way. Follow along if you dare!
SPOILERS
OK. The story basically goes like this – young boy does this he’s told. Everybody walks all over him. He falls in love. Nobody wants him to marry his woman of choice. Once again, he conforms to societies expectations and does not marry her then he falls from a roof and dies, and then the story ends.
That is the story.
At no point did I feel like I ever knew anybody in the story. Another reviewer mentioned something that I agree with. If this had been written by someone who wasn’t considered a superb writer– for example, a first published story by an unknown writer, it would be given short strife.
I was remarkably unimpressed, and I really don’t mean that in a negative way. Different people are fond of different sorts of literature as you know.
But usually I can at least understand what makes the story great. In this case I really don’t. I get the message, but the way it was delivered was very bland for me. It was so short and so devoid of dialogue, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to like this.
In any event, I rated this it a two . I have no regrets. If somebody who has read this is interested in posting in the comment section, please do. I’m always interested in hearing about an aspect of a book I may have missed.
I seem to be in the minority on this one judging by all the glowing reviews. Problem is this is one of those occasions where I’m really questioning what it is I did not get.
In case you don’t know if this is considered to be a little bit of a classic short story in Russian literature.
The problem for me is, it had very little plot, very little dialogue, and held very little interest from me.
I do wish, my friends, I could talk about the plot without posting spoilers, but I can’t. In this case, there’s too much to give away, and I don’t want to spoil anyone else’s enjoyment or lack thereof.
But a quick breakdown of the plot, being as vague as I can.
So this is a story of a Russian servant boy, and the way he conforms to societies expectations, which seem to be, in this story, at least , shut up and do as you’re told.
The story takes a few minutes to read at most.
Now , I’m going to have to post spoilers because I cannot talk about it any other way. Follow along if you dare!
SPOILERS
OK. The story basically goes like this – young boy does this he’s told. Everybody walks all over him. He falls in love. Nobody wants him to marry his woman of choice. Once again, he conforms to societies expectations and does not marry her then he falls from a roof and dies, and then the story ends.
That is the story.
At no point did I feel like I ever knew anybody in the story. Another reviewer mentioned something that I agree with. If this had been written by someone who wasn’t considered a superb writer– for example, a first published story by an unknown writer, it would be given short strife.
I was remarkably unimpressed, and I really don’t mean that in a negative way. Different people are fond of different sorts of literature as you know.
But usually I can at least understand what makes the story great. In this case I really don’t. I get the message, but the way it was delivered was very bland for me. It was so short and so devoid of dialogue, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to like this.
In any event, I rated this it a two . I have no regrets. If somebody who has read this is interested in posting in the comment section, please do. I’m always interested in hearing about an aspect of a book I may have missed.
June 12, 2015
Kinda invite me to reflect on my life - if I have lived just according to what is expected yet not desired by myself, at the same time, not being courageous enough of my convictions. It is somehow also about cause and effect, say Aloysha does marry Ustinja, he might not die falling off the roof. Isn't life like this, full of the question "what if"?
January 20, 2021
A short story. A simple youth works like a slave. As only Tolstoy can do, we see deep into his heart.
Is Alyosha a Peaceful hero? Or a dumb victim who we should not respect? Or just an individual who is no example to us? I think and don’t know.
Is Alyosha a Peaceful hero? Or a dumb victim who we should not respect? Or just an individual who is no example to us? I think and don’t know.
April 29, 2021
I actually chuckled in bemusment when I finished reading this. If I or anyone else without a serious writing career had written Alyosha the Pot, I think the world would rightfully ignore it... it would mean nothing to anyone; but the fact that someone with the CV of Tolstoy bothered to sit down, work on it, and then have it published, makes an artistic statement in and of itself.
What Alyosha the Pot is I'm still not really sure. Is it a sister piece to The Death of Ivan Ilych, or a fable about the virtues of living a simple life? A warning not to let others control you, or just an absent minded doodle from a great writer? I have no idea, but because it was written by Tolstoy I can't stop trying to get my head around it. It must mean something!
What Alyosha the Pot is I'm still not really sure. Is it a sister piece to The Death of Ivan Ilych, or a fable about the virtues of living a simple life? A warning not to let others control you, or just an absent minded doodle from a great writer? I have no idea, but because it was written by Tolstoy I can't stop trying to get my head around it. It must mean something!
December 31, 2013
It looks like a very plain story, leaving you after you finish it. But it's not. Alyosha is so much us.
-This part can be a spoiler for you - I am not sure -
Being happy -sorry, pretending like to be happy-, nodding to the ones who are elder or stronger, loving one but being unable to fulfil others' dreams rather than hers, then dying alone.. out of sight.. Alyosha is so much us.
-This part can be a spoiler for you - I am not sure -
Being happy -sorry, pretending like to be happy-, nodding to the ones who are elder or stronger, loving one but being unable to fulfil others' dreams rather than hers, then dying alone.. out of sight.. Alyosha is so much us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2017
Aloysha is a peasant lad. He is hard-working, obedient, cheerful and never puts his own wishes above his duty. I think we are supposed to see him as a model for life, but it is difficult not to find him rather stupid.
January 4, 2012
What the hell just happened is all I can think after reading this.
July 28, 2024
“And if ever they told him to do something or asked him could he do so and so, why, he’d say ‘Sure’ before they were hardly finished and he’d start doing it and do it.”
Story #7 discussed in George Saunders' A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life.
A thought-provoking (almost to the point of being disturbing) story. Everyone abuses Alyosha, from giving him the nickname after he broke a pot tripping as a child, to the constantly cruel treatment by his family and employers. How he reacts to all of this is what makes the story. It’s very short and open-ended, leaving readers to puzzle out right and wrong for ourselves.
Slight, but powerful.
Story #7 discussed in George Saunders' A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life.
A thought-provoking (almost to the point of being disturbing) story. Everyone abuses Alyosha, from giving him the nickname after he broke a pot tripping as a child, to the constantly cruel treatment by his family and employers. How he reacts to all of this is what makes the story. It’s very short and open-ended, leaving readers to puzzle out right and wrong for ourselves.
Slight, but powerful.
Read
October 30, 2025Kortverhaaltje 🤓
January 26, 2018
Aloysha is the embodiment of the mundane existance. His voice is taken from him by the very being who made him come to the world: his father. Even the wages are taken away; therefore, he can't choose or improve financialy. The poor Aloysha just felt the very early stages of love, then he dies because of the eccentric middle class. They used him to their heart satisfaction, but never did they compliment his pure soul. Aloysha is a pot, a pot of purity, a pot which contains what humanity lacks: gentelness and simplicity.
Leo's style (the translator in my case) say the story simply with a sentence at a time. Then the ending shocked me, for I thought Aloysha would at least experience some goodness in the world, but reality doesn't function like that I supose.
The other story was unexpictedly good. It is a focused picture in a given time about normal humans in American society. Teenagers looking for fun, then getting pregnant.
Leo's style (the translator in my case) say the story simply with a sentence at a time. Then the ending shocked me, for I thought Aloysha would at least experience some goodness in the world, but reality doesn't function like that I supose.
The other story was unexpictedly good. It is a focused picture in a given time about normal humans in American society. Teenagers looking for fun, then getting pregnant.
January 19, 2022
without any deeper meaning, the story was short and would be very dull - but relating this to tolstoy's values, it goes a little deeper.
alyosha is a character of overwhelming, fundamental goodness. he led the peasant life of simplicity, which perhaps can be related to tolstoy's own beliefs in christianity; alyosha appreciates the value of everyday life and simple work, and such ideas of a general life epitomises some of the principles in religious belief.
the ending was kinda sad, upon reading it i was taken aback as to how quickly it ended! a very calm ending for a calm life, some peaceful acceptance of it, as a potential consequence of rejecting personal happiness for greater good.
i also was interested in ustinya's relationship to alyosha - tolstoy makes a point of the differences to where alyosha would provide every need on order, compared to a longing to provide for no reason except liking the person.
(translation by sam carmack)
alyosha is a character of overwhelming, fundamental goodness. he led the peasant life of simplicity, which perhaps can be related to tolstoy's own beliefs in christianity; alyosha appreciates the value of everyday life and simple work, and such ideas of a general life epitomises some of the principles in religious belief.
the ending was kinda sad, upon reading it i was taken aback as to how quickly it ended! a very calm ending for a calm life, some peaceful acceptance of it, as a potential consequence of rejecting personal happiness for greater good.
i also was interested in ustinya's relationship to alyosha - tolstoy makes a point of the differences to where alyosha would provide every need on order, compared to a longing to provide for no reason except liking the person.
(translation by sam carmack)
February 10, 2017
Alyosha Pot is barely a story - I quite like Tolstoy's short stories - they are descriptive, give you a sense of what life in Russia must have been like - and they generally all carry meaning and message. In this story, there's none if that - a young man does whatever is asked of him, carries every burden, never talks back, always smiles ... and then he dies - the end.
July 12, 2018
This one, to me, is one the most amazing short stories I've ever read: it has sadness, memento mori philosophy, love, and a magnificient plot.
I can't even go on, because the story is so short and so powerful, that I may end up spoiling everything. One thing I can say is: life is too short not to struggle to be happy and free.
memento mori!
I can't even go on, because the story is so short and so powerful, that I may end up spoiling everything. One thing I can say is: life is too short not to struggle to be happy and free.
memento mori!
October 26, 2010
The story about Human strength
August 20, 2012
What an odd little story. I am not quite sure what to make of it, but I know I like it!
July 30, 2015
A great short story by Tolstoy.
December 25, 2015
An amazing short story, not that I like Alyosha though. If only he had..
August 17, 2017
عندما تسرق كل الحقوق
فالموت في تلك الحالة اسمى الغايات
فالموت في تلك الحالة اسمى الغايات
September 1, 2019
A sweet man, Alyosha. If there is an afterlife, he probably had a good one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews