The Waistcoat

"The Waistcoat"^[1] ("Kamizelka",^[2] in Polish) is a short story written in 1882 by Boleslaw Prus, a leading figure in late-19th-century (Positivist) Polish literature.

Plot

The story takes place in times contemporary to the author, in one of Warsaw's old tenements. Events itself occurs in limited space of protagonist's flat, however, reader may feel that narrator, while relating the story, is sitting in a place like cinema hall and repeats everything he sees on a screen that could be a window on a tenement's wall.^[1]

The waistcoat was bought by narrator for a half a rouble from Jewish merchant. Previous owner (main character) had had worn it, so that its colour was already faded and had many stains on the fabric. The waistcoat had been worn through the back and was lacking buttons. It also had two welts, one with the buckle (shortened and sewn on) and the second one. The waistcoat, an oldish thing, symbolized the sadness that came into protagonist's life. Marriage to whom previously belonged the waistcoat, moved in to Warsaw in April. Their life was far from extraordinary, one undisturbed by hardships – they woke up in the early morning, drunk some tea from tin samovar, went together to work. Both of them were a young and quiet couple – the wife was slim and liked to sew and the husband was of a stout shape and a very hard-working man. Every Sunday they used to go on a walk and came back in the evening. In the beginning, they lived with housekeeper until July, then in October Mrs (the wife) was left alone due to Mr's (the husband's) death caused by tuberculosis. The waistcoat that the husband wore had to be fixed every time he lost weight because of his deteriorating health. One buckle was being fixed by himself (in order not to make his wife worried about his condition) and the second buckle by his wife (because she wanted to cheer him up that everything's still under control). In this way, both of them "deluded" themselves "in good faith". After husband's death Mrs left Warsaw.

Characters

• Mr (the husband) – a hired, diligent, office worker of a stout shape, who works until late hours, his incurable illness is the main focus of the novella
• Mrs (the wife) – a teacher, doing part-time job as a dressmaker, woman of a strong character, however, very concerned about husband's health and that is the main reason why she uses a bit of cunning with fixing the waistcoat worn by her husband
• Narrator – protagonist's neighbour, he sees all the story by peeping through the window. In the beginning he buys the waistcoat from a Jewish merchant. The purchase is of sentimental value to him.
• Jewish merchant – sells the waistcoat to the narrator
• Doctor – comes to marriage's place in order to diagnose main character's illness

References

1. "The Waistcoat by Boleslaw Prus translated by N. B. Jopson" The Slavonic and East European Review, Vol. 9, No. 26 (December 1930), pp. 283-291.
2. Bolesław Prus, Kamizelka. Period: Pozytywizm. Wolne Lektury, Fundacja Nowoczesna Polska, Warsaw.