Q: The children, of course, seem to mark the differences between the two families most. How would you describe those differences?
Anna's children suffer from neglect, whereas Maria's children are well cared for, and seem much better adjusted. This difference seems to mark the differences between the families, in their entirety, as well. Ivan is quicker and smarter than Petro, even though he is two years younger than his cousin. His development is better because he has family members who take an interest in him. Petro craves attention from his Tato, but his Tato is a lazy, good-for-nothing scoundrel. I don't really think that the inclusion of his father in his life for periods longer than the few weeks at a time Stefan is around would actually do Petro any good. I think he gets much better role models in his elder cousin and his uncle. He dreams of his father coming home, but I think he is better off without him. Likewise, I know Lesya is better off without him. However, I think both children would benefit from being reared in the home of Aunt Maria and Uncle Teodor, versus living with their mother and/or father.
Dania and Myron have already taken on adult responsibilities within the family. They both have the ability to assist their mother and father with household chores and farming needs. Katya is still young. She has such an active imagination. I believe that Sofia and Lesya are similar in age differences to the two young boys, but are as different as night and day. Lesya behaves much older than her cousin, Sofia, who dreams of being a rich, pampered child.
Q: What are the marriages like?
Maria and Teodor's marriage is based on faith, trust and love, whereas Anna and Stefan's marriage is based on falsehoods and failed hopes.
Q: What is the relationship between Anna and Maria?
Although they are technically sisters-in-law, it is more of a caregiver role that Maria finds herself in. Whether Anna is capable, or not capable, the fact that she doesn't take care of herself or her children has forced Maria, who is unable to ignore someone in need, to care for them all. Anna seems like a child herself. The way that Maria feels compelled to visit frequently to ensure the family has food and to make sure Lesya is coping with the household chores, the way she checks on Anna's self-inflicted wounds and cleans them out and applies salve to them reminds me of someone who is caring for a child in an adult body. I don't think Anna was bad before becoming pregnant again, but I don't get the feeling that Anna was ever a good mother. I find myself increasingly frustrated at Anna's behavior.
