Lesson Plan:  The Servant Class 10th

The story revolves around a character named Gerasim who returns to Moscow during the Christmas season, hoping to find a job. However, finding employment becomes challenging, and he spends three weeks searching in vain. Gerasim had previously worked various jobs in Moscow, including as a bottle-washer and a lower servant. After being called back to his village for military service but not being selected, he decides he’d rather be in Moscow than the countryside.
Gerasim’s efforts to secure a job lead him to seek help from friends and acquaintances, but his attempts are unsuccessful. He faces hardships, going without food for days. Eventually, a friend from his village helps him secure a job by sabotaging an old employee’s position. Gerasim is offered the job, but when he visits the house where he’s supposed to work, he overhears an old couple inside mourning the loss of their livelihood due to the coachman’s interference. They express how the coachman manipulated their situation to benefit his friend. This revelation causes Gerasim to feel guilty, and he decides not to take the job, opting to remain unemployed instead. This choice serves as an anti-climax in the story, highlighting Gerasim’s moral dilemma and his refusal to benefit from the misfortune of others.

Character Sketch: Gerasim

Description: Gerasim is a strong and resilient young man.
Determined: He persistently seeks employment in Moscow, even in the face of challenges.
Empathetic: He feels guilty upon learning about others’ suffering and considers their well-being.
Independent: Gerasim has a history of hard work and self-reliance.
Adaptable: He prefers urban life and struggles with the countryside.
Moral: He values ethics over personal gain, as seen in his refusal to take a job at others’ expense.
            Conflict: Gerasim experiences internal conflict between his need for a job and his empathy for others.
            Development: He evolves from self-focused to valuing the well-being of others.
            Impression: Gerasim’s empathy, integrity, and self-sacrifice make him a memorable character in the story.

Objectives:

Students will analyze the character of Gerasim and his moral dilemma within the context of UNSDG 16.
Students will explore the theme of empathy and its alignment with the principles of justice and strong institutions.
Students will discuss the implications of ethical choices in real-life situations and their impact on fostering peace.

Specific Objectives: critical thinking, discussions, and reflection while aligning with UN – SDG 16
Behavioural Objectives
●Decision making in most adverse conditions
●empathy
●care and concern

Assessment: Based on assignment and comprehension questions (Bloom’s Taxonomy)
(Remembering)
1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. When does Gerasim return to Moscow?
3. What were Gerasim’s previous jobs in Moscow?
4. How long does Gerasim search for a job?

Understanding
5. Why does Gerasim find it challenging to secure a job in Moscow?
6. How does Gerasim’s background in city life affect his experiences in the village?
7. What prompts Gerasim to feel guilty during his visit to the future workplace?

Analyzing
10. How does Gerasim’s empathetic nature contribute to the story’s central conflict?
11. Analyze the internal conflict Gerasim faces and its impact on his decision-making.

Creating
14. Imagine an alternative ending to the story where Gerasim takes the job. How would this change the story’s themes?