concept
Barin
barin
also: барин, master (form of address)
Barin was the deferential peasant term of address for a gentleman landowner, retained by habit even where, as here, the underlying economic relationship has effectively reversed.
Reading notes
- The Virtuous Tavern-Keeper §10 master
Barin, the deferential peasant term of address for a gentleman landowner -- retained here by old habit even as the economic relationship between the two men has effectively reversed.
- The Burbot §30 "your honor"
Vashe skorodie ("your honor/worship"), the formal deferential address a peasant used for a gentleman of rank -- Gerasim's use of it, sandwiched between fish-talk and grunting, is part of the story's comedy of manners collapsing under shared physical absurdity.