: As she struggles to stay awake, the shadows in the room begin to take on haunting shapes. She drifts in and out of feverish dreams about her late father and her life back in the village.

: In a final, tragic act of desperation to find peace, Varka suffocates the infant and immediately falls into the deep, long-awaited sleep she craved. Key Themes

: Varka is perpetually sleep-deprived. Her days are filled with endless domestic chores, and her nights are spent rocking her masters' crying baby.

: The masters' complete lack of empathy toward Varka's basic needs acts as the primary catalyst for the eventual tragedy. Literary Significance

: The story explores the physiological and psychological boundaries of the human body, specifically how extreme fatigue can lead to a complete loss of morality and sanity.