[2] Inspired by a true story, it depicts the miserly life of the protagonist, Mr. Prokharchin, a patronym derived from the Russian word for 'grub' or 'vittles', kharchi.
He seems to be extremely poor, eating frugal meals and sleeping on a mattress directly on the floor.
On his death, they eventually discover that the man was in fact wealthy and was living in that way voluntarily.
A large sum of money is found hidden inside his mattress.
Prokharchin's dreams, in which the accumulation of money figures prominently, express his anxiety about his sense of self and his guilt over the selfishness that has isolated him from other human beings.