Heathen Master Filcsik

"Heathen Master Filcsik" by Kálmán Mikszáth, is a story set in Hungary, telling of a stingy shoemaker named Filcsik, whose fancy fur coat means more to him than his own daughter. The story explores pride, family problems, and how people really feel, as Filcsik's daughter, Therese runs off with a County Judge against his wishes. Filcsik is stubborn and mean, causing a split between him and his daughter, which only gets worse when she becomes sick and wants to make peace. The story takes a turn when Filcsik's precious fur cloak goes missing, leading to a discovery of his buried kindness when he gives the cloak away to a homeless beggar and there child to save them. This act shows Filcsik changing, proving that even the coldest people can show kindness, even if Filcsik still pretends he owns the cloak. The story uses humor, a symbol for Mikszáth's social observations, to follow Filcsik’s shift from being selfish, to a moment of giving.