What is the importance of Russian mythology in the novel, Winter of the Witch?

The novel focuses a lot on Russian mythology for the basis of its’ story. Chyerti, for example, is a word for demons, even though most of them live peacefully alongside humans. The author also includes a glossary of many Russian terms and names from folklore such as Baba Yaga, domovoi, and Pozhar. There are also many terms of respect or endearment such as gospodin (lord), and matyushka (a term of endearment for mother). All of these words can be deduced from the context clues and the relationships between each character. This vocabulary also sets the novel in an older time period and better immerses the reader in the world.

The relationship between the chyerti and humans provides the deepest meaning in the novel. It is the greatest source of conflict throughout the entire novel, even when the Tartars attack (as they only did so because of the Bear’s meddling in Dmitrii’s plan). This connection between the world is meant to show that there are gray areas between good and evil. Characters like Medved, who is perceived as evil by the characters and the reader, mourns the death of Konstantin and is instrumental in saving Moscow. Meanwhile, Morozko seems more like the hero, but it is clear that he has done just as many terrible things as his brother. There are also many context clues that show how none of these characters - human or chyerti - started on good terms with each other. This establishes that there has been some kind of regression between characters at the start of the novel, as many struggle to trust each other until the end. Both of these themes show that the world is an inherently complex place that needs people like Vasya to bring others together.