Most of the time he had to beg for food in the villages. One of the most striking and touching descriptions in the whole story is at the end of the Tatar's monologue when he was asking himself about the way to find means of living with his wife in Siberia: "Now, when his whole body was aching and shivering, he ought to go into the hut and lie down to sleep; but he had nothing to cover him there, and it was colder than on the riverbank; here he had nothing to cover him either, but at least he could make up the fire..." (Chekhov, 1892). The contradiction in views, between the old man and the young Tatar on one hand and the old man and Vassily Sergeyich, the ex-gentleman wit a sick daughter, is not coming to any resolution at all. Everyone remains convinced...

The young fellow who was still completely attached to his old life is even convinced old Semyon was the bad man in all that. but, old Semyon who had seen a lot like him knew better and his favorite words are closing the exchange of words in the short story: "He'll get u-used to it." He knew people came to terms with life in Siberia or died.
The symbolism of the door that remains open, as if not worth of the smallest effort suggests that wither all those who had fallen asleep under the hut's roof knew it would not make any difference and therefore, were saving on precious energy, or they kept it open t hope for something different, in spite all odds.

Works Cited

Chekhov, a. Short Stories. In Exile. 1892.