Tolstoy described the height of rye to be "as high as a horse" to show the temptation that Pahom was facing as he heard this. The temptation is best described by Tolstoy with the words "Pahom's heart kindled with desire." Pahom just could not resist the temptation and soon went off to visit the place. When he went there he realized what he was told was true. Pahom drooling with desire disposed off his property and settled here with his family. He bought land and was doing very well. However man cannot resist devil and materialism is the nature of man. Tolstoy has expressed this well in his story. Tolstoy is a magnificent writer. He is never dull, never stupid, never tired, never pedantic, never theatrical. He is head and soulders over the others (Richard Ellmann, p.217).Tired by renting other people's land, Pahom aims to buy more land. His thirst for more land never seemed to be quenched. Soon his prayers were answered and Pahom was able to secure a deal of 1300 acres of land for 1500 rubles. Along came another man from a distant place who told him the story about this land far away where he had bought 1300 acres for a measly amount of 1000 rubles. Pahom opted for the second option and took presents for the tribesmen. The Chief agreed to give him as much land as he could cover by foot coming back to the starting point before the sun sets. His greed did not let him sleep all night and he kept on thinking about the amount of land he would cover on foot. Pahom kept on walking in an attempt to cover as much land possible. He would come across a piece that promised good yield and would try to include that area as well. "It would be a pity to leave that out," Pahom would think and thus would walk to gain possession of that bit as well. "The sun waits for no man" and it began to set and at this point Pahom realized...

Tolstoy has outdone others by using expressions which give a crystal clear visual picture to the reading. Pahom knew he might die yet he wanted land and wanted money. He was at this point completely engulfed by the Devil and could not even think straight. With the last breath left, Pahom fell at the starting point and died.
I don't think any other writer could have given the message any better. Greed destroys man like it destroyed Pahom. Notice the irony in Leo Tolstoy "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" with the answer, "Six feet from his head to his heels was all he needed" (Elizabeth Villiers Gemmette, p. 391). All Pahom needed was to lay limits to his desires and live with modesty and simplicity. Tolstoy ends the story by sending a message to everyone that when one parts from this world he takes nothing with himself and his final abode is in a land that is not hundreds of acres but only six feet. Man should realize this and fight to abandon his materialistic instincts.

References

1) The Atlantic Monthly - Reading Chekhov: A Critical Journey. Volume: 289. Issue: 1. Publication Date: January 2002. Page Number: 126-31.

2) Daniel Akst - Article Title: Buyer's Remorse. Magazine Title: The Wilson Quarterly. Volume: 28. Issue: 1. Publication Date: Winter 2004. Page Number: 42+.

3) Richard Ellmann, James Joyce (New York: Oxford University Press, 1959), Page Number: 217.

4) Elizabeth Villiers Gemmette - Book Title: Law in Literature: Legal Themes in Short Stories. Publisher: Praeger Publishers.…