Holes

Holes

by

Louis Sachar

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Igor Barkov Character Analysis

Igor is a 57-year-old pig farmer in mid-1800s Latvia. Like Elya, he wishes to marry Myra Menke and he promises Myra's father a fat pig as a bride price. He agrees with Myra's father to accept that whomever brings the fattest pig will win Myra's hand. He ends up marrying Myra, as the pigs weigh exactly the same and Myra was unwilling to choose.
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Igor Barkov Character Timeline in Holes

The timeline below shows where the character Igor Barkov appears in Holes. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 7
Fate and Destiny Theme Icon
Justice Theme Icon
Power, Money, and Education Theme Icon
...that when Myra turned fifteen, she should be married. Both Elya and 57-year-old pig farmer Igor Barkov went to ask for Myra's hand. Myra's father insisted he'd rather have one of... (full context)
Fate and Destiny Theme Icon
Cruelty vs. Kindness Theme Icon
Justice Theme Icon
...the last time on Myra's fifteenth birthday, at which point it would be fatter than Igor's pig. She assured Elya that as the pig grew, he'd grow strong enough to carry... (full context)
Fate and Destiny Theme Icon
...father. Elya boldly asked to marry Myra, but her father insisted on weighing Elya and Igor's pigs. They weighed exactly the same. (full context)
Cruelty vs. Kindness Theme Icon
Power, Money, and Education Theme Icon
...pigs, and couldn't decide whose pig to accept. When Elya suggested that Myra choose, both Igor and Myra's father were shocked, but Myra's father agreed on the grounds that he didn't... (full context)