The House with Chicken Legs

Baba is Marinka’s grandmother. She is a primary, static character. Her static—or unchanging—qualities are a sign of her constancy rather than her resistance to growth. She has been a fixture in Marinka’s life for as long as she can remember. Until she is 12 years old, Marinka grows up believing that Baba is her biological grandmother and that she has taken care of her ever since her parents died in a house fire which she alone survived. She later discovers that she is in fact dead and traveled back through The Gate repeatedly, met by Baba each time. Too tired and old to shepherd Marinka back into the afterlife once more, Baba decided to raise Marinka as her own. She loves her “as much as [her parents] did” (101) because her late parents’ stories of love moved and changed Baba before she shepherded the couple through The Gate.

Baba plays the role of the archetypal guide. She takes care of Marinka, teaches her everything she knows, keeps her safe, and prepares her for the next phase of her life. Marinka does not realize how much she needs and relies upon Baba until she passes through The Gate never to return again. Baba leaves Marinka because she must guide Nina to the other side. She assures Marinka that she will make a great Yaga despite her trepidations. After she is gone, Marinka grieves Baba for the rest of the narrative.

Marinka remains a key figure in the novel even in her absence. Marinka is devoted to bringing her back despite everyone’s insistence that she is gone. She believes that if she can pass through The Gate and retrieve Baba, their lives can return to normal. Before Baba left, Marinka resented her for predetermining her fate. After she leaves, Marinka is guilty and ashamed for taking advantage of Baba. She is desperate for her to return because she is desperate for a guide and maternal figure. Baba ultimately does not return—as the Old Yaga predicted—and Marinka must find her own way.

Although her character is loosely inspired by the folktale Baba Yaga, Baba subverts the fairytale renditions of her character. She is not a bloodthirsty witch, does not eat children, and is more kindly than cruel. She embodies the traditionally positive aspects of the folktale witch.

The Old Yaga is another primary character and archetypal guide figure. Her given name is Tatyana, but Marinka most often refers to her as the Old Yaga. Marinka seeks out the Old Yaga in the wake of Baba’s disappearance through The Gate. She needs help bringing Baba back and thinks the Old Yaga might help her find and pass through The Gate—although she does not reveal this plan to the Old Yaga. The Old Yaga takes Marinka at face value and agrees to help her bond with her house and assume the role of the next Guide. She believes in and values the Yaga tradition and thus doesn’t suspect that Marinka is duping her; at the same time, the Old Yaga always leaves room for Marinka to change her mind about the Ceremony of Bonding. She understands that Marinka is young and is on the verge of a life-changing decision. She also appreciates Marinka’s youthful desire for friendship, adventure, and predictability.

The Old Yaga assumes a more maternal role in Marinka’s life the more time they spend together. Even though Marinka is afraid to tell her the truth, she repeatedly goes to the Yaga for advice and help. The Old Yaga helps her throw the Ceremony of Bonding and rescues her when she tries to pass through The Gate. She also forgives Marinka for lying to her, risking her life, and refusing to listen to her counsel. Instead of holding these mistakes against Marinka, the Old Yaga uses them to teach Marinka more about being a Yaga and enjoying the life she has.

The Old Yaga becomes Marinka’s lifelong companion and friend by the novel’s end. She and Marinka merge their Yaga houses and live half on the road and half in the Lake District. The Old Yaga continues to offer Marinka assistance, while giving her the freedom to discover the world on her own terms.

Benjamin is a secondary character. He is Marinka’s only true living friend. Marinka meets him the first time she goes to the Lake District. She is thrilled to make his acquaintance because he is alive and because they share so many interests. Like Marinka, Benjamin often feels like an outsider. He also has an artistic bent and a thirst for exploration. Marinka values their unprecedented connection and is devastated when the house abruptly relocates her and Baba before she can say goodbye to her new friend.

Benjamin teaches Marinka the possibilities of making connections with the living. Unlike Salma and Lamya, for example, Benjamin does not judge Marinka for her Yaga lifestyle. He only shows care and concern, curiosity and interest in her traditions. He remains Marinka’s close friend throughout the novel. He is Marinka’s primary draw to the Lake District. He offers her the semblance of friendship and belonging she has been seeking throughout the novel.