What is the effect of "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" on the reader?

Key to answering this question is the realisation that
Tolstoy in this great story has created an allegory in which the characters, events and
actions of this tale have both a literal meaning but also a symbolic interpretation.
Thus it is that Tolstoy is able to comment on the changes that private land owenership
brought to Russia. The effect of this story on the reader is thus linked to the purpose
of the tale. Tolstoy wrote this tale to point out the dangers of materialism and also to
suggest that the onset of industrialisation and modernisation was not necessarily a
positive thing. Clearly his concern is on the spiritual changes that such historical
movements brought to humanity, and how the grasping desire for ever more belongings and
possessions could take over and control somebody, and ultimately lead them to their
doom.

You might like to think about how Tolstoy establishes
this through the central character of Pahom and in particular how gaining ever more land
is shown to never bring him peace and happiness, as he is always left feeling
unsatisfied and wanting more. This change in his character is first signalled when,
having finally purchased his own land, he demonstrates the same behaviour that he used
to moan about from his landlord:

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Pahom turned them out again and again, and
forgave their owners, and for a long time he forbore to prosecute anyone. But at last he
lost patience and complained to the District Court. He knew it was the peasants' want of
land, and no evil on their part, that caused the trouble, but he thought: "I cannot go
on overlooking it or they will destroy all I have. They must be taught a
lesson."

Pahom comes to
exhibit the same qualities of greed and selfishness that he once deplored in those above
him, and it is clear that as the story develops, this only intensifies. Thus it is that
this story clearly demonstrates the dangers of rampant capitalism and materialism. The
death of Pahom at the end ironically comments on the natural outcome of devoting your
life to nothing more than material gain.