"The Beaten Woman" by Alexandros Papadiamantis is a short story set in a small Greek village. The story revolves around a woman who suffers from an unspecified illness and is deeply unhappy in her marriage. Her mother-in-law, old Pantelou, is sympathetic to her suffering, but the neighborhood gossip, particularly from another neighbor, old Permachou, suggests that the woman's suffering is the result of domestic abuse.
The narrative explores the strained relationship between the suffering woman, her husband, and her mother-in-law, as well as the unrelenting gossip and judgment of the neighbors. It touches on themes of family dynamics, societal expectations, and the isolation that can result from suffering in silence.
The story ends with a sense of despair and uncertainty, as the family's financial troubles mount and the suffering woman's health deteriorates. "The Beaten Woman" is a poignant exploration of domestic strife and societal pressures in a rural Greek setting.