Fate in the short story plays a major role. The blizzard was an obstacle throughout the story that separated Vladimir and Marya from each other. Chance however, united Marya and Burmin through the blizzard that occurred during the night they married and brought them together at the end. Fate also played a role in their unification by Burmin finding the women he married through his feeling of love for Marya and Mrya still having hope in loving someone after Vladimir's death.