Anna
How Much Land Does A Man Need? is a beautiful article - I love the way you have linked worldwide issues with Tolstoy's story. I had not heard of the story of Pahom - simple yet telling a universal truth.
You mention Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in relation to greed. I was also reminded of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice - where Antoino makes a deal with the moneylender Shylock that if he does not repay his loan in time Shylock can take a pound of his flesh. The other play that came to mind was Christopher Marlowe's Dr Faustus - who sells his soul to the devil.