Anton Chekhov ! The Genius Of Chekhov - ReadScholars

Anton Chekhov ! The Genius Of Chekhov

The ability of Chekhov's talent to create stories that spoke to readers without depending on high intention. He did not analyze the human psyche like Dostoevsky or delve into social commentary like Tolstoy. Instead, Chekhov focused on ordinary life and his storytelling style gave birth to the term "Chekhov's Gun. "His impact on later writers like Albert Camus and Franz Kafka can be seen in their pessimistic works.

Life and Influences

Anton Chekhov was born in 1860 in Taganrog, Russia, just a year before the emancipation of the serfs. He grew up during an urgent period in Russian literature that delivered goliaths like Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Gogol. Unlike most Russian writers, Chekhov came from a middle-class merchant family with some experience of rural life. His father's bankruptcy forced him to support his family by writing humorous stories for newspapers and teaching children.

Teenage Challenges and Early Writing

Chekhov attended a Greek school, where interestingly, he struggled in the main subject, Greek. He escaped to Moscow when his father faced imprisonment, leaving young Chekhov to deal with financial issues. Despite the hardships, Chekhov sharpened his skills by working as a sketch artist and writing funny stories to support his family. His witty letters to his family showed his talent for entertaining others.

Chekhov's life and works

Chekhov helped support his family financially and kept their spirits up through his amazing storytelling. He read a lot of novels like Don Quixote, Oblomov, and Fathers and Sons, as well as philosophical works like Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation. He was also busy pursuing women, having relationships with older women, including a professor's wife. He lived the life of an adult man, wearing adult shoes. At the age of 19 in 1879, he managed to join his family in Moscow. Not only that, he was able to enter Moscow State Medical University without the help of his parents. It took him four years to obtain a medical degree, and in 1884, he started working to treat the poor, either for very little money or for free. He came from poverty and wanted to give back.

Chekhov's in-depth understanding of humanity

Chekhov observed children as young as six years old accompanying their imprisoned fathers, sleeping in the same room as other criminals, demonstrating his profound understanding of the complexity of humanity. Regardless of their terrible wrongdoings, Chekhov maintained that the sentenced people should be dealt with additional empathetically by the specialists. Chekhov's works in Sakhalin were amazingly effective, contacting on basic liberties issues as well as moving different authors like Haruki Murakami and Seamus Heaney. A comparison can be made between Chekhov and Orwell, both of whom experienced firsthand the harsh realities of life to become profound writers.

"If I were a doctor, I would need patients and a hospital; if I were a writer, I would need to live among people, not in Malaya Dmitrovka [a fancy street in Moscow]. ... I need a piece of social and political life." - Chekhov

Chekhov's time in Melikhovo

Chekhov moved to a village named Melikhovo, located 80 kilometers south of Moscow, where he worked as a doctor for approximately six years. In spite of his clinical obligations, he likewise thought of a portion of his best works during this period, including the acclaimed play "The Seagull" in 1894. He further wrote "Uncle Vanya" two years later. This was also the time when Chekhov distanced himself from religion, becoming an atheist after witnessing immense suffering, particularly among children who had lost their faith in God for no apparent reason. As Chekhov's health deteriorated, he sought a warmer climate, and in 1898, he purchased a house and moved to the Crimean Peninsula.

Chekhov's life in Crimea

In Crimea, Chekhov hosted notable guests such as Leo Tolstoy and Maxim Gorky in his new home and wrote some of his finest plays, including "The Cherry Orchard." He also married Olga during this time, but they lived somewhat separate lives, with Chekhov residing in Crimea and Olga in Moscow. Their remote relationship had its highs and lows, yet as of now, Chekhov thought of quite possibly his most popular brief tale, "The Lady with the Dog," investigating the relationship between two wedded people and the unanticipated outcomes that might emerge. However, Chekhov's health continued to decline, and he traveled to a spa resort in Germany in an unsuccessful attempt to regain his well-being. Tragically, Chekhov passed away on July 15, 1904, at the age of 44. His body was transported to Moscow and buried alongside his father.

The Genius of Chekhov

Chekhov confronted troubles and difficulties in his day-to-day existence, however, he capitalized on them by thinking of probably the most lovely stories of all time. He composed tales about genuine individuals who didn't have a voice in writing. His compositions were at first considered ugly and unappealing; however, he gradually acquired peruses, particularly among the new age authors.

Stories by Chekhov

"Man in a Case" is one of Chekhov's works that was written in 1898. Some believe that it was written as a response to Tolstoy's short story "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" which tells the story of a greedy man who dies in his quest for more land. The story "Man in a Case" is about a Greek teacher named Belikov who isolates himself from society and ensures that those around him are also devoid of joy and progress. Belikov's presence instills fear in the town, and everyone becomes stagnant due to his oppressive nature. The arrival of a new teacher, Kovalenko, and his sister Varenka, bring change to the town. Even Belikov finds himself drawn to Varenka. The townspeople try to unite Belikov and Varenka, hoping for a marriage, but Belikov hesitates. Belikov is humiliated when he sees Varenka riding a bike with her brother and complains to Kovalenko, but Kovalenko pays no attention to him. Varenka witnesses the end of this scene and laughs at Belikov. The townspeople initially feel relieved to be liberated from his oppressive presence, but soon find themselves returning to the same stagnation, showing that while Belikov took "living in a case" to the extreme, people confined themselves to "cases" voluntarily.

"The Fox Grapes" Short Story by Anton Chekhov

It was published in 1898, it is a short story written by Anton Chekhov. The story follows a veterinarian who portrays the narrative of his more youthful sibling. Nikolai dedicates his entire life to one goal: buying his dream property with fox grapevines. As Nikolai works towards his goal, he becomes twisted and corrupt, even starving his elderly wife to save money for the inheritance. In the end, he buys the inheritance and the narrator recounts his visit there. Nikolai's ownership is a twisted version of his ideal dream, reflecting his tainted spirit.

"The Seagull" Play

"The Seagull" is a play written in 1895 and first performed in 1896. The story spins around Konstantin, a delicate young fellow seeking to turn into a dramatist. He lives with his uncle on a rural estate, and his mother, Arkadina, is an arrogant and self-centered actress. Arkadina visits the estate with her lover, Trigorin, a famous writer. Konstantin falls in love with Nina, a young girl living nearby who hopes to become an actress herself. Other characters gather at the estate to witness Konstantin's play, including the detached philosopher, Dorn, and the melancholic Masha. Different love triangles and complex relationships emerge, notably with Nina falling in love with Trigorin. Two years later, the same group reunites at the estate, and Nina's life has tragically deteriorated due to her romantic relationship with Trigorin. The play ends with Konstantin's suicide, showcasing Chekhov's famous weapon.

"The Cherry Orchard" Play

"The Cherry Orchard" was written in 1903 and published a year later. The play begins with the return of Lyubov Andreyevna Ranevskaya to her childhood home in Paris. Ranevskaya's property was once large and prosperous, with the cherry orchard being a point of fame and pride. However, times have changed – the orchard no longer bears fruit, and the family is on the brink of ruin. Lyubov Andreyevna and most of the characters are torn between clinging to the past and embracing the inevitable change.

Chekhov as a Storyteller

Chekhov's stories often revolve around families facing dire financial situations. In the story, the family is unable to accept the impending financial ruin and fails to take action. Lopakhin, a wealthy merchant who loves Ranfksyaya, offers a solution to the family. Ultimately, Lopakhin ends up buying the property and plans to demolish the orchard. Chekhov's story reflects the transformation of an entire country on a family and property level.

Chekhov's Genius in Simplicity

In order to grab someone's attention, it is important to focus on what is essential and avoid going off on tangents or discussing things unrelated to the story. While novels allow for some digressions and elaborations, in the world of short stories, things are more brutal and it is best to stick to simplicity, which became synonymous with Chekhov's style.