#243 The Student- Anton Chekhov

#243 The Student- Anton Chekhov

Winter is upon us once more, the cruel, bitter, cold and lonely darkness covers our lives and nothing can escape, not even truth.

“…in their time there had been the same savage poverty and hunger; the same leaky thatched roofs, ignorance and anguish, the same surrounding emptiness and darkness, the sense of oppression—all these horrors had been, and were, and would be no better. And he did not want to go home.”

But with such things, to endure, to survive, there must be hope. “…an inexpressibly sweet anticipation of happiness, an unknown, mysterious happiness, gradually came over him, and life seemed to him delightful, wondrous, and filled with lofty meaning.”

Rating: 8-7-7-6 Total= 28

#230 The Fiancé- Anton Chekhov

#230 The Fiancé- Anton Chekhov

“She breathed deeply and wanted to think that, not here, but somewhere under the sky, above the trees, far outside town, in the fields and woods, springs own life was now unfolding, mysterious, beautiful, rich, and holy, inaccessible to the understandings of weak, sinful human beings. And for some reason she wanted to cry.”

Oppression comes in many ways by many forces, mostly ones of our own choosing. There are social oppressions, like family expectations, class, race, gender inequality, etc—but the limits we set on ourselves are sometimes the hardest to overcome.

Nadya was realizing that she was not happy, just as she was soon to be married. Luckily she had someone, Sasha, to challenge her and make her see the opportunities beyond her immediate surroundings. It is no coincidence that once she took those opportunities and explore her independence, Sasha died, no longer needed.

This was one of Chekhov’s last works, written in 1903. I’ve enjoyed reading these, mostly shorter stories. Perhaps sometime after this project, I’ll revisit some of his longer works, and his plays as well.

Notable Passage: “I find everything here somehow wild, because I’m unused to it.”

Rating: 7-7-8-7 Total= 29

#216 Sleepy- Anton Chekhov

#216 Sleepy- Anton Chekhov

The Masters are asleep and the thirteen year-old nanny, Varka, is tending to their child. She is exhausted, cannot keep her eyes open, but she must. The child needs care and if she sleeps, the masters will beat her. All night, she falls into half awake half dreamlike states, never getting enough. When the morning comes, even without sleep, she is expected to work:

-Varka, light the stove.

-Varka, set up the samovar.

-Varka, clean the master’s galoshes.

-Varka, wash the front steps.

-Varka, run and fetch the bottles of beer.

-Varka, rock the baby.

Night after day after night, reality is a myth. The baby is the enemy and must go. Then she can get sleep. Chekhov does a great job creating tension and anxiety. You really feel tired and angry and want this poor girl to get some rest.

Rating: 7-8-9-7 Total= 31

#210 The Last Mohican- Bernard Malamud

#210 The Last Mohican- Bernard Malamud

Fidelman is a failed painter and on sabbatical in Italy to study and write a book about Giotto. He was a perpectual student like Chekhov’s Trofimov. “If there was something to learn, I want to learn it.” (yet another writer doffing their cap to Chekhov)

He is set upon by a crafty beggar and cannot seem to get rid of him. He follows him and begs for his suit. When finding his briefcase stolen, assumingly by this beggar, he drops all his plans for study and travel and pursues his lost property.

He allows his regrets and poor decisions define him. We are all victims of something, but why be a victim twice, one of our own doing?

Notable Passage: “History was mysterious, the remembrance of things unknown, in a way burdensome, in a way a sensuous experience. It uplifted and depressed, why we did not know, except that it excited his thoughts more than he thought good for him.”

Rating: 7-7-6-6 Total=26

#202 Vanka- Anton Chekhov

#202 Vanka- Anton Chekhov

A beautiful but heartbreaking story. A young child, and apprentice to a shoemaker is writing his grandfather on Christmas eve. This is his only living relative and he needs to be rescued.

“Come dear grandpa…by Christ God I beg you, take me away from here. Have pity on me, a wretched orphan, because everybody beats me, and I’m so hungry, and it’s so dreary I can’t tell you, I just cry all the time…My life is going worse that any dog’s…dear grandpa, come.”

He writes in secret and worries about being discovered, he cant run away because he has no shoes. He finishes and braves the cold in just a shirt to mail his letter. He learned last week that to send a letter you must address it and drop it in a mail box. He dutifully writes on the envelope:

“To Granpa in the Village” drops it in, and waits to be saved.

Rating: 8-7-8-7 Total= 30