Chekhov

Anton Pavlovich ChekhovAnton Pavlovich ChekhovJanuary 29, 1860-July 15, 1904January 29, 1860-July 15, 1904

Grandfather was a serf; bought freedom Grandfather was a serf; bought freedom for the family even before the for the family even before the Emancipation of 1861Emancipation of 1861

Father was a grocerFather was a grocer Received an Orthodox religious Received an Orthodox religious

education; later lost his faitheducation; later lost his faith

Family…Family…

Reinvented the short storyReinvented the short story opened up areas of life not yet explored by opened up areas of life not yet explored by

Russian literatureRussian literature One of those who reinvented drama (in One of those who reinvented drama (in

addition to Ibsen, Strindberg, and others) at addition to Ibsen, Strindberg, and others) at the end of the 1800s-beginning of 1900sthe end of the 1800s-beginning of 1900s

Literary accomplishments…Literary accomplishments…

Studied medicine; was a doctor who once Studied medicine; was a doctor who once said his real commitment was to medicine, said his real commitment was to medicine, while literature was a mistress he would while literature was a mistress he would abandon.abandon.

With encouragement from Grigorovich With encouragement from Grigorovich devoted himself to writing and won the devoted himself to writing and won the prestigious Pushkin prize in 1888prestigious Pushkin prize in 1888

Career…Career…

““The people I am afraid of are the ones who The people I am afraid of are the ones who look for tendentiousness between the lines look for tendentiousness between the lines and are determined to see me as either and are determined to see me as either liberal or conservative. I am neither liberal liberal or conservative. I am neither liberal nor conservative, nor gradualist, nor monk, nor conservative, nor gradualist, nor monk, nor indifferentist. I would like to be nor indifferentist. I would like to be aa free free artist artist and nothing else….My holy of holies and nothing else….My holy of holies is the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love and the most absolute freedom imaginable, freedom imaginable, freedom from violence and lies, no matter what form from violence and lies, no matter what form the latter two take.”the latter two take.”

Chekhov:Chekhov:

1.1. Absence Absence of lengthy verbiage of a political-of lengthy verbiage of a political-social-economic naturesocial-economic nature

2. total 2. total objectivityobjectivity

3. 3. truthfultruthful descriptions of persons and objects descriptions of persons and objects

4. extreme4. extreme brevity brevity

5. audacity and5. audacity and originality originality: flee the stereotype: flee the stereotype

6. 6. compassioncompassion

Chekhov’s 6 principles that Chekhov’s 6 principles that make for a good storymake for a good story

 Up until Chekhov, all short stories, virtually without exception, were event-plot ones. In these stories the skeleton of plot is all important, the narrative is shaped, classically, to have a beginning, middle and end.

Chekhov’s Revolutionary technique: he did not abandon plot, but made the plot of his

stories like the plot of our lives: random, mysterious, run-of-the-mill, abrupt, chaotic, fiercely cruel, meaningless.

The Event-plot storyThe Event-plot story……

Chekhov is the father of the modern short story. His influence is still massive and everywhere.

What is the essence of the Chekhovian short story? Chekhov wrote: "It is time writers, especially those who are artists, recognised that there is no making out anything in this world.“

The Chekhovian point of view : look at life in all its banality and all its tragic comedy and refuse to make a judgment. Refuse to condemn and refuse to celebrate. Record the actions of human beings as they are and leave them to speak for themselves (in so far as they can) without manipulation, censure or praise.

His famous retort when he was asked to define life: "You ask me what is life? That is like asking: what is a carrot? A carrot is a carrot and that's all there is to it."

{{Chekhov Chekhov

As PlaywrightAs Playwright

Overturning of the old Overturning of the old social order: social order: social social change change and progressand progress

Independence,Independence, Emancipation Emancipation and and FreedomFreedom

MemoryMemory: source of : source of identity or burden?identity or burden?

Central ThemesCentral Themes

C. considered his plays comic satire: “All I wanted C. considered his plays comic satire: “All I wanted was to say honestly to people: 'Have a was to say honestly to people: 'Have a look at look at yourselves and see how bad and dreary your yourselves and see how bad and dreary your lives are!' lives are!' The important thing is that people should The important thing is that people should realize that, for when they do, they will most realize that, for when they do, they will most certainly create another and better life for certainly create another and better life for themselves. I will not live to see it, but I know that it themselves. I will not live to see it, but I know that it will be quite different, quite unlike our present life.”will be quite different, quite unlike our present life.”

StyleStyle

Jumbling together of Jumbling together of comic and comic and tragictragic

Emphasis on Emphasis on dialoguedialogue and offstage and offstage actionaction

Surprise Surprise and tension are not key and tension are not key elementselements

Ordinary conversations Ordinary conversations are keyare key There are There are no villains no villains in a Chekhov in a Chekhov

play…all characters have flaws and play…all characters have flaws and giftsgifts

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

1900: Russian Empire = 8.8 million sq. 1900: Russian Empire = 8.8 million sq. mi.mi.

Twice the population of the U.S. at the Twice the population of the U.S. at the time (136 million)time (136 million)

200 nationalities led to much internal 200 nationalities led to much internal conflictconflict

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

Prior to 1861,Prior to 1861, serfs serfs made upmade up 44% 44% of of Russia’s populationRussia’s population

Just over 100,000 lords owned the land the Just over 100,000 lords owned the land the serfs were tied toserfs were tied to

Russia lagged behind the rest of Europe in Russia lagged behind the rest of Europe in industrialization and politics (Czar as industrialization and politics (Czar as absolute ruler)absolute ruler)

IlliteracyIlliteracy, , povertypoverty, , scarce land scarce land and and foodfood