Dr. Anton Chekh

ovRussian, Physician, Author

Russian Society in the 19th Century

• Intensely Hierarchical• The poor Peasantry

and Industrial works comprise more than 4/5 the population

• Educated middle class was tiny, especially when compared to its cotemporaries England and France

1800-1899

• Born in Russia 1860•Died in Germany 1904

Emancipation Reform of 1861

• A manifesto issued by Emperor Alexander II, accompanied by 17 legislative acts that freed the serfs of the Russia–An attempt to put

the nation on an equal footing with the Western and Eastern power

Tsar Alexander II

Boyhood & Youth• Chekhov’s father was struggling grocer who had been born a

serf. He compelled his son to serve in his shop.

• Spent youth under the shadow of fathers religious fanaticism.

• Anton received the best standard education available (10 years) on Latin and Greek classics, lived alone during his final three years.

• Moved to Moscow in 1879,his father had relocated there after going bankrupt. Anton enrolled in Medical university graduated as a physician in 1884.

• Anton Chekhov was the economic mainstay of his family, thus making him unofficial head of the family.

Dr. Anton Chekhov the Author

• While in medical school he began to sell comic short stories to support his family.

• By 1886 Chekhov had gained wide spread fame as an author, and master of comical shorts.

• During his time practicing medicine and acting as a regular contributor to St. Petersburg Daily he developed his style, dispassionate, non-judgmental author

• His medical and scientific experience is evidenced in his writing though many of his character’s apathy towards tragedy.

• The lack of critical social commentary in his work earned him some detractors, but his commitment to his style earned him praise from many including the literary giant LEO TOLSTOY ( War & Peace )

Anton Chekhov

• As an Author he would often produce his short stories in an hour or less.

• He authored several hundred stories over his lifetime

• He was not recognized as a playwright until after his death

• Though a celebrated figure in Russian literature at the time of his death he was not internationally known until after World War I when his works were translated to English.

In the End

• He began to show signs of tuberculosis at age 24, by his early 30s his health had deteriorated

• “The Cherry Orchard” opened in 1904, tuberculosis had ravaged his lungs, all knew the end was near and the opening night became a tribute to the author filled with speeches and a heartfelt thanks to Russia’s greatest playwright.

Last Words

• On July 14th 1904 after working late on yet another short story he suddenly awoke and summoned a doctor.

• The physician could do nothing for him but offer him a glass of champagne.

• Reportedly his final words were, “ Its been a long time since I drank champagne”. Then, after drinking the beverage, he died.

Citations• https://www.google.com/search?q=anton+Chekhov• http://www.online-literature.com/anton_chekhov/• http://alphahistory.com/russianrevolution/russian-society/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Russia• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/108392/Anton-Chekhov/1297/Literary-maturity

• http://plays.about.com/od/playwrights/a/chekhov.htm