Short Story Club: The Black Monk by Chekhov

[King Mob]

This first half of October we will be reading and discussing The Black Monk by Anton Chekhov.

[Sapphire]

What is it Aristotle says again?

No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.

I am not sure whether Mr. Kovrin really is a genius, or just thinks he is :crazy: That's probably the point though...

[Patrick_Bateman]

I've read this short story obviously (since I nominated it) but I haven't re-read it yet for the discussion purpose.

I just thought I'd write why I chose this particular Chekhov
I think the end is pretty remarkable and tragic and elicits emotion which is a major thing I look for when I read fiction.
The themes of death and disease are also interesting - given Chehkov's own malady (Consumption) - as they may uncover some of the author's own fears and anxieties regarding mortality and his debilitating illness. Although death and disease are common in a lot his stories.

I will have to re-read this story before I can add to my reasons, since I cannot recall all aspects of the story.

Happy reading anyway :)

[aliengirl]

I have recently read a collection of Chekhov's short stories. The Black Monk was not one of them. I got to read it today. It is very different from other stories I've read. The touch of supernatural made it very interesting. Kovrin was obviously a megalomaniac. He seems to believe too much in himself.

But the end was quite disappointing. I knew that Kovrin would die but why choose this typical disease. I've read so many tragic stories and watched many tragedy films in which the protagonist dies spitting blood that I'm fed up with this idea.

[Janine]

I am fairly certain we had a discussion on this story in the Chekhov Short Story thread. It's a very good story. I guess it's worth discussing again. I will look it up so it can give all of you some more added ideas.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I'll read this again having just found it again the other day. I have it as a tiny little book and I was going to read it having seen this thread but I lost it, it must have gone for a walk. Love Chekhov.