Chekhov Short Story Thread

During my aimless, miscellaneous reading today I stumbled across a commentary on Chekhov that had something that fits almost perfectly with what I was arguing before. Earlier, I was trying to prove that the story is, in fact, optimistic, but I never finished that thought. I said three qualities of the story made me believe that: the author's comments on the story, Ivan's conclusion at the end, and the psychological state of the student. This commentary has an excellent explanation of that last point. This is from Anton Chekhov, A Study of the Short Fiction:

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In "The Student" the protagonist's inner, subjective view of the world manifests itself in the objective, social reality of the two peasant women. More common in Chekhov's stories is the opposite pattern, whereby the subjective views of the protagonists conflict with the social reality. The pattern in these stories is a variation on such stories as "Ward Number Six" and "Rothschild's Fiddle," wherein the characters question the meaning of their lives; the key difference is that these protagonists do not undergo a moral conversion toward self-unity and psychological health, but instead experience a mental breakdown, the protagonist's state of mind becomes altered

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That's a great explanation of Ivan's psychological change at the end of the story. He moves toward "self-unity" and "psychological health" which is quite uplifting. In other stories, the protagonist descends into mental unbalance and delusion. Part of what makes this story different--and more optimistic--is that the character's mental alteration is for the better, and not the worse.

The change in mood also makes the story optimistic. The gloom of the opening is replaced with "strange, mysterious hapiness," and the feeling that life is "enchanting, miraculous, imbued with exalted significance."

Last, Chekhov's own statements cast this story in an optimistic light. He wrote to his brother that he considered this story a rebuttal to those who thought his work was only gloom and sadness.

Good post, Quark! Thanks for posting that commentary. It is very helpful. I don't really see anything here, I would disagree with. I will read it again, but it is pretty straight-forward and seems plausible. Now I can see the 'optimist light' at the end of the story. I always do like to hear just what the author, himself, has to say about his own work. That bit of information seems the most revealing; afterall, he should know his own intentions and his own writting.

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Originally Posted by Janine

Good post, Quark! Thanks for posting that commentary. It is very helpful. I don't really see anything here, I would disagree with. I will read it again, but it is pretty straight-forward and seems plausible.

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I think so, too. The only part of the story that might gives me any pause about this interpretation is a clause Chekhov interjects into the last sentence.

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When he crossed the river by the ferryboat and afterwards, mounting the hill, looked at his village and towards the west where the cold crimson sunset lay a narrow streak of light, he thought that truth and beauty which had guided human life there in the garden and in the yard of the high priest had continued without interruption to this day, and had evidently always been the chief thing in human life and in all earthly life, indeed; and the feeling of youth, health, vigor -- he was only twenty-two -- and the inexpressible sweet expectation of happiness, of unknown mysterious happiness, took possession of him little by little, and life seemed to him enchanting, marvellous, and full of lofty meaning.

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The reference to Ivan's youth casts a doubtful light on the permanence of his new philosophy. His sudden burst of happiness might be the result of his youthful outlook on the world, and have nothing to do with the story or the widows. He's still young and has many options. Wouldn't hope be natural to someone in that position?

This does temper our belief in Ivan's conclusion, but I don't think it totally overturns it. Chekhov probably included this small doubt because he was uncomfortable with any dogma--even his own. From what I know of his stories, and his personal life, Chehkov was too mercurial in temperament to argue for just one idea. His perspective was always changing, and a fixed ideology was something terrible in his mind. This story comes closest to that, though, and so he interrupted the flow toward a fixed conclusion by including this reference to Ivan's age.

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Originally Posted by Janine

I always do like to hear just what the author, himself, has to say about his own work. That bit of information seems the most revealing; afterall, he should know his own intentions and his own writting.

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I wish I could find the letter he wrote online somewhere. It's brief, but it does have slightly more to it than what I posted.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

I'm having trouble keeping up, but now I see the optimistic ending, too.

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Don't worry Anti. We're almost done with this story, and then we'll have our usually down-time in between stories. You can pick it up again when we start the next one. This has been a really busy month for everyone so far. You started the Faulkner discussion; I've been doing six different threads; plus, Janine picked a long story this time around. We've all been a little stretched thin.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

The story's a lot deeper than I thought on first reading it, Quark. I think Chekhov is like that. Sometimes people can read him and think, "Okay, that was lovely." But on a second, third, or fourth reading, they see how much he managed to pack into so few words. Sometimes, I'm just amazed. And his stories are so beautiful and so timeless.

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I remember my opinion of this story changing after multiple reads, too. I think the first time through I only got the general impression of the student's mood changing. I felt the gloom and hopelessness of the beginning, and the optimism and warmth of the ending. The story is so poetic in sections that on the first reading you just get swept along with the words, and you don't notice the structure--or even the images. It's just a vague impression. Later, after I read it again when I was deciding which story we should do, the technical aspects of the poem became almost flourescent, and I saw the cyclical structure, the mirrored images, the ambiance, and the characters. During my later read, and during the discussion, I've picked up much more on the philosophy and the thoughts of the story. That's why recently I've been so focused on Ivan's conclusion at the end so much.

There are, of course, many other Chekhov stories that gain something from re-reading. The last one we did, "About Love," was a good example. I'm not sure why Chekhov's works are so different upon re-reading, but they certainly are. Any guesses why? It might have to do with Chekhov's terseness. His stories are so short for their content that important parts may go unnoticed because they're not lingered on long enough for the reader to register them. Another cause of enjoyable re-reads might be Chekhov's constantly changing opinions and ideas. This creates the ambiguity and irony that often is missed on first readings. For whatever reason, though, the complexity that warrants re-reading and re-thinking stories is there in Chekhov's works.

I'll have to think about it more, but good observation Anti.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Thank you, Quark. I agree with everything in your post as well. I'm beginning to appreciate Chekhov even more. :)

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Thanks, that's always what I want to hear. You do know how to flatter, Antiquarian!

Now, let's finish this story. There is one last thought that I wanted to get out. Dark Muse and I already argued about this a little, but I like to take this a little deeper and get some other people involved. Chekhov refers to the camp fire many times and the story I'm curious to know what effect that has--why he does it. It's first brought up as an incidental piece of ambiance. The student surveys the ground and sees

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a camp fire was burning brightly with a crackling sound

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Then he notices Vasilisa staring at it

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Vasilisa...was standing by and looking thoughtfully into the fire

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This perhaps centers our attention on the fire, but it doesn't do anything particularly important yet. Ivan actually points out it's importance before Chekhov does. It's the student who says

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At just such a fire the apostle Peter warmed himself

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The fire links Ivan with the past and the human spirit, and I think this is the purpose of the fire. The fire makes a sort of portal through which the student can generalize and talk about humanity in general. In an optimistic way, though. The cold wind has a similar effect on Ivan, but it makes him feel pessimistic about the peasants and the universe. The fire and cold wind are opposites in this story that fight with one another for control of Ivan's world-view. This split is rather common in Chekhov stories. Usually, it's snow that represents the negative, hopeless view of the world, however. I'm thinking of "In Exile," in particular, where there is another set of characters around the fire telling stories. The cold snow contrast with the warmth of the fire much more explicitly in that one. "Misery" also has these two symbols. The driver is oppressed by the snow, but looks for companionship by the fire. In any case, I thought I should point this out before we move on.

Good to see you all awake in here and keeping this thread active. I thought the forum was a bit of a ghost-town today. Poor Lawrence is fading into the sunset again. I will have to go and make a comment to get everyone back on-track.
I am sorry, Quark, I am behind on this thread. I have been trying to read the posts since I last posted. They kind of got away without me. I hope I can catch up soon.
I did post more text, for the Lawrence story, with some comments and questions of my own; I thought you all wanted to comment on that part of the story, as well; it begins with entering into Winifred's parlor/house. Was it the red anemones that you wanted to post something about, Quark?

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Could the fire also symbolize the interconnectedness of all life?

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That is an interesting thought, Antiquarian. For centuries man has gather around fires and in a way this connects them. Is that what you meant, when you said that? Many time stories are woven while sitting around a fire or fireplace/hearth. Fire has a mystical and magical significance. One seems to 'open-up' around a fire and connect with others. Fire seems to bring out deeper profound thoughts.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Yes, that's what I meant, I guess. LOL Fire was invented by cavemen, right? So in a way, fire is one of the few constants in life.

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Yes, Antiquarian, I think that was my idea basically.

Hehe well not to be nit-picky but they did not really invent fire, just figured out how they could contain it and start it on thier own.

hehe yeah, I presumed that is what you really ment. I mostly said that in jest

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Originally Posted by Janine

Good to see you all awake in here and keeping this thread active. I thought the forum was a bit of a ghost-town today. Poor Lawrence is fading into the sunset again.

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As I was saying to Anti earlier, this has been a tough month for everyone. We've been stretched a little thin with me doing five discussions, DM at school, Anti starting the "A Rose for Emily" thread, and the long Lawrence story. Eventually, I'm sure, we'll get back on track. It always seems to come and go.

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Originally Posted by Janine

I did post more text, for the Lawrence story, with some comments and questions of my own; I thought you all wanted to comment on that part of the story, as well; it begins with entering into Winifred's parlor/house. Was it the red anemones that you wanted to post something about, Quark?

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I saw that, and I've been meaning to post. I'll try tonight. No, you haven't posted the little bit of dialogue I want to use. It's at the very end, though, so don't feel like you have to rush to get to it. I have plenty to say in the meantime.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

Could the fire also symbolize the interconnectedness of all life?

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I agree to a certain extent. I think it does help Ivan reach the conclusion that life is recurring and therefore "interconnected." But, the cold wind does that also. The difference is that the fire makes Ivan realize the beauty of that "interconnectedness" while the cold wind only depresses the student with "interconnectedness."

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Originally Posted by Dark Muse

Hehe well not to be nit-picky but they did not really invent fire, just figured out how they could contain it and start it on thier own.

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Yes, and Newton didn't invent gravity--although it would be weird if he did.

Alright, I'm beginning my search for the next story. Any requests? Should we do a psychological one, a moving one, a poetic one, a funny one? Domestic, fantastic? What do people feel like reading? Chekhov wrote two billion short stories (I believe) and I've read about a billion, so we should be able to find one to fit our mood.

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Originally Posted by Antiquarian

My vote goes to poetic, Quark. :)

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I'll see what I can do. There are already a few I have in mind for that.

Though I know not everyone will agree with this, but personally I am always up for something dark