Chekhov Short Story Thread

[Quark]

DM, Could be I was...or maybe Janine was too busy

Yes, I've been looking at all the work you've been doing. Very impressive. Are you into blogging now?

I guess I was waiting now for your return, and the next section to discuss of the actual text.

I can restart the "Dreams" discussion if there's interest, but I don't want to push people into it. I'm certainly up for continuing. I just don't know how everyone else feels.

Quark, do you recall the photo of a painting that I posted in here awhile ago? It was when we discussed 'Misery'. I was online and saw the artist sitting in front of the painting (which by the way, is huge!). I copied it and will post it to show you.

I remember you posting some images about "Oh! The Public," but I can't recall the one you posted for "Misery." What was it of? I'll try to find it.

[Janine]

Yes, I've been looking at all the work you've been doing. Very impressive. Are you into blogging now?

Thanks Quark, that is really nice of you to say; and thanks for coming by my new profile page. Did you request to be my friend or leave any comments? I have not gotten into blogging quite yet; I just posted that one topic in my blog; hope you can read it soon. I still need to name my blog and write a short description.

I can restart the "Dreams" discussion if there's interest, but I don't want to push people into it. I'm certainly up for continuing. I just don't know how everyone else feels.

Well, can you just pick up from where we left off or must we start all over again - say for Sept? I am not feeling really well today so I can't post very much right now and I know you must still be busy with your new place.

I remember you posting some images about "Oh! The Public," but I can't recall the one you posted for "Misery." What was it of? I'll try to find it.

Oh, not sure which it was for now, but know it was a snow scene - St. Petersburg - and very nice. I think really it for "Misery". I will check it out, too.

[Quark]

Did you request to be my friend or leave any comments?

I would if I could. I'm not even sure how the friend system works. Is there a button somewhere to click on?

Well, can you just pick up from where we left off or must we start all over again

We don't have to start over. I'll post something on the story tomorrow, and see what happens. If there isn't much interest, we can focus on just the L thread. Next month I plan to start another story, though.

Oh, not sure which it was for now, but know it was a snow scene - St. Petersburg - and very nice.

Was it this?

[Janine]

I would if I could. I'm not even sure how the friend system works. Is there a button somewhere to click on?

Yep, there is a couple of buttons; Quark, just look around the page for them and you will find them eventually. I think it is right near the 'Friends' box. I think I already befriended you, so doesn't that automatically make you my friend, in my profile page?

We don't have to start over. I'll post something on the story tomorrow, and see what happens. If there isn't much interest, we can focus on just the L thread. Next month I plan to start another story, though.

I like this story. I will post something when I can; let's continue in the same vane.

Was it this?

Yep, that is the exact one. Thanks for finding it and reposting.



See the man in relation to the size of the painting - rather impressive.
Painting by Alphonse Mucha



This is a self portrait of Mucha



You probably have seen his work prior to this. He did many like this beautiful Art Nouveau poster

Well that livened up the Chekhov thread, even though it was a bit of a departure.

[Quark]

I think I already befriended you, so doesn't that automatically make you my friend, in my profile page?

That's what I thought. You asked whether I requested to be your friend before, and I was under the impression that it automatically reciprocates friendships. I could be wrong, though. I'm not sure how these things work.

I like this story. I will post something when I can; let's continue in the same vane.

I'll pick up where we left off before. There's a post or two I want to reply to and then I'll post more from the story.

You probably have seen his work prior to this. He did many like this beautiful Art Nouveau poster

No, this was new to me. Was he a 19th C artist?

[Janine]

That's what I thought. You asked whether I requested to be your friend before, and I was under the impression that it automatically reciprocates friendships. I could be wrong, though. I'm not sure how these things work.

Quark, I think now that you are in my friend's list so don't worry about it. I saw I was in yours already. We are all learning as we go along - like the blind leading the blind..

I'll pick up where we left off before. There's a post or two I want to reply to and then I'll post more from the story.

Glad to hear that. Take your time.

No, this was new to me. Was he a 19th C artist?

I recently bought a large book of his art at Barnes and Noble. I have always loved his decorative designs and his advertising and then I discovered his wonderful classic paintings. The man was a genius and very talented - very colorful, too. He was born in 1860 and painted into the early part of the next century. My book says he was Czech and studied and lived in Paris. I think he helped to bring the Art Nouveau movement to the public eye. I just love his work and have copied many pieces from online and can run a screen-saver slideshow on this computer; either morph the images or fade from one to the other. I also can make a film with Movie Maker - that will take some time to learn, I imagine, but it looks like loads of fun. The computer is so nice; I love it! I can post way faster now also. Yeah!

[Quark]

Looking back over the posts I missed while I was away, I noticed one from Jozanny and another from DM that each make some good points. I keep promising to post more text, but before I do that I want to completely catch up.

I think the word I'd use for the landscape and the constables is surreal

If I remember, I think I objected to the label "surreal" before. The landscape and constables appear to be contrasted with the dreams that follow later in the story. The landscape, for example, depresses us with its dreary sameness, while the later dreams are filled with cheerful variety. The constables also contrast in that their close-minded fools who lack imagination. Now this isn't to say that there isn't anything odd about the constables or the landscape--clearly there is. I just chalk this up to Chekhov stretching for effect. He really wants to convince us that the constables are country bumpkins and the landscape is dreary, so he exaggerates. This gives the scene its oddness.

it was a bit too schematic for me. Most 19th century short stories are, but it was still a little too stagey.

I would agree that this story is a little stagey. Yet, I wouldn't say all 19th C short stories are. I wouldn't even say all of Chekhov's are. I keep bringing up "The Black Monk" because of its connections with this story's themes, but it also shows the development of Chekhov as a writer. The later story is much less stagey.

First of all, one of the things I noticed about this story, is that there seems to be a certain element of mystery which is offered within the story, particularly in regards to the tramp.

The beginning is mysterious. We're not sure what to make of the situation or the characters. While it might be unsettling not to know, it doesn't feel that way in this story. In this instance, it seems to make one feel free. The characters are set off by themselves by the mystery. They aren't determined by any social forces. I think this feeling of freedom at the beginning is part of what makes the ending so sad. When the mystery is over the characters realize that their doomed to continue their unfulfilling lives.

it also almost seemed to suggest that because of his upbringing he should be more sympathetic than a "mere" peasant would be, because he is use to having fine things in life and was raised to expect fine things. There seems to be some classicism within this section, as the tramp is painted to appear almost as being "superior" to the lowly peasants.

That's definitely a good point. What do you make of that, though? Why would Chekhov make his habits be some incongruous with his situation? Does it fit in with the theme of depressing circumstances vs. hopeful dreams?

Quark, I think now that you are in my friend's list so don't worry about it. I saw I was in yours already. We are all learning as we go along - like the blind leading the blind..

We'll figure this stuff out eventually, Janine. In the meantime, we can console ourselves with the fact that we're so ahead of everyone in using images. Look how many pictures we have on our threads!

[Janine]

We'll figure this stuff out eventually, Janine. In the meantime, we can console ourselves with the fact that we're so ahead of everyone in using images. Look how many pictures we have on our threads!

Yeah really, Quark....and we always come up with great images to express the stories, don't we? I am tired out now so can't respond to the other parts of your posts. I have just spend hours uploading a new album for my profile page. This photo thing is quite to my liking. If you have a chance, peek in and see my new Garden Album. Of course, the garden now is over-run with weeds; but at least, I have the photos to show the 'glory days'

[Dark Muse]

That's definitely a good point. What do you make of that, though? Why would Chekhov make his habits be some incongruous with his situation? Does it fit in with the theme of depressing circumstances vs. hopeful dreams?

I am really not sure what to make of it, I just could not help but to notice the suggestion of it seemed to be there. In someways I thought perhaps, it was intended to make the ending more tragic, becasue considering his education, we are let to beleive that perhaps he would have more hopeful dreams, or perhaps possibly greater prospects were it not for the circumstance he found himself in.

Or perhaps that his mother had worked so hard to try and give him better oppetunities in life, only to have him end up as a criminal and soon to be exile.

[Quark]

I thought perhaps, it was intended to make the ending more tragic, becasue considering his education, we are let to beleive that perhaps he would have more hopeful dreams, or perhaps possibly greater prospects were it not for the circumstance he found himself in.

It does build our sympathy for him. He clearly has ambitions and ideas. If he wasn't going to die during his journey to Siberia, he may have been able to lead a happy, productive life.

I also think his refined habits add to the contrast between his current prospects and his dreams for more. By having his personal situation differ so much from his ideas, Chekhov is introducing a theme that will come to forefront later.

Or perhaps that his mother had worked so hard to try and give him better oppetunities in life, only to have him end up as a criminal and soon to be exile.

We'll talk about this more when we get into the text I posted below.

If you have a chance, peek in and see my new Garden Album.

I did. It looks like a big garden, but I can't tell from the close-up photos. It's certainly a very colorful garden. You say it's been taken over by less attractive weeds now, though? That's unfortunate. I suppose LitNet has pulled you away from gardening too much. At least your LitNet page is colorful now. I like the sea foam theme.

Anyway, here's more of the text. This is the part where we finally get a full history of the tramp's crime. There isn't too much to say about this part, but it is interesting to note how the mother's desires are frustrated just as the son's are later on.

"Why, have you been a convict?"

"I have, dear friend. For four years I went about with my head shaved and fetters on my legs."

"What for?"

"For murder, my good man! When I was still a boy of eighteen or so, my mamma accidentally poured arsenic instead of soda and acid into my master's glass. There were boxes of all sorts in the storeroom, numbers of them; it was easy to make a mistake over them."

The tramp sighed, shook his head, and said:

"She was a pious woman, but, who knows? another man's soul is a slumbering forest! It may have been an accident, or maybe she could not endure the affront of seeing the master prefer another servant. . . . Perhaps she put it in on purpose, God knows! I was young then, and did not understand it all . . . now I remember that our master had taken another mistress and mamma was greatly disturbed. Our trial lasted nearly two years. . . . Mamma was condemned to penal servitude for twenty years, and I, on account of my youth, only to seven."

"And why were you sentenced?"

"As an accomplice. I handed the glass to the master. That was always the custom. Mamma prepared the soda and I handed it to him. Only I tell you all this as a Christian, brothers, as I would say it before God. Don't you tell anybody. . . ."

"Oh, nobody's going to ask us," said Ptaha. "So you've run away from prison, have you?"

"I have, dear friend. Fourteen of us ran away. Some folks, God bless them! ran away and took me with them. Now you tell me, on your conscience, good man, what reason have I to disclose my name? They will send me back to penal servitude, you know! And I am not fit for penal servitude! I am a refined man in delicate health. I like to sleep and eat in cleanliness. When I pray to God I like to light a little lamp or a candle, and not to have a noise around me. When I bow down to the ground I like the floor not to be dirty or spat upon. And I bow down forty times every morning and evening, praying for mamma."

The tramp took off his cap and crossed himself.

"And let them send me to Eastern Siberia," he said; "I am not afraid of that."

"Surely that's no better?"

[Janine]

I have been reading all the posts, although not posting much myself. I feel bogged down now with all the new changes and my own new computer work/installations, etc. I hope you will forgive me. I will try and post comments on this next section, but DM always beats me to it, and usually I just agree with what she says/observes...weird lately...we have been agreeing way too much.

Thanks Quark, for looking at my once and glorious garden, now a tangle of weeds. Actually many of the perennial plants are still there, but they have been crowded out by the unwanted invaders: mulberrry trees and God knows what else, wild ferns, vines, etc.
It is a big garden - too big! I kept expanding it, until it was uncontrollable; I call it 'natural'. If you click on each photo, you will see the full size view. You haven't commented on my page yet, have you?

Be back later to comment on this story.

[Quark]

You haven't commented on my page yet, have you?

I haven't gotten a chance to yet. I've been so busy with the Lawrence and Chekhov threads--my "official duties"--that I really haven't had much time for anything else.

[Janine]

I haven't gotten a chance to yet. I've been so busy with the Lawrence and Chekhov threads--my "official duties"--that I really haven't had much time for anything else.

You're forgiven....just come visit when you have time...no rush.

[Dark Muse]

One thing I was a bit confussed about in this story, was what exzactly the two constables had arrested him for. They did not know of his past deeds untill he began to speak of them. Was he taken in just for being a tramp? Or did I miss something?

[Quark]

One thing I was a bit confussed about in this story, was what exzactly the two constables had arrested him for. They did not know of his past deeds untill he began to speak of them. Was he taken in just for being a tramp? Or did I miss something?

I remember asking myself this question when I was reading, and I thought something later in the text gave me a clue. I can't remember what it was, though. I'll have to look it over again. Originally, I assumed that he was arrested for being a tramp, and then forgetting his name was an added crime--like not complying with officials. Of course, why would they be arresting tramps? Was he loitering, or something? Would they really send people to Siberia for that?

While we're figuring this out, let me point to one other thing. What do you make of the tramp's version of his past? It seems like he's trying to paint himself as the victim. Later it tells us that he begins relating things to the constables in "mawkish" tones. Do you think that the tramp may be a little self-pitying? Could this be part of his daydreams? We know we can't trust his foresight, so why should we trust his memory?