The Lady With The Pet Dog Essay

He does not feel anything toward women and in fact, refers to them as “the lower race” (1) and that “their beauty aroused hatred in him and the lace on their linen reminded him of scales” (118). As the story ends, the readers learn about Gurov’s consciousness and that his feelings towards women have changed. The motive for his alteration begins with Gurov’s love for Anna, and later these feelings makes him “sleepless and restless” because of continuous thinking and dreaming about Anna.

This story’s general setting takes place in nineteenth century Russia. But, there are also many particular settings throughout this narrative that largely affect the characters and create many problems the narrator and Anna Sergeyevna have to face. In the beginning of the story Gurov and Anna find themselves taking vacations in the same city to get away from their other lives. But, when they have to part they realize how much they actually mean to each other. This can be seen in the following excerpt when Gurov realizes that Anna has not left his mind ever since they went home, “He would pace a long time about in his room, remembering it all and smiling; then his memories passed into dreams, and in his fancy the past was mingled with what was to come. Anna Sergeyevna did not visit him in his dreams, but followed him about everywhere like a shadow” (Chekhov 172). Therefore, the conflict that the setting creates is the distance between Gurov and

    The confusion in Raskolnikov’s soul is best seen when he tries to help a girl in the street who has been raped and left to the whims of whoever may

For many, comparing well written literature is seen as detrimental to the original works of the authors. However, this is not always the case. Comparing literature helps the reader to see intricate details of the story that he or she may have missed when reading it the first time. Also, it can assist the reader in forming a more in depth opinion on each story, and deciding which story is a better piece of literature. For example, while reading “The Lady with the Pet Dog” by Anton Chekhov and “The Lady with the Pet Dog” by Joyce Carol Oates; the reader can come to the conclusion that Oates story is, overall, a more well written piece of literature. One can determine this by looking at different elements of the story; more specifically the structure, setting, and point of view.

paced. This trait is important to Sergei’s character because it shows that Sergei’s character is

Gurov, dissatisfied with his monotonous life, goes to Anna because he needs the scandal to relieve a numbness that has taken effect, not because he loves her. She merely reciprocates his affection, not out of love, but to escape the entrapment she feels from her marriage. In a subtle climax during his return home to Moscow, Gurov feels the agonizing absence of anyone he can talk to meaningfully about the personal secrecies of his life, specifically Anna. This intolerable sensation sends him to “S—,“ to find her. Only when Gurov is standing outside Anna’s house does he actually relate to her situation and form some genuine connection. “Just opposite the house stretched a long grey fence adorned with nails…One would run away from a fence like that," thought Gurov, looking from the fence to the windows of the house and back again…He loathed the grey fence more and more, and by now he thought irritably that Anna Sergeyevna had forgotten him, and was perhaps already amusing herself with some one else, and that that was very natural in a young woman who had nothing to look at from morning till night but that confounded fence” (p.230). With Gurov’s realization, he actually escapes his fenced in world and partially enters her miserable one. In sharing a connection, their emotions and psychological needs start to blend together and they become entrapped by the same fence, where inside, the two of them are alone and vulnerable in a shared arena. This isolation

The mood of confusion due to the characters disorientation from his guilty conscious is what manipulates the tone. The mood and tone are also expressed during the state of agitation the character encounters when battling his conscious about committing the murder in the first place. Going back to the point of the characters un-confessed sin which is his main cause of his torture; there comes the moment of truth within the story. In the excerpt, the author says, “There had been little difficulty about his trial. The criminal adhered exactly, firmly, and clearly to his statement… He explained every incident of the murder” (lines 4-6). This is the point in the story where Raskolnikov unleashes the demons in his mind and confesses to his sin. It’s shown here just how brutal the battle with his guilty conscious truly was, by Raskolnikov being pushed to a confession, stating the exact incidents and not missing a single detail, all while showing absolutely no remorse for himself. There is finally a sense of hope that is shown for the main character at the end of the excerpt when the author describes the moment in prison after his confession. When the author says “In prison, how it happened, he did not know. But all at once something seemed to seize him and fling him at her (Sonia’s) feet. He wept and threw his arms round her knees. They were both pale and thin; but those sick pale faces were bright with the dawn of a new future, of a full

Anton Chekhov hardly restrained from writing the dreary aspects of life during his writing career. Noted as one of Russia’s most prominent realist writers of the late 19th century, Chekhov’s work ranged from critical issues concerning the mental health system in “Ward No.6” to illustrating the tiresome cycle occurring for ordinary people sensing they are incomplete with their dull, normal life in “The Lady with the Dog.” “The Lady with the Dog,” in particular portrays characters of Chekhov’s facing an unreachable desire; Gurov and Anna. This desire emulates two contrasting forces represented by the double-lives the couple lives, one being that of realism and boredom, and the other of strict passion and romanticism. Gurov and “the lady with

Both men are seen acting in very similar manners. In the split nature of Raskolnikov’s mind and conscious Svidrigaylov represents the side of altered reason. As mentioned above reason is governed by logical determinants. However, due to Raskolnikov embodying a sense of superiority over others the logical aspect in his reasoning becomes flawed, thus resulting in him turning towards consumption, similar to Svidrigailov. As commonly noted in the novel Svidrigailov is seen having one main function, to satisfy carnal pleasures in his life- QUOTE!. Representing an ‘extraordinary man” he believes that since the world is at its foundation an evil and vile place; man must therefore become in tune with the universe and become evil himself, allowing him to become free of having to controls one own will and power. This is a commonly debated thought found in the mind of Raskolnikov who is constantly attempting to punish himself but on the other hand is also seen justifying his crime and falling into this extraordinary or nihilistic point of view. Another similarity between the two is the action of charity. Svidrigailov commits his own acts of charity simply because of his impulsive behavior to act upon things that grant him pleasure. This can similarly be said about Raskolnikov who seems to commit his own acts of charity in a seemingly impulsive fashion as well lending to the nihilistic persona. The nihilistic thought however changes within both men at the end of the book. In Svidrigaylov’s case once realizing that he cannot fully isolate himself from the rest of humanity. This is brought on upon the denial of Dunya in his attempted marriage proposal. Forced to realize that his old method of living is shattered he must take the only course left for

Author Anton Chekhov's introduction of Sergeyena changes Gurov. She does not immediately answer his demands and can be described as “dejected” and “mournful” in his presence, contrasting how Gurov usually feels comforted around

As the story unfolds, Gurov at first changes subtly. First of all he meets Mrs. Anna Sergeyevna. His attitude at first is still the same, he finds her as another victim of his little game that he plays. He sits and watches, searching his mind for a ways to get her attention like he does for every woman. He still looks at women in the same sort of fashion. Anna and Gurov start spending time with each other more and more, he still plays his game. Each time that he meets her and tries to coax her into have an ice or syrup, yet he still looks at her as “pathetic.” After their first kiss he begins to realize that there is something different about this girl. Unlike the usual women he messes around with, she feels guilty about engaging in this affair with him. Anna does not give him the satisfaction of playing the game along with him. As he spends more time with Anna he becomes fond of her presence. He starts learning more about her, when she talks him listens intently instead of getting bored and rolling his eyes. When Anna gets a letter from her husband asking for her to come home, Gurov acts like it isn’t a big deal, he still believes he is playing his game. At first he forces himself to believe he is ok, but after they are apart for a while he realizes that Anna isn’t leaving him. She follows him everywhere, not just in his dreams. He feels something that he has never felt before, he

However, in Oates’ version, she utilizes the female character, Anna, to develop the story. In Chekhov’s story, the reader is more aware of the masculinity present in the story. Gurov is manipulative of women, and he uses them as a device to remove himself from his marriage. In the story, he speaks of women by saying, “It seemed to him that he had been sufficiently tutored by bitter experience to call them what he pleased…” (Chekhov 2014). He believes that all women are the same and are the inferior race compared to men. Anna’s actions in the Oates’ story contrast greatly compared to Gurov’s. Anna displays the feminine side of the relationship between the couple. Anna is not accustomed to being involved in several affairs, which can be seen through the emotional toll that it takes on her. Following the stereotypical female

Later in the story, during one of Anna's Moscow visits, she cries again and as Chekhov foreshadows, Gurov reacts similarly. This time Gurov slips off the bed, out from beneath Anna and sits in an armchair. Paying no attention to her sorrows he then, ". . . rang and ordered tea; and then, while he drank tea, she went on . . ." (309-310). Not only is Chekhov's foreshadowing similar in both stories, he also uses magnificent details in the setting that intensify the reader's interest.

By writing a literary analysis it allows readers to criticize and survey an author’s work. It lets the readers truly be appreciative and to be able to comprehend what the writings meaning is. Analyzing the poems, short-stories, and anything else the author has written, may show the readers what factors helped shape how they wrote. It could also determine the themes given, how the character’s act amongst each other, and how certain scenes are presented. Overall, a literally analysis is written to let the readers really dig into the information given throughout the author’s work.

Complicating many of the problems in the play are somewhat minor conflicts between the main characters. These complications are centered on Irina, who feeds her ego at the expense of others. The focus of Irina's flaunting is Treplev, who becomes suicidal after feeling neglected. She says to Masha, "You're twenty-two and I'm nearly twice as old. Now Dr. Dorn, which of us looks younger? (after her responds, "you"). And why? Because I work, I feel, I'm always on the go while you (Masha) stay put - you're only half alive" (II, P. 82). Not only does Irina complicate the play by undermining Treplev's efforts, but also those of Nina. She says to Nina, "yes, and so