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samdalefox 's review for:
The Chekhov Collection of Short Stories
by Anton Chekhov
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am a fan of Chekhov's plays (notably, Uncle Vanya) and I'm a fan of short stories. This is the first collection of Chekhov's short stories that I've read. I enjoyed reading them as an audiobook, I deeply appreciate Richard Armitage's voice. The rating is a reflection of the average taken from all the stories individually rated. 'Ward 6' and 'The Black Monk' were by far the standouts. But, I'll be honest, I've just about had my fill of stories about well-off, middle/upper class Russian intellectuals sitting about pontificating and life and insanity.
Ward 6 notes
Although I could see where the plot was going, I still enjoyed the story. Ward 6 raises important issues regarding the relationships between citizens and state, and between people in positions of power (doctors, upper class, law makers and enforcers) and those whom they incapacitate (the physically and mentally ill, the poor, those they disagree with). I found it particuarly satisfying that Dr Ragin came to fully understand and agree with Ivan Gromov's points in Chapter 10. Where Gromov challenged Ragin's viewpoint on suffering, arguing that in order to understand the suffering of others, the doctor would have to experience suffering himself. Gromov's criticism of Ragin's stoicism had me literally shouting out YESSSS COMRADE! Other points that made me pause and think:
Ward 6 notes
Although I could see where the plot was going, I still enjoyed the story. Ward 6 raises important issues regarding the relationships between citizens and state, and between people in positions of power (doctors, upper class, law makers and enforcers) and those whom they incapacitate (the physically and mentally ill, the poor, those they disagree with). I found it particuarly satisfying that Dr Ragin came to fully understand and agree with Ivan Gromov's points in Chapter 10. Where Gromov challenged Ragin's viewpoint on suffering, arguing that in order to understand the suffering of others, the doctor would have to experience suffering himself. Gromov's criticism of Ragin's stoicism had me literally shouting out YESSSS COMRADE! Other points that made me pause and think:
- "There is nothing so good on this earth that did not have something bad about its origin"
- Human connection - is this dependent upong thinking and intellectual pursuits? Arguably not.
- "People intellectualise reality to justify their own inaction". Case in point: Dr Ragin.
Betrothed (The Bride) notes
I suppose for the time this may have been radical - mid 1800's, a woman, with autonomy, choosing her own way in life? Shocking. I also enjoyed one particular passage where the characters were discussing whether it is moral/immoral to 'do nothing'. E.g. They were discussing the wealth of the upper class acting as a parasite - stealing the life of another less wealthy person.
The Black Monk notes
Part horror story, mostly celebration of madness and authenticity. The apparition of the Black Monk could be read to symbolise a number of things. To me there are 4 main themes throughout the novella:
- Is the hallucination of the Black Monk 'normal'/acceptable, or a mental illness/unacceptable? It questions why the hallucination could not be seen as a natural thing, since the person and mind is part of nature. ("I exist in your imagination, and your imagination is part of nature, so I exist in nature.") This could be read as romanticism of mental illness. Or a criticism of unnecessarily treatment and value judging of certain mental experiences. There were frequent references to 'feeling ordinary', 'out of character', 'not authentic', I would be interested to read a Phenomenonological review of this story.
- Spiritual emptiness, boredem, loneliness.
- Humans' relationship with nature - represented in the control of the beautiful and bountiful Garden. Then reflected more profoundly in the nature of the self (see point 1 above).
- Kovrin's suffering from 'delusions of grandeur' - his desire to be important and change the world and the stunting he felt from being limited in his ambitions. Are his feelings and views of himself justified or not?
"Why, why have you cured me? ...all this will reduce me at last to idiocy. I went out of my mind, I had megalomania; but then I was... interesting and original. Now I have become more sensible and stolid, but I am just like every one else: I am—mediocrity..."
"...Doctors and kind relations will succeed in stupefying mankind, in making mediocrity pass for genius and in bringing civilisation to ruin. If only you knew."
"Everyman should be satisfied with what he is". The Black Monk asks "Why did you not believe me?" i.e. in yourself.
Individual ratings (out of 5)
- Ward 6 (3.5)
- The Kiss (2)
- Betrothed (2.5)
- The Black Monk (3.5)
- Neighbours (2)
- The Student (1.5)