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The Kiss
"The Kiss" by Anton Chekhov follows Ryabovitch, a modest army officer, who experiences unexpected turmoil when he accidentally kisses the wife of an official during a ball. Consumed by guilt and fear, he navigates an internal struggle while facing the consequences of his actions. The story delves into human nature, morality, and the complexities of desire within societal constraints.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 23, 2021
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25 people want to read
About the author
Anton Chekhov
5,951 books9,851 followers
Antón Chéjov
(Spanish)
Dramas, such as The Seagull (1896, revised 1898), and including "A Dreary Story" (1889) of Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, also Chekov, concern the inability of humans to communicate.
Born ( Антон Павлович Чехов ) in the small southern seaport of Taganrog, the son of a grocer. His grandfather, a serf, bought his own freedom and that of his three sons in 1841. He also taught to read. A cloth merchant fathered Yevgenia Morozova, his mother.
"When I think back on my childhood," Chekhov recalled, "it all seems quite gloomy to me." Tyranny of his father, religious fanaticism, and long nights in the store, open from five in the morning till midnight, shadowed his early years. He attended a school for Greek boys in Taganrog from 1867 to 1868 and then Taganrog grammar school. Bankruptcy of his father compelled the family to move to Moscow. At the age of 16 years in 1876, independent Chekhov for some time alone in his native town supported through private tutoring.
In 1879, Chekhov left grammar school and entered the university medical school at Moscow. In the school, he began to publish hundreds of short comics to support his mother, sisters and brothers. Nicholas Leikin published him at this period and owned Oskolki (splinters), the journal of Saint Petersburg. His subjected silly social situations, marital problems, and farcical encounters among husbands, wives, mistresses, and lust; even after his marriage, Chekhov, the shy author, knew not much of whims of young women.
Nenunzhaya pobeda , first novel of Chekhov, set in 1882 in Hungary, parodied the novels of the popular Mór Jókai. People also mocked ideological optimism of Jókai as a politician.
Chekhov graduated in 1884 and practiced medicine. He worked from 1885 in Peterburskaia gazeta.
In 1886, Chekhov met H.S. Suvorin, who invited him, a regular contributor, to work for Novoe vremya, the daily paper of Saint Petersburg. He gained a wide fame before 1886. He authored The Shooting Party , his second full-length novel, later translated into English. Agatha Christie used its characters and atmosphere in later her mystery novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd . First book of Chekhov in 1886 succeeded, and he gradually committed full time. The refusal of the author to join the ranks of social critics arose the wrath of liberal and radical intelligentsia, who criticized him for dealing with serious social and moral questions but avoiding giving answers. Such leaders as Leo Tolstoy and Nikolai Leskov, however, defended him. "I'm not a liberal, or a conservative, or a gradualist, or a monk, or an indifferentist. I should like to be a free artist and that's all..." Chekhov said in 1888.
The failure of The Wood Demon , play in 1889, and problems with novel made Chekhov to withdraw from literature for a period. In 1890, he traveled across Siberia to Sakhalin, remote prison island. He conducted a detailed census of ten thousand convicts and settlers, condemned to live on that harsh island. Chekhov expected to use the results of his research for his doctoral dissertation. Hard conditions on the island probably also weakened his own physical condition. From this journey came his famous travel book.
Chekhov practiced medicine until 1892. During these years, Chechov developed his concept of the dispassionate, non-judgmental author. He outlined his program in a letter to his brother Aleksandr: "1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects; 4. extreme brevity; 5. audacity and originality; flee the stereotype; 6. compassion." Because he objected that the paper conducted against [a:Alfred Dreyfu
Dramas, such as The Seagull (1896, revised 1898), and including "A Dreary Story" (1889) of Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, also Chekov, concern the inability of humans to communicate.
Born ( Антон Павлович Чехов ) in the small southern seaport of Taganrog, the son of a grocer. His grandfather, a serf, bought his own freedom and that of his three sons in 1841. He also taught to read. A cloth merchant fathered Yevgenia Morozova, his mother.
"When I think back on my childhood," Chekhov recalled, "it all seems quite gloomy to me." Tyranny of his father, religious fanaticism, and long nights in the store, open from five in the morning till midnight, shadowed his early years. He attended a school for Greek boys in Taganrog from 1867 to 1868 and then Taganrog grammar school. Bankruptcy of his father compelled the family to move to Moscow. At the age of 16 years in 1876, independent Chekhov for some time alone in his native town supported through private tutoring.
In 1879, Chekhov left grammar school and entered the university medical school at Moscow. In the school, he began to publish hundreds of short comics to support his mother, sisters and brothers. Nicholas Leikin published him at this period and owned Oskolki (splinters), the journal of Saint Petersburg. His subjected silly social situations, marital problems, and farcical encounters among husbands, wives, mistresses, and lust; even after his marriage, Chekhov, the shy author, knew not much of whims of young women.
Nenunzhaya pobeda , first novel of Chekhov, set in 1882 in Hungary, parodied the novels of the popular Mór Jókai. People also mocked ideological optimism of Jókai as a politician.
Chekhov graduated in 1884 and practiced medicine. He worked from 1885 in Peterburskaia gazeta.
In 1886, Chekhov met H.S. Suvorin, who invited him, a regular contributor, to work for Novoe vremya, the daily paper of Saint Petersburg. He gained a wide fame before 1886. He authored The Shooting Party , his second full-length novel, later translated into English. Agatha Christie used its characters and atmosphere in later her mystery novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd . First book of Chekhov in 1886 succeeded, and he gradually committed full time. The refusal of the author to join the ranks of social critics arose the wrath of liberal and radical intelligentsia, who criticized him for dealing with serious social and moral questions but avoiding giving answers. Such leaders as Leo Tolstoy and Nikolai Leskov, however, defended him. "I'm not a liberal, or a conservative, or a gradualist, or a monk, or an indifferentist. I should like to be a free artist and that's all..." Chekhov said in 1888.
The failure of The Wood Demon , play in 1889, and problems with novel made Chekhov to withdraw from literature for a period. In 1890, he traveled across Siberia to Sakhalin, remote prison island. He conducted a detailed census of ten thousand convicts and settlers, condemned to live on that harsh island. Chekhov expected to use the results of his research for his doctoral dissertation. Hard conditions on the island probably also weakened his own physical condition. From this journey came his famous travel book.
Chekhov practiced medicine until 1892. During these years, Chechov developed his concept of the dispassionate, non-judgmental author. He outlined his program in a letter to his brother Aleksandr: "1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects; 4. extreme brevity; 5. audacity and originality; flee the stereotype; 6. compassion." Because he objected that the paper conducted against [a:Alfred Dreyfu
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 26, 2024
The story begins with the line, “At eight o’clock on the evening of the 20th of May, all six batteries of the reserve artillery brigade halted for the night.” General von Rabbek, a hospitable figure, invites all nineteen officers to his home for tea. Although dubious at first, the officers accept the invitation and soon find themselves enjoying the warmth and generosity of the family. The evening is filled with excellent company, games, dinner, and copious amounts of alcohol.
Chekhov shifts the focus to Ryabovich, a quiet and unassuming officer who struggles with social discomfort and what Chekhov describes as "psychical blindness," the inability to fully comprehend the world around him. We now know the correct term for autism in 1899! Ryabovich is portrayed as a “little officer in spectacles, with sloping shoulders, and whiskers like a lynx’s.” His discomfort becomes evident when unfamiliar with the social games, he leaves the group, takes a wrong turn, and stumbles into a dark room. There, he is suddenly and mistakenly kissed by a woman who quickly realises her error and leaves.
This unexpected encounter sparks a profound change in Ryabovich. He becomes consumed with thoughts of the mysterious woman, trying to piece together her identity from the only two ladies present at the party. At this point in the story, I find myself broadly smiling at this lovely story. This thrilling experience alters his outlook on life, making him more animated and has even encouraged him to engage with others at the party.
However, as time passes, Ryabovich begins to overthink the event, allowing self-doubt to creep in. Months later, he returns to the same place, but his initial excitement has faded, replaced by a crushing sense of mediocrity. The kiss, which he once saw as a potential turning point in his otherwise unremarkable life, now seems foolish and futile. He had hoped it might change his predestined future—one without love, wealth, or distinction. But instead of seizing the opportunity, he succumbs to his doubts, reflecting, “How stupid, how stupid! How unintelligent it all is!”
In a final act of self-deprecation, Ryabovich chooses not to accompany the other officers to the General's house, retreating to bed instead. The story concludes on a note of dejection: “For an instant, there was a flash of joy in Ryabovich’s heart, but he quenched it at once, got into bed, and in his wrath with his fate, as though to spite it, did not go to the General’s.” Curse our overthinking brains!
The story concludes with the following line “.. for an instance there was a flash of joy in Ryabovich’s heart but he quenched it at once, got into bed and in his wrath with his fate, as though to spite it, did not go to the Generals.”
Chekhov shifts the focus to Ryabovich, a quiet and unassuming officer who struggles with social discomfort and what Chekhov describes as "psychical blindness," the inability to fully comprehend the world around him. We now know the correct term for autism in 1899! Ryabovich is portrayed as a “little officer in spectacles, with sloping shoulders, and whiskers like a lynx’s.” His discomfort becomes evident when unfamiliar with the social games, he leaves the group, takes a wrong turn, and stumbles into a dark room. There, he is suddenly and mistakenly kissed by a woman who quickly realises her error and leaves.
This unexpected encounter sparks a profound change in Ryabovich. He becomes consumed with thoughts of the mysterious woman, trying to piece together her identity from the only two ladies present at the party. At this point in the story, I find myself broadly smiling at this lovely story. This thrilling experience alters his outlook on life, making him more animated and has even encouraged him to engage with others at the party.
However, as time passes, Ryabovich begins to overthink the event, allowing self-doubt to creep in. Months later, he returns to the same place, but his initial excitement has faded, replaced by a crushing sense of mediocrity. The kiss, which he once saw as a potential turning point in his otherwise unremarkable life, now seems foolish and futile. He had hoped it might change his predestined future—one without love, wealth, or distinction. But instead of seizing the opportunity, he succumbs to his doubts, reflecting, “How stupid, how stupid! How unintelligent it all is!”
In a final act of self-deprecation, Ryabovich chooses not to accompany the other officers to the General's house, retreating to bed instead. The story concludes on a note of dejection: “For an instant, there was a flash of joy in Ryabovich’s heart, but he quenched it at once, got into bed, and in his wrath with his fate, as though to spite it, did not go to the General’s.” Curse our overthinking brains!
The story concludes with the following line “.. for an instance there was a flash of joy in Ryabovich’s heart but he quenched it at once, got into bed and in his wrath with his fate, as though to spite it, did not go to the Generals.”
February 4, 2026
What a wonderful, yet subtle story about the Reality of Life itself and all its Hopes and Disappointments.
And how we manage to talk ourselves into living each day as best we can, even if most of the time we really have no real understanding of what is going on around us. We have our refuges which help us cope.
A classic example of this is Lieutenant Merzlyakov who is always reading, his nose buried in "Vyestnik Europi", a popular Liberal Periodical of the time.
The Hopes and Dreams of unrequited Love is the most obvious essence of this story, but its Theme also reflects on all aspects of life.
All those hopes we have when we take on a new job. Or move to a new house. Or even when we buy a new Guitar and say, "I'm going to learn how to play this thing".
My favorite part of the story is the ending, when Ryabovich decides, "Ah! Screw It All!", and just decides to get into bed and go to sleep. At that point he has decided that, Life is...just Life, and there's nothing really anyone can do to change it. Zzzzzzzzz!
For those disappointed with this ending, just remember the Song of thr Nightingale which sang earlier in the story.
It symbolizes both Love and Melancholy. The Duality of Life and Death. The bittersweet connection between Intense Beauty and Inevitable Loss. It is the Voice of Longing and the Spirtual Expression that Brings to Light that which is Hidden.
And how we manage to talk ourselves into living each day as best we can, even if most of the time we really have no real understanding of what is going on around us. We have our refuges which help us cope.
A classic example of this is Lieutenant Merzlyakov who is always reading, his nose buried in "Vyestnik Europi", a popular Liberal Periodical of the time.
The Hopes and Dreams of unrequited Love is the most obvious essence of this story, but its Theme also reflects on all aspects of life.
All those hopes we have when we take on a new job. Or move to a new house. Or even when we buy a new Guitar and say, "I'm going to learn how to play this thing".
My favorite part of the story is the ending, when Ryabovich decides, "Ah! Screw It All!", and just decides to get into bed and go to sleep. At that point he has decided that, Life is...just Life, and there's nothing really anyone can do to change it. Zzzzzzzzz!
For those disappointed with this ending, just remember the Song of thr Nightingale which sang earlier in the story.
It symbolizes both Love and Melancholy. The Duality of Life and Death. The bittersweet connection between Intense Beauty and Inevitable Loss. It is the Voice of Longing and the Spirtual Expression that Brings to Light that which is Hidden.
December 16, 2024
What of a man: undistinguished, uninteresting, unhandsome; mistakenly accosted in a room too dark for eyes, with a loving embrace and tender kiss that rendered love; all virginal to him; and all too quickly shrieked away by her recognition of the horrid accident; yet which lingered in his mind, where she took the form of the most wondrous phantasms; which grew more angelic every day throughout the seasons? And what of that man, who comes to realize his folly? This is that story. And this is typical Checkov, mining souls.
January 9, 2026
Chekhov writes and describes the everyday person in a simple, beautiful and relatable way. Through his prose you can catch a glimpse of life in Russia during his time and I simply cannot get enough of his work. "the kiss" itself is a clever depiction of psychology and, as the title suggests, a kiss.
December 23, 2023
3 stars
August 15, 2024
It was just fine up until the end… then it wasn’t.
September 28, 2025
Like this short story, it's a moment of infatuation.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews