It is appeared to be the favourite Chekhov's story of Thomas Mann:
"If references are to be made and praises bestowed, then I must certainly mention A Tedious Tale, for it is my favorite among all Chekhov’s stories, an outstandingly fascinating work which for gentleness, sadness, and strangeness has no equal in the literary world. It is an astonishing production; if for no other reason, because this tale, allegedly “tedious’ yet actually overwhelming, is put into the mouth of an old man by a young man of thirty with the utmost sympathy and understanding."
This is the one of the most famous quotes from the story:
"Every feeling and every thought lives an isolated existence in my mind; and the most experienced analyst will not discover in my judgments on science, the theatre, literature, etc., etc., what people call a central idea, or the God of living men. And if that is lacking, there is nothing but the void…It is not in the least surprising therefore that the last months of my life have been darkened by thoughts and feelings worthy of a slave and a barbarian and that indifference is now my portion. For if something higher and stronger than all external circumstances does not inform the life of a man, then indeed a common cold is enough to disturb his equilibrium; and all his pessimism or optimism together with his great and little thoughts are merely symptoms and nothing else. I am defeated. Why, then, should I continue to think or to argue? No, I shall simply sit and wait for what is coming in silence.
And just a few notes from me. First of all, the argument still persist whether this view expressed by the character was the view by Chekhov. Chekhov said categorically no. But many critics and the readers still think it is the case about "the central idea" or its lack there of in his work. I think the argument is misplaced. It is always interesting though how much of the author's thought and personality is expressed in his work and how straightforward is to see it.
And another thought. For me, this was not the core of the story. For me the core was how helpless one could become in spite of the superfluously successful life. And how then one is incapable of emotionally giving. Emptiness could be tragic.