Life in 19th century Russia, according to Chekhov, has a big problem. Boredom. Yes, that age old problem for the upper class. The lower class has poverty, misery and just trying to stay alive. But that is another story. You see, the upper classes can read, and in reading, they can read about themselves.
They have literature, art, theatre and music. That seems like a lot to do but eventually it all leads to boredom. And when one is bored, trouble is one step away.
Ah, life. Get married, be bored, have an affair, become regretful, stay married. Boring is not okay. Or perhaps you run away with your old flame like “Lady with Lapdog.” Seize the day. Don’t be bored.
Or is all harmless fun to get even with their boring husbands? In the case of “The Grasshopper,” Olga gets frightfully guilty of her “fling” with an artist (yikes!), especially on the news her boring husband is dying. Or is that just part of the fun? Perhaps, just not for him.
Or the case of “Ariadne.” She runs away with a married man but relies on her male friend to save the day. When her lover runs home after running out of money, she has a loveless affair with her male friend. He realizes that she just uses men, a constant theme in Chekhov. Men are men and women are cunning vixens. Ouch. What about equality and education? Out the door with misogyny. Bigger ouch.
Or you have strong women like Leda in “The House with an Attic.” She toils hard for the suffering of the village people, perhaps an early socialist, but her disdain for the young artist and his lofty view of the world, challenges him to no end.
How about “A Boring Story.” Our brilliant professor of medicine, Nicolai, leads a rather consistent but dull existence. Every day his wife complains about something (stop me if you have heard this one before?), his daughter wants to marry a nobody that the good doctor despises. Opera and theatre is boring (nothing has changed much in 30 years). Add in his insomnia issues and the challenges of lecturing for one hour forty each day after thirty years, and you can see he has a dilemma.
Thankfully there is Katya, his god daughter. In her youth, she had a fling, got pregnant, lost the child and left the guy. So she returns to visit the professor. Every day. She chatters on about the theatre, which he can’t stand, but he cherishes her companionship over his wife and daughter. Hold on, what is going on here? At 62, with his failing health and his dull life, our professor realizes, the clock is ticking. Time to act Nicolai! Tempus fugit.
Or Dmitry Ionych, Dr. Startsev, who was entertained by the family Turkin. Dad cracked jokes, mom recited unpublished novels and daughter pounded away at the piano. In truth, all mediocre talents. Ionych asked for daughter Kitty’s hand but she rejected him. He was too boring. She was going to be an artist. Then it was his turn. Was she too dull?
Or how about pure pessimism of Ward 6. “Life is a snare and delusion” said Dr. Ragin. Well this story delivers (and not a woman in sight). Just men abusing themselves and each other. We are a cruel race. One might say “be careful with your patients, or you will become one yourself.”
Chekhov is a keen observer of human folly. Love and life intermingled with boredom and death make for good reading. It’s amazing that still after 135 years, he is still relevant and enjoyable to read. We all get bored from time to time, so why not read these tales?
What ever your desire, whatever your sin, you will probably pay for it in the end. Wise words. The Gospel according to Chekhov.
Note. I first read this book back in 1979. Obviously it was overdue for a read and spurred on by the two fine short stories included in the Short Story Club.