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效褢褉薪褘泄 屑芯薪邪褏
袪邪褋褋泻邪蟹, 胁锌械褉胁褘械 芯锌褍斜谢懈泻芯胁邪薪薪褘泄 胁 1893 谐芯写褍.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1894
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2,407 people want to read
About the author
Anton Chekhov
5,316听books9,427听followersDramas, 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 ( 袗薪褌芯薪 袩邪胁谢芯胁懈褔 效械褏芯胁 ) 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 M贸r J贸kai. People also mocked ideological optimism of J贸kai 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 Alfred Dreyfus, his friendship with Suvorin ended
Born ( 袗薪褌芯薪 袩邪胁谢芯胁懈褔 效械褏芯胁 ) 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 M贸r J贸kai. People also mocked ideological optimism of J贸kai 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 Alfred Dreyfus, his friendship with Suvorin ended
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March 6, 2024
The Black Monk and The Peasants are tenebrous and symbolic stories possessing the power of parables.
To soothe his shattered nerves Master of Arts goes to the country for the spring and summer and there he seems to remember an old legend鈥�
And suddenly this apparitional messiah appears to him and as a result of talking to the Monk the main character is overwhelmed with ideas and inspiration to realize his high ideals鈥� However, the spectre warns him鈥�
His relatives become aware that he is mentally ill and start curing him but after recuperation, he turns apathetic and completely uninspired.
Deprived of ideals, stripped of illusions, man loses a reason to exist and is destined to die.
The Peasants is based on contrasts 鈥� the grandeur of nature is opposed to the wretchedness of living鈥�
An ailing waiter, taking along his wife and daughter, returns to his native village 鈥� the best place for invalids 鈥� where, he supposes, life is cheaper and easier. But there is no bucolic idyll and he finds himself surrounded with ultimate poverty, ignorance, rudeness and hopelessness鈥�
And with every new day life becomes even grimmer and worse鈥�
Ignorant man is his own enemy鈥� Brief joyful youth is soon left behind like a forgotten dream and nothing but misery and death lie ahead.
To soothe his shattered nerves Master of Arts goes to the country for the spring and summer and there he seems to remember an old legend鈥�
鈥淎 thousand years ago a certain monk, clad in black, was walking in the desert somewhere in Syria or Arabia鈥� A few miles from the place where he was walking some fishermen saw another black monk moving slowly across the surface of a lake. This other monk was a mirage鈥� But the main point, the very essence of the whole legend, consists in this, that exactly a thousand years from the time the monk was walking in the desert the mirage will again be present in the atmosphere of the world, and it will show itself to men. It appears that those thousand years are nearly accomplished鈥� Accordingly to the legend we can expect the Black Monk either to-day or to-morrow.鈥�
And suddenly this apparitional messiah appears to him and as a result of talking to the Monk the main character is overwhelmed with ideas and inspiration to realize his high ideals鈥� However, the spectre warns him鈥�
鈥淗ow do you know that the men of genius, who are believed in by the whole world, have not also seen visions? Scholars say now that genius is allied to insanity. My friend, only the ordinary people 鈥� the herd 鈥� are quite well and normal.鈥�
His relatives become aware that he is mentally ill and start curing him but after recuperation, he turns apathetic and completely uninspired.
Deprived of ideals, stripped of illusions, man loses a reason to exist and is destined to die.
The Peasants is based on contrasts 鈥� the grandeur of nature is opposed to the wretchedness of living鈥�
An ailing waiter, taking along his wife and daughter, returns to his native village 鈥� the best place for invalids 鈥� where, he supposes, life is cheaper and easier. But there is no bucolic idyll and he finds himself surrounded with ultimate poverty, ignorance, rudeness and hopelessness鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 no profit,鈥� said the old woman in a lachrymose voice. 鈥淥ur men are not much use, they bring nothing home with them, and only take things. Our Kiriak drinks; and the old man, there鈥檚 no use hiding it, himself knows the way to the drink-shop. They鈥檝e angered our Mother in Heaven!鈥�
In honor of the guests the samovar was brought out. The tea smelt of fish, the sugar was damp and looked as if it had been gnawed, the bread and vessels were covered with cockroaches; it was painful to drink, and painful to hear the talk 鈥� of nothing but poverty and sickness.
And with every new day life becomes even grimmer and worse鈥�
Ignorant man is his own enemy鈥� Brief joyful youth is soon left behind like a forgotten dream and nothing but misery and death lie ahead.
October 24, 2022
賰賱 賲賳丕 亘丿丕禺賱賴 賴匕丕 丕賱乇丕賴亘 丕賱兀爻賵丿 丕賱匕賶 賷兀鬲賷 賲賳 亘毓賷丿 胤賷賮丕 賰亘賷乇丕 亘丕賴鬲丕 賮賷鬲囟丕亍賱 賵 賷鬲囟丕亍賱 賵 賷賯鬲乇亘 賵 賰賱賲丕 丕賯鬲乇亘 馗賴乇鬲 賲賱丕賲丨賴 兀賰孬乇 丨鬲賶 廿匕丕 丕爻鬲賵賶 兀賲丕賲賰 兀丿乇賰鬲 兀賳賴 賱賲 賷兀鬲 賲賳 亘毓賷丿 賵 廿賳賲丕 噩丕亍 賲賳 丿丕禺賱賰 兀賳鬲.
乇丕賴亘賰 丕賱兀爻賵丿 賰丕賲賳 賮賷 賱丕 賵毓賷賰 賷賲賳丨賰 丕賱卮毓賵乇 亘丕賱孬賯丞 賵 賷囟毓 兀賲丕賲賰 噩賵賴乇 賳賮爻賰 爻丕胤毓丕 賲鬲兀賱賯丕 賵 賷胤賱亘 賲賳賰 丕賱賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱噩賴丿 賵 丕賱毓賲賱 賱鬲賰賵賳 兀賳鬲 兀賳鬲 賵 賱賷爻 賲爻禺丕 賲卮賵賴丕 賲鬲賰乇乇丕 賲賳 毓卮乇丕鬲 丕賱氐賵乇 丨賵賱賰.
賰賱 丕賱毓馗賲丕亍 賰丕賳 賱賴賲 賲賱賴賲賷賳 賲賳 禺丕乇噩 賳賮賵爻賴賲 賵 賱賰賳 賴匕丕 丕賱乇丕賴亘 丕賱匕丕鬲賷 丕賱匕賶 丕鬲禺匕 亘丿賳賰 賲丨乇丕亘丕 賱賴 賴賵 丕賱賲賱賴賲 丕賱兀賴賲 賵 丕賱賲丨丕賵乇 丕賱兀氐丿賯 賵 丕賱兀賯乇亘 賮賱丕 鬲賴噩乇賴 賵 賱丕 鬲賱賮馗賴 賲賳 丨賷丕鬲賰 賮鬲賰賵賳 兀爻賷乇 丕賱賰丌亘賴 賵 丕賱乇鬲丕亘丞 賵 賷夭賷丿 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 賮乇丿丕 氐丕賱丨丕 賵 賷禺爻乇 賲亘丿毓丕 胤賲賵丨丕
賰丕賳鬲 兀賵賱 賯氐丞 胤賵賷賱丞 兀賯乇兀賴丕 賱鬲卮賷賰賵賮
July 17, 2023
- 丕賱賯氐丞 乇賵爻賷丞 丕賱賴賵賶貙 賰孬賷賮丞 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 賵丕賱鬲賳丕賯囟丕鬲貙 鬲鬲毓乇囟 賵鬲毓乇囟 賱兀賳賵丕毓 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 丿賵賳賲丕 丕賱禺賱胤 亘賷賳賴賲丕...
- 丕賱賯氐丞 毓賳 兀賳丿乇賷賴 賰賵賮乇賷賳 (賵賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 毓賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賳賮爻賴 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賷毓丕賳賷 賲賳 丕賱賴賱賵爻丞 貙 賵賲孬賱 亘胤賱 賯氐鬲賴 貙 鬲賵賮賷 賮賷 爻賳 賲亘賰乇丞 賱兀賳賴 丕爻鬲賲乇 賮賷 丕賱毓賲賱 兀孬賳丕亍 賲毓丕賳丕鬲賴 賲賳 丕賱爻賱)貙 丕賱亘胤賱 丕賱卮賷夭賵賮賷賳賷貙 丕賱兀賰丕丿賷賲賷 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 毓賱賶 丨丕賮丞 丕賱丕賳賴賷丕乇 丕賱毓氐亘賷. 賮賳氐丨賴 胤亘賷亘賴 亘兀禺匕 丕爻鬲乇丕丨丞 貙 賵丕賱爻賮乇 廿賱賶 卮亘賴 噩夭賷乇丞 丕賱賯乇賲 賱夭賷丕乇丞 氐丿賷賯 賯丿賷賲 貙 賵賱賰賳賴 賱丕 賷鬲賵賯賮 毓賳 丕賱毓賲賱 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓. 賵爻乇毓丕賳 賲丕 賷亘丿兀 亘賲卮丕賴丿丞 乇丕賴亘 兀爻賵丿 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 賱賱丌禺乇賷賳 乇丐賷鬲賴. 賷爻鬲鬲亘毓 匕賱賰 賯氐丞 賯賵胤賷丞貙 廿賱賶 丨丿 賲丕貙 鬲丿賵乇 賲丕 亘賷賳 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵丕賱噩賳賵賳.
- 丕賱賯氐丞 噩賲賷賱丞貙 賵毓賲賷賯丞 賵丕丨丿丕孬賴丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丿賵乇 亘爻乇毓丞 丿賵賳賲丕 鬲賯胤賷毓 丕賵 丕爻賯丕胤 賱兀丨丿丕孬 賲賴賲丞 鬲賳賯賱賰 丕賱賶 賲爻乇丨 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵鬲噩毓賱賰 鬲毓賷卮 丕賱賯氐丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 鬲乇丕噩賷丿賷丞 賵賱賷爻鬲 賰賵賲賷丿賷丞 毓賱賶 毓丕丿丞 鬲卮賷禺賵賮...
-賷鬲乇賰 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 丕賱兀賲乇 賱賯丕乇卅賴 賱賷賯乇乇 兀賷 賲賳 兀賳賵丕毓 丕賱噩賳賵賳 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賲 鬲氐賵賷乇賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞 賴賵 丕賱兀爻賵兀!!..
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賲賳 丕毓賲賯 丕賱廿賯鬲亘丕爻丕鬲 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 亘乇兀賷賷:" 賲丕 賰丕賳 丕爻毓丿 亘賵匕丕 賵賲丨賲丿丕賸 賵卮賰爻亘賷乇 賱兀賳 丕賯丕乇亘賴賲 丕賱胤賷亘賷賳 賵丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 賱賲 賷毓丕賱噩賵賴賲 賲賳 丕賱賳卮賵丞 賵丕賱賵丨賷"
- 丕賱賯氐丞 毓賳 兀賳丿乇賷賴 賰賵賮乇賷賳 (賵賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 毓賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賳賮爻賴 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賷毓丕賳賷 賲賳 丕賱賴賱賵爻丞 貙 賵賲孬賱 亘胤賱 賯氐鬲賴 貙 鬲賵賮賷 賮賷 爻賳 賲亘賰乇丞 賱兀賳賴 丕爻鬲賲乇 賮賷 丕賱毓賲賱 兀孬賳丕亍 賲毓丕賳丕鬲賴 賲賳 丕賱爻賱)貙 丕賱亘胤賱 丕賱卮賷夭賵賮賷賳賷貙 丕賱兀賰丕丿賷賲賷 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 毓賱賶 丨丕賮丞 丕賱丕賳賴賷丕乇 丕賱毓氐亘賷. 賮賳氐丨賴 胤亘賷亘賴 亘兀禺匕 丕爻鬲乇丕丨丞 貙 賵丕賱爻賮乇 廿賱賶 卮亘賴 噩夭賷乇丞 丕賱賯乇賲 賱夭賷丕乇丞 氐丿賷賯 賯丿賷賲 貙 賵賱賰賳賴 賱丕 賷鬲賵賯賮 毓賳 丕賱毓賲賱 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓. 賵爻乇毓丕賳 賲丕 賷亘丿兀 亘賲卮丕賴丿丞 乇丕賴亘 兀爻賵丿 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 賱賱丌禺乇賷賳 乇丐賷鬲賴. 賷爻鬲鬲亘毓 匕賱賰 賯氐丞 賯賵胤賷丞貙 廿賱賶 丨丿 賲丕貙 鬲丿賵乇 賲丕 亘賷賳 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵丕賱噩賳賵賳.
- 丕賱賯氐丞 噩賲賷賱丞貙 賵毓賲賷賯丞 賵丕丨丿丕孬賴丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丿賵乇 亘爻乇毓丞 丿賵賳賲丕 鬲賯胤賷毓 丕賵 丕爻賯丕胤 賱兀丨丿丕孬 賲賴賲丞 鬲賳賯賱賰 丕賱賶 賲爻乇丨 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵鬲噩毓賱賰 鬲毓賷卮 丕賱賯氐丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 鬲乇丕噩賷丿賷丞 賵賱賷爻鬲 賰賵賲賷丿賷丞 毓賱賶 毓丕丿丞 鬲卮賷禺賵賮...
-賷鬲乇賰 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 丕賱兀賲乇 賱賯丕乇卅賴 賱賷賯乇乇 兀賷 賲賳 兀賳賵丕毓 丕賱噩賳賵賳 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賲 鬲氐賵賷乇賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞 賴賵 丕賱兀爻賵兀!!..
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賲賳 丕毓賲賯 丕賱廿賯鬲亘丕爻丕鬲 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 亘乇兀賷賷:" 賲丕 賰丕賳 丕爻毓丿 亘賵匕丕 賵賲丨賲丿丕賸 賵卮賰爻亘賷乇 賱兀賳 丕賯丕乇亘賴賲 丕賱胤賷亘賷賳 賵丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 賱賲 賷毓丕賱噩賵賴賲 賲賳 丕賱賳卮賵丞 賵丕賱賵丨賷"
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February 15, 2025
Chekhov's tale revolves around three individuals: Kovrin, a scholar and philosopher, Pesotsky, owner of a large estate where he keeps orchards and gardens, and T谩nya, Pesotsky's beautiful young daughter.
A bit worn out from all his studies, his doctor friend advises Kovrin to spend the spring and summer in the country. Just then, Kovrin receives a letter from T谩nya asking him to visit her father (Kovrin's parents died when he was young and he became Pesotsky's ward). After some time in solitude, Kovrin does visit Pesotsky and shortly thereafter, falls in love with T谩nya.
Chekhov frames his tale thusly. However, there's an added element: Kovrin receives visits from the Black Monk who convinces him that he's a genius, an elected one far above the mediocre herd (we hear echoes of Nietzsche in the monk's words). On some level Kovrin understands the monk is a projection of his imagination, a powerful hallucination...but still.
A more detailed synopsis along with critical analysis of the story is available online. Thus I'll shift to my own more personal take on Chekhov's tale linked with several author quotes.
鈥淪o he alone had seen the Black Monk. He felt a strong desire to tell what he had seen to T谩nya and Yegor Semi贸novitch, but feared that they would regard it as a hallucination, and decided to keep his counsel. He laughed loudly, sang, danced a mazurka, and felt in the best of spirits; and the guests and T谩nya noticed upon his face a peculiar expression of ecstasy and inspiration, and found him very interesting.鈥�
Good thinking, Kovrin! If you've had a vision propelling you into ecstasy, better not blab about it to other people. Sidebar: In more traditional societies, an individual who received such a vision could be chosen to be the tribe's Shaman, thus becoming a messenger from the spirit world. But in 19th century Russia, having a vivid vision of a black monk can only mean one thing: you're nuts and need a doctor.
"I love you too sincerely not to talk to you frankly," he said, thrusting his hands into his pockets. "In all delicate questions I say what I think, and dislike mystification. I tell you plainly, therefore, that you are the only man whom I should not be afraid of T谩nya marrying. You are a clever man, you have a heart, and you would not see my life's work ruined.鈥�
So speaks Pesotsky to Kovrin. Ideally, what Pesotsky wants is for Kovrin and T谩nya to marry so they can become, when he dies, caretakers of his true love 鈥� his gardens. I read this and think 鈥� horseshit, old man! The garden is YOUR love but don't try to impose your love on others. Heads up, Kovrin 鈥� you don't want to be trapped in the dream of the old man. For as Gilles Deleuze knew very well, 鈥淚f you're trapped in the dream of the Other, you're fucked.鈥�
Deep into the story, the Black Monk speaks to Kovrin: 鈥淭he higher a man has climbed in mental and moral development the freer he is, the greater satisfaction he draws from life. Socrates, Diogenes, Marcus Aurelius knew joy and not sorrow. And the apostle said, 'rejoice exceedingly.' Rejoice and be happy!"
And what is T谩nya's reaction when Kovrin tells her the Black Monk has spoken to him? Predictably, as a staunch representative of the status quo: he's sick and must seek out medical treatment to be cured.
Sidebar: Nowadays the T谩nyas of the world, both male and female, spend most of their lives eating crap food, drinking soda and booze, all the while sitting on their fat ass in from of the idiot box aka boob tube aka TV. 鈥淐ome on, Kovrin, be normal like us!鈥�
And further on in the tale, when Kovrin does become 'normal' he says to his little lovely, 鈥淣ow I have become rational and solid, just like the rest of the world. I am a mediocrity, and it is tiresome for me to live.... Oh, how cruelly... how cruelly you have treated me! I had hallucinations ... but what harm did that cause to anyone? I ask you what harm?"
Ha! Kovrin, my boy, your visions of the Black Monk don't harm anybody. But, and here's the kicker, your visions of the Black Monk THREATEN other people's worldview, their secure little version of life.
I'm so reminded of Schopenhauer's words, 鈥�"Whoever expects to see devils go through the world with horns and fools with jingling bells will always be their prey or plaything." However, there's another force acting in society, in many ways more insidious 鈥� all those holders of the status quo, groupthink with a vengeance.
Anybody who seeks to follow their visions, their creative fires, their call to be something more than humdrum and mediocre 鈥� beware! The T谩nyas of the world are many, as are the likes of her old man.
A special call out to my 欧宝娱乐 friend Gary from Virginia who recommended this classic Chekhov tale.
June 27, 2017
賴賱 賰丕賳鬲 鬲禺賷賱丕鬲賴 鬲爻賷亍 丕賱賶 丕丨丿 丕賵 鬲囟乇賴.
賱賯丿 賰丕賳 爻毓賷丿丕貙 賵爻賵丕亍 兀賰丕賳 毓亘賯乇賷丕 賮毓賱丕 丕賵 賱丕 賮廿賳賴 賰丕賳 爻毓賷丿丕.
賵賱賰賳 賲賳 丨賵賱賴 賷乇賷丿賵賳賴 丕賳 賷賰賵賳 毓丕丿賷丕.
丕賱賮乇賯 亘賷賳 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 卮毓乇賴.
賱賲 賷賮賴賲賴 丕丨丿 賵賲丕鬲 兀賷囟丕 賵賴賲 睾丕囟亘賵賳 毓賱賷賴. 賱丕賳賴 兀乇丕丿 丕賳 賱丕 賷賳囟賲 丕賱賶 丕賱賯胤賷毓.
賮賰乇丞 丕賱賯氐賴 毓賲賷賯賴 噩丿丕 賮廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賱丿賷賰 賮賰乇丞 賮賯丕鬲賱 賵丕毓賲賱 賲賳 丕噩賱賴丕 賵賱賵 賵氐賮賵賰 丕賳賰 睾乇賷亘 丕賱兀胤賵丕乇.
賱賯丿 賰丕賳 爻毓賷丿丕貙 賵爻賵丕亍 兀賰丕賳 毓亘賯乇賷丕 賮毓賱丕 丕賵 賱丕 賮廿賳賴 賰丕賳 爻毓賷丿丕.
賵賱賰賳 賲賳 丨賵賱賴 賷乇賷丿賵賳賴 丕賳 賷賰賵賳 毓丕丿賷丕.
丕賱賮乇賯 亘賷賳 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 卮毓乇賴.
賱賲 賷賮賴賲賴 丕丨丿 賵賲丕鬲 兀賷囟丕 賵賴賲 睾丕囟亘賵賳 毓賱賷賴. 賱丕賳賴 兀乇丕丿 丕賳 賱丕 賷賳囟賲 丕賱賶 丕賱賯胤賷毓.
賮賰乇丞 丕賱賯氐賴 毓賲賷賯賴 噩丿丕 賮廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賱丿賷賰 賮賰乇丞 賮賯丕鬲賱 賵丕毓賲賱 賲賳 丕噩賱賴丕 賵賱賵 賵氐賮賵賰 丕賳賰 睾乇賷亘 丕賱兀胤賵丕乇.
April 10, 2023
鈥�
Yes, you are one of those few who are justly called the chosen of God. You do the service of eternal truth鈥� A grand, brilliant future is in store for you men. And the more there are like you on earth, the sooner will this future be realised.
鈥�
I re-read this story after quite a few years, just intending to ensure it is not as overrated as my previous venture. To my great pleasure, and somehow a bit of discomfort, I liked it even more now, harrowingly appertaining as it is.
Do you want real relevance to the tale? I have got a few. I once had a classmate who used to stoop, because 鈥�Steve Jobs used to walk the same way鈥�. I have known guys who go weeks without bathing just because in their biographies, genius people don鈥檛 give a shit about grooming. Not that they were okay with that, though; and what they forgot was that they did all those deliberately, Jobs, or for that matter, anyone of his likes did not.
With the raising awareness for mental illnesses, we could鈥檝e hoped to have people around who will treat hallucinations, or even the symptoms of schizophrenia as something worrying and seek treatment, not people who think that they鈥檙e special to have those sorts of 鈥� imaginative powers 鈥�, just because, say, 鈥�John Nash had the same鈥�. Guys. Nash wasn鈥檛 proud of his hallucinations. He did try to cure himself. Stop being an extremist to perceive mental illness as something either offensive or something to be proud of.
Genius people aren鈥檛 made genius by their imperfections, or rather blunders. Or ill habits. They learn to overcome them, and that鈥檚 why they outshine them. Not you, who thinks just adapting their downs and procrastinating the rest of the time will make you like them.
Andrey Kovrin was very much the same. His tale will tell you why you shouldn鈥檛 flatter anyone more than their worth. The same thing did happen with Kovrin, when Tanya and her benevolent father, spoke outwardly well of him. But, to speak the truth, he wasn鈥檛 that 鈥渆xtraordinary鈥�. And he did learn the hard way. And too late for anyone鈥檚 good.
Truth be told, I don鈥檛 know how this story was featured under supernatural horror stories. Horrific, undoubtedly it is. If anything else, it can be told a farcical tale, but not something abominable at all.
Also, the storytelling is quite easily Chekhov at his best, doing what he鈥檚 most loved for, derision in serious situations. I laughed a lot during Kovrin鈥檚 megalomaniac conversations, and at how much he was convinced of his virtuoso despite a deep realization that actually, nothing鈥檚 quite what he perceived and proclaimed to be. And it鈥檚 amazing how much ahead of its time the story does seem.
And then you will realise: it鈥檚 stunningly immutable.
鈥� But will the gods be suddenly wrathful?... If they take from me comfort and make me go cold and hungry, it won鈥檛 be very much to my taste. 鈥�
I re-read this story after quite a few years, just intending to ensure it is not as overrated as my previous venture. To my great pleasure, and somehow a bit of discomfort, I liked it even more now, harrowingly appertaining as it is.
Do you want real relevance to the tale? I have got a few. I once had a classmate who used to stoop, because 鈥�Steve Jobs used to walk the same way鈥�. I have known guys who go weeks without bathing just because in their biographies, genius people don鈥檛 give a shit about grooming. Not that they were okay with that, though; and what they forgot was that they did all those deliberately, Jobs, or for that matter, anyone of his likes did not.
With the raising awareness for mental illnesses, we could鈥檝e hoped to have people around who will treat hallucinations, or even the symptoms of schizophrenia as something worrying and seek treatment, not people who think that they鈥檙e special to have those sorts of 鈥� imaginative powers 鈥�, just because, say, 鈥�John Nash had the same鈥�. Guys. Nash wasn鈥檛 proud of his hallucinations. He did try to cure himself. Stop being an extremist to perceive mental illness as something either offensive or something to be proud of.
Genius people aren鈥檛 made genius by their imperfections, or rather blunders. Or ill habits. They learn to overcome them, and that鈥檚 why they outshine them. Not you, who thinks just adapting their downs and procrastinating the rest of the time will make you like them.
Andrey Kovrin was very much the same. His tale will tell you why you shouldn鈥檛 flatter anyone more than their worth. The same thing did happen with Kovrin, when Tanya and her benevolent father, spoke outwardly well of him. But, to speak the truth, he wasn鈥檛 that 鈥渆xtraordinary鈥�. And he did learn the hard way. And too late for anyone鈥檚 good.
Truth be told, I don鈥檛 know how this story was featured under supernatural horror stories. Horrific, undoubtedly it is. If anything else, it can be told a farcical tale, but not something abominable at all.
Also, the storytelling is quite easily Chekhov at his best, doing what he鈥檚 most loved for, derision in serious situations. I laughed a lot during Kovrin鈥檚 megalomaniac conversations, and at how much he was convinced of his virtuoso despite a deep realization that actually, nothing鈥檚 quite what he perceived and proclaimed to be. And it鈥檚 amazing how much ahead of its time the story does seem.
And then you will realise: it鈥檚 stunningly immutable.
鈥� But will the gods be suddenly wrathful?... If they take from me comfort and make me go cold and hungry, it won鈥檛 be very much to my taste. 鈥�
March 26, 2025
賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賯氐賷乇丞 賵丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇賰鬲 亘賳賮爻賷 兀孬乇丕賸 毓賲賷賯丕賸貙 賵賵囟毓 賮賷賴丕 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賲賳 賳賮爻賴 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賰孬賷乇 貙 賷鬲賳丕賵賱 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 匕賱賰 丕賱禺賷胤 丕賱乇賮賷毓 亘賷賳:
丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵丕賱噩賳賵賳.
丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賵丕賱賵賴賲.
賴匕丕 丕賱禺賷胤 丕賱匕賷 丕賱匕賷 賷賳賯胤毓 兀丨賷丕賳丕 賱賷賳鬲噩 卮禺氐丕賸 毓亘賯乇賷丕 賲鬲兀乇噩丨丕賸 亘賷賳 丕賱賳賯賷囟賷賳
賵毓賳丿賲丕 鬲賰賵賳 丨丿賵丿丞 賵丕囟丨丞 賷賲賷賱 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賱賷氐亘丨 卮賷卅丕賸 毓丕丿賷丕 賲鬲夭賳丕.
賵賴匕丕 賲丕 丨丿孬 賱賰賵賮乇賷賳 亘胤賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賮毓丿賳丕 賰丕賳 毓亘賯乇賷丕 賲賳鬲噩丕貙 賰丕賳 兀賷囟丕 賲噩賳賵賳丕 賲鬲賵賴賲丕 賵賲賴賱賵爻丕貙 賵賱賰賳賴 毓丕賱賲丞 丕賱賮乇賷丿...
賵毓賳丿賲丕 毓賵賱噩 賲賳 兀賵賴丕賲賴 賵噩賳賵賳賴 鬲亘賱丿鬲 兀丨丕爻賷丞 賵賮賯丿 毓丕賱賲丞 丕賱賮乇賷丿貙 賵夭丕丿 廿賱賶 丨賲賯賴 胤亘丕毓 賲賳賮乇賴...
賮賯丿 賷賰賵賳 丕賱賵賴賲 亘胤毓賲 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞貙 廿匕丕 丕賮鬲乇囟賳丕 兀賳 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賲賵噩賵丿丞..!
丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵丕賱噩賳賵賳.
丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賵丕賱賵賴賲.
賴匕丕 丕賱禺賷胤 丕賱匕賷 丕賱匕賷 賷賳賯胤毓 兀丨賷丕賳丕 賱賷賳鬲噩 卮禺氐丕賸 毓亘賯乇賷丕 賲鬲兀乇噩丨丕賸 亘賷賳 丕賱賳賯賷囟賷賳
賵毓賳丿賲丕 鬲賰賵賳 丨丿賵丿丞 賵丕囟丨丞 賷賲賷賱 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賱賷氐亘丨 卮賷卅丕賸 毓丕丿賷丕 賲鬲夭賳丕.
賵賴匕丕 賲丕 丨丿孬 賱賰賵賮乇賷賳 亘胤賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賮毓丿賳丕 賰丕賳 毓亘賯乇賷丕 賲賳鬲噩丕貙 賰丕賳 兀賷囟丕 賲噩賳賵賳丕 賲鬲賵賴賲丕 賵賲賴賱賵爻丕貙 賵賱賰賳賴 毓丕賱賲丞 丕賱賮乇賷丿...
賵毓賳丿賲丕 毓賵賱噩 賲賳 兀賵賴丕賲賴 賵噩賳賵賳賴 鬲亘賱丿鬲 兀丨丕爻賷丞 賵賮賯丿 毓丕賱賲丞 丕賱賮乇賷丿貙 賵夭丕丿 廿賱賶 丨賲賯賴 胤亘丕毓 賲賳賮乇賴...
賮賯丿 賷賰賵賳 丕賱賵賴賲 亘胤毓賲 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞貙 廿匕丕 丕賮鬲乇囟賳丕 兀賳 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賲賵噩賵丿丞..!
December 28, 2019
David Forster Wallace said about a short story that its effect 鈥渙ften feels sudden and percussive, like the venting of a long-stuck valve.鈥� I do not like the mechanical aspect of this metaphor, but i hardly can come up with the better one. I can try a physiological or a spiritual one: a good short story is unexpected punch, which makes you forget how to breath; a good short story gives you a sudden moment of seeing something which was not there just a second ago鈥� Whatever the metaphor, this novella is certainly an example of this effect. And it is very different from the other Chekhov鈥檚 stories I know.
First of all, it is as a perfect form of art: the economy of the language, the structure, how he starts in the usual Chekhovian mood with a beautiful garden and little people dealing with their little lives and then, suddenly and effortlessly, he moves to the darker, metaphysical depth. The imagery he creates - the smoke in the garden at the early morning; the owners of the estate, keen gardeners, are killing the harmful warms between their bare fingers.
Then, the content. It is about madness, the mania of grandeur. Or so it seems.
The questions this story raises and leaves without answer, the ending, terrible and beautiful at the same time, has created a lasting impression on me. This along with by Joyce and by Cortazar are the best three novellas I've ever read.
Russian
袣邪泻芯泄 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪褘泄 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹! 袦邪薪懈褟 胁械谢懈褔懈褟 - 褝褌芯 锌谢芯褏芯? 袩芯屑械褕邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁芯 褉邪蟹褉褍褕邪械褌 懈谢懈 褋芯蟹写邪械褌? 袣芯谐芯 芯薪芯 褉邪蟹褉褍褕邪械褌 斜芯谢褜褕械 - 褔械谢芯胁械泻邪 懈谢懈 械谐芯 斜谢懈蟹泻懈褏? 袙芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯 褌邪泻 卸械 屑懈褋褌懈褔械褋泻芯械 锌褉芯褔褌械薪懈械, 泻芯谐写邪 谐械褉芯泄 芯褌胁械褉谐邪械褌 懈褋褌懈薪褍 懈 胁褋械 懈写褢褌 薪邪锌械褉械泻芯褋褟泻. 携 薪械 芯卸懈写邪谢邪 芯褌 效械褏芯胁邪 褌邪泻芯谐芯 褍褉芯胁薪褟 褎懈谢芯褋芯褎懈懈. 袙芯褋褏懈褖械薪邪 谐谢褍斜懈薪芯泄 懈 薪械芯卸懈写邪薪薪芯褋褌褜褞.
笑懈褌邪褌褘:
鈥溞� 褋褏芯写懈谢 褋 褍屑邪, 褍 屑械薪褟 斜褘谢邪 屑邪薪懈褟 胁械谢懈褔懈褟, 薪芯 蟹邪褌芯 褟 斜褘谢 胁械褋械谢, 斜芯写褉 懈 写邪卸械 褋褔邪褋褌谢懈胁, 褟 斜褘谢 懈薪褌械褉械褋械薪 懈 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢械薪. 孝械锌械褉褜 褟 褋褌邪谢 褉邪褋褋褍写懈褌械谢褜薪械械 懈 褋芯谢懈写薪械械, 薪芯 蟹邪褌芯 褟 褌邪泻芯泄, 泻邪泻 胁褋械: 褟 锌芯褋褉械写褋褌胁械薪薪芯褋褌褜, 屑薪械 褋泻褍褔薪芯 卸懈褌褜.鈥�
鈥溞曆佇恍� 褟 蟹薪邪褞, 褔褌芯 褟 锌褋懈褏懈褔械褋泻懈 斜芯谢械薪, 褌芯 屑芯谐褍 谢懈 褟 胁械褉懈褌褜 褋械斜械? 袗 锌芯褔械屑褍 褌褘 蟹薪邪械褕褜, 褔褌芯 谐械薪懈邪谢褜薪褘械 谢褞写懈, 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 胁械褉懈褌 胁械褋褜 褋胁械褌, 褌芯卸械 薪械 胁懈写械谢懈 锌褉懈蟹褉邪泻芯胁? 袚芯胁芯褉褟褌 卸械 褌械锌械褉褜 褍褔械薪褘械, 褔褌芯 谐械薪懈泄 褋褉芯写薪懈 褍屑芯锌芯屑械褕邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁褍. 袛褉褍谐 屑芯泄, 蟹写芯褉芯胁褘 懈 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪褘 褌芯谢褜泻芯 蟹邪褍褉褟写薪褘械, 褋褌邪写薪褘械 谢褞写懈. 小芯芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈褟 薪邪褋褔械褌 薪械褉胁薪芯谐芯 胁械泻邪, 锌械褉械褍褌芯屑谢械薪懈褟, 胁褘褉芯卸写械薪懈褟 懈 褌. 锌. 屑芯谐褍褌 褋械褉褜械蟹薪芯 胁芯谢薪芯胁邪褌褜 褌芯谢褜泻芯 褌械褏, 泻褌芯 褑械谢褜 卸懈蟹薪懈 胁懈写懈褌 胁 薪邪褋褌芯褟褖械屑, 褌芯 械褋褌褜 褋褌邪写薪褘褏 谢褞写械泄.
袩芯胁褌芯褉褟褞: 械褋谢懈 褏芯褔械褕褜 斜褘褌褜 蟹写芯褉芯胁 懈 薪芯褉屑邪谢械薪, 懈写懈 胁 褋褌邪写芯.鈥�
鈥溞� 锌褉懈薪褟谢邪 褌械斜褟 蟹邪 薪械芯斜褘泻薪芯胁械薪薪芯谐芯 褔械谢芯胁械泻邪, 蟹邪 谐械薪懈褟, 褟 锌芯谢褞斜懈谢邪 褌械斜褟, 薪芯 褌褘 芯泻邪蟹邪谢褋褟 褋褍屑邪褋褕械写褕懈屑..鈥�
鈥溞斝敌恍� 泻褉邪褋懈胁芯械, 屑懈谢芯械, 蟹写芯褉芯胁芯械, 薪芯 懈 褌褍褌 褋褌褉邪褋褌懈 懈 胁芯泄薪邪, 锌芯写褍屑邪谢 袣芯胁褉懈薪. 袛芯谢卸薪芯 斜褘褌褜, 胁械蟹写械 懈 薪邪 胁褋械褏 锌芯锌褉懈褖邪褏 懈写械泄薪褘械 谢褞写懈 薪械褉胁薪褘 懈 芯褌谢懈褔邪褞褌褋褟 锌芯胁褘褕械薪薪芯泄 褔褍胁褋褌胁懈褌械谢褜薪芯褋褌褜褞.鈥�
芦袣邪泻 蟹写械褋褜 锌褉芯褋褌芯褉薪芯, 褋胁芯斜芯写薪芯, 褌懈褏芯! 写褍屑邪谢 袣芯胁褉懈薪, 懈写褟 锌芯 褌褉芯锌懈薪泻械. 袠 泻邪卸械褌褋褟, 胁械褋褜 屑懈褉 褋屑芯褌褉懈褌 薪邪 屑械薪褟, 锌褉懈褌邪懈谢褋褟 懈 卸写械褌, 褔褌芯斜褘 褟 锌芯薪褟谢 械谐芯...禄
鈥溞曅佳� 斜褘谢芯 卸邪谢褜 械械 褌械屑 褋懈谢褜薪械械, 褔褌芯 谐芯褉械 褍 薪械械 斜褘谢芯 薪械 褋械褉褜械蟹薪芯械, 邪 褋褌褉邪写邪谢邪 芯薪邪 谐谢褍斜芯泻芯.鈥�
First of all, it is as a perfect form of art: the economy of the language, the structure, how he starts in the usual Chekhovian mood with a beautiful garden and little people dealing with their little lives and then, suddenly and effortlessly, he moves to the darker, metaphysical depth. The imagery he creates - the smoke in the garden at the early morning; the owners of the estate, keen gardeners, are killing the harmful warms between their bare fingers.
Then, the content. It is about madness, the mania of grandeur. Or so it seems.
The questions this story raises and leaves without answer, the ending, terrible and beautiful at the same time, has created a lasting impression on me. This along with by Joyce and by Cortazar are the best three novellas I've ever read.
Russian
袣邪泻芯泄 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪褘泄 褉邪褋褋泻邪蟹! 袦邪薪懈褟 胁械谢懈褔懈褟 - 褝褌芯 锌谢芯褏芯? 袩芯屑械褕邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁芯 褉邪蟹褉褍褕邪械褌 懈谢懈 褋芯蟹写邪械褌? 袣芯谐芯 芯薪芯 褉邪蟹褉褍褕邪械褌 斜芯谢褜褕械 - 褔械谢芯胁械泻邪 懈谢懈 械谐芯 斜谢懈蟹泻懈褏? 袙芯蟹屑芯卸薪芯 褌邪泻 卸械 屑懈褋褌懈褔械褋泻芯械 锌褉芯褔褌械薪懈械, 泻芯谐写邪 谐械褉芯泄 芯褌胁械褉谐邪械褌 懈褋褌懈薪褍 懈 胁褋械 懈写褢褌 薪邪锌械褉械泻芯褋褟泻. 携 薪械 芯卸懈写邪谢邪 芯褌 效械褏芯胁邪 褌邪泻芯谐芯 褍褉芯胁薪褟 褎懈谢芯褋芯褎懈懈. 袙芯褋褏懈褖械薪邪 谐谢褍斜懈薪芯泄 懈 薪械芯卸懈写邪薪薪芯褋褌褜褞.
笑懈褌邪褌褘:
鈥溞� 褋褏芯写懈谢 褋 褍屑邪, 褍 屑械薪褟 斜褘谢邪 屑邪薪懈褟 胁械谢懈褔懈褟, 薪芯 蟹邪褌芯 褟 斜褘谢 胁械褋械谢, 斜芯写褉 懈 写邪卸械 褋褔邪褋褌谢懈胁, 褟 斜褘谢 懈薪褌械褉械褋械薪 懈 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢械薪. 孝械锌械褉褜 褟 褋褌邪谢 褉邪褋褋褍写懈褌械谢褜薪械械 懈 褋芯谢懈写薪械械, 薪芯 蟹邪褌芯 褟 褌邪泻芯泄, 泻邪泻 胁褋械: 褟 锌芯褋褉械写褋褌胁械薪薪芯褋褌褜, 屑薪械 褋泻褍褔薪芯 卸懈褌褜.鈥�
鈥溞曆佇恍� 褟 蟹薪邪褞, 褔褌芯 褟 锌褋懈褏懈褔械褋泻懈 斜芯谢械薪, 褌芯 屑芯谐褍 谢懈 褟 胁械褉懈褌褜 褋械斜械? 袗 锌芯褔械屑褍 褌褘 蟹薪邪械褕褜, 褔褌芯 谐械薪懈邪谢褜薪褘械 谢褞写懈, 泻芯褌芯褉褘屑 胁械褉懈褌 胁械褋褜 褋胁械褌, 褌芯卸械 薪械 胁懈写械谢懈 锌褉懈蟹褉邪泻芯胁? 袚芯胁芯褉褟褌 卸械 褌械锌械褉褜 褍褔械薪褘械, 褔褌芯 谐械薪懈泄 褋褉芯写薪懈 褍屑芯锌芯屑械褕邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁褍. 袛褉褍谐 屑芯泄, 蟹写芯褉芯胁褘 懈 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪褘 褌芯谢褜泻芯 蟹邪褍褉褟写薪褘械, 褋褌邪写薪褘械 谢褞写懈. 小芯芯斜褉邪卸械薪懈褟 薪邪褋褔械褌 薪械褉胁薪芯谐芯 胁械泻邪, 锌械褉械褍褌芯屑谢械薪懈褟, 胁褘褉芯卸写械薪懈褟 懈 褌. 锌. 屑芯谐褍褌 褋械褉褜械蟹薪芯 胁芯谢薪芯胁邪褌褜 褌芯谢褜泻芯 褌械褏, 泻褌芯 褑械谢褜 卸懈蟹薪懈 胁懈写懈褌 胁 薪邪褋褌芯褟褖械屑, 褌芯 械褋褌褜 褋褌邪写薪褘褏 谢褞写械泄.
袩芯胁褌芯褉褟褞: 械褋谢懈 褏芯褔械褕褜 斜褘褌褜 蟹写芯褉芯胁 懈 薪芯褉屑邪谢械薪, 懈写懈 胁 褋褌邪写芯.鈥�
鈥溞� 锌褉懈薪褟谢邪 褌械斜褟 蟹邪 薪械芯斜褘泻薪芯胁械薪薪芯谐芯 褔械谢芯胁械泻邪, 蟹邪 谐械薪懈褟, 褟 锌芯谢褞斜懈谢邪 褌械斜褟, 薪芯 褌褘 芯泻邪蟹邪谢褋褟 褋褍屑邪褋褕械写褕懈屑..鈥�
鈥溞斝敌恍� 泻褉邪褋懈胁芯械, 屑懈谢芯械, 蟹写芯褉芯胁芯械, 薪芯 懈 褌褍褌 褋褌褉邪褋褌懈 懈 胁芯泄薪邪, 锌芯写褍屑邪谢 袣芯胁褉懈薪. 袛芯谢卸薪芯 斜褘褌褜, 胁械蟹写械 懈 薪邪 胁褋械褏 锌芯锌褉懈褖邪褏 懈写械泄薪褘械 谢褞写懈 薪械褉胁薪褘 懈 芯褌谢懈褔邪褞褌褋褟 锌芯胁褘褕械薪薪芯泄 褔褍胁褋褌胁懈褌械谢褜薪芯褋褌褜褞.鈥�
芦袣邪泻 蟹写械褋褜 锌褉芯褋褌芯褉薪芯, 褋胁芯斜芯写薪芯, 褌懈褏芯! 写褍屑邪谢 袣芯胁褉懈薪, 懈写褟 锌芯 褌褉芯锌懈薪泻械. 袠 泻邪卸械褌褋褟, 胁械褋褜 屑懈褉 褋屑芯褌褉懈褌 薪邪 屑械薪褟, 锌褉懈褌邪懈谢褋褟 懈 卸写械褌, 褔褌芯斜褘 褟 锌芯薪褟谢 械谐芯...禄
鈥溞曅佳� 斜褘谢芯 卸邪谢褜 械械 褌械屑 褋懈谢褜薪械械, 褔褌芯 谐芯褉械 褍 薪械械 斜褘谢芯 薪械 褋械褉褜械蟹薪芯械, 邪 褋褌褉邪写邪谢邪 芯薪邪 谐谢褍斜芯泻芯.鈥�
November 11, 2015
I don't need to read anymore about well-off, upper-middle class Russian intellectuals sitting about gardens going insane. This has filled my quota, thank you!
November 14, 2019
"A thousand years ago a monk, dressed in black, wandered about the desert, somewhere in Syria or Arabia鈥�. Some miles from where he was, some fisherman saw another black monk, who was moving over the surface of a lake, this second monk was a mirage.鈥�
Imagine, you think you are a genius. You think you are a luminary in all respect. The people around you do not have such an opinion, or they may have this thought that you have a talent but not a very prominent one. One day you are sitting alone in your courtyard, near your garden, sipping your cup of tea, very much like a protagonist of a Russian middle-class novel. There is a row of pines ahead. Then you notice one thing. From the horizon, there rises up to the sky a waterspout, a long black column, not standing still, moving with a gruesome rapidity, coming straight towards you鈥� when this turbulence reaches near you, it becomes distinct and you see a monk, dressed in black, his hands crossed over his breast, his bare feet not touching the earth, and he smiles in front of you. His face is fearfully pale, and a moment later he rustles through the pines and vanishes noiselessly, like smoke.
Would you have an intense desire to tell the people what you had just seen?
Or would a thought frighten you that they will take your words as the ravings of delirium?
Was this the same legend that you had heard about? Was this a mirage? Was this the product of your excited imagination, a phantom? What if this black monk keeps coming to you and reminds you that you are one of those few who are justly called as the chosen of God. He keeps telling you that you are a genius and thus eligible for eternal life. How will you react?
The hero of this story Kovrin faces this. He enjoys seeing the black monk. After talking to him, he dances in delight and feels satisfied. What the monk says to him flatters not his vanity, but his whole soul, his whole being. But the people around him when identifying it, see the behavior of Kovrin with amazement and horror. His wife Tanya says to him, 鈥淵ou are ill鈥� you are mentally ill.鈥� Kovrin takes the advice of the doctor and slowly leaves off seeing the black monk. This story now takes the route of typical Chekhov鈥檚 realistic line. There is no happy ending. Things go from bad to worse and their remains a sense of atonement and a lesson. I had read this story 3 years back and since then I always wanted to share my thoughts on it. It had created an impact on me. A long-lasting one!
I also feel that through this story Anton Chekhov has validated insanity to a great extent. It gives you another dimension of thinking about ravings and mental excitements. Do you feel seeing phantom is an illness? Do you believe in the saying mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body)? Chekhov will contradict you here. This normalcy is for the common herd. Your being normal will question your genius.
鈥� And are you sure that the men of genius, whom all men trust, did not see phantoms, too? the learned say now that genius allied to madness. My friend, health and normal people are the only herd. Reflections upon the neurasthenia of the age, nervous exhaustion and degeneracy, etcetera can only seriously agitate those who place the object of life in the present- that is the common herd.鈥�
The protagonist of this story feels gloomy after recovering from illness. He was happy with his delirium. He says miserably to his wife; 鈥淲hy have you cured me? I went out of my mind, I had megalomania; but then I was cheerful, confident and even happy. I was interesting and original. Now I have become more sensible and stolid, but I am just like everyone else: I am 鈥� mediocrity; I am weary of life鈥h, how cruelly you have treated me!
This is a story with morals. If you think you are hallucinated. If you think, you frequently fall into a delirium. Read this story swiftly. There are high chances that you are a genius. The black monk validates it.
Imagine, you think you are a genius. You think you are a luminary in all respect. The people around you do not have such an opinion, or they may have this thought that you have a talent but not a very prominent one. One day you are sitting alone in your courtyard, near your garden, sipping your cup of tea, very much like a protagonist of a Russian middle-class novel. There is a row of pines ahead. Then you notice one thing. From the horizon, there rises up to the sky a waterspout, a long black column, not standing still, moving with a gruesome rapidity, coming straight towards you鈥� when this turbulence reaches near you, it becomes distinct and you see a monk, dressed in black, his hands crossed over his breast, his bare feet not touching the earth, and he smiles in front of you. His face is fearfully pale, and a moment later he rustles through the pines and vanishes noiselessly, like smoke.
Would you have an intense desire to tell the people what you had just seen?
Or would a thought frighten you that they will take your words as the ravings of delirium?
Was this the same legend that you had heard about? Was this a mirage? Was this the product of your excited imagination, a phantom? What if this black monk keeps coming to you and reminds you that you are one of those few who are justly called as the chosen of God. He keeps telling you that you are a genius and thus eligible for eternal life. How will you react?
The hero of this story Kovrin faces this. He enjoys seeing the black monk. After talking to him, he dances in delight and feels satisfied. What the monk says to him flatters not his vanity, but his whole soul, his whole being. But the people around him when identifying it, see the behavior of Kovrin with amazement and horror. His wife Tanya says to him, 鈥淵ou are ill鈥� you are mentally ill.鈥� Kovrin takes the advice of the doctor and slowly leaves off seeing the black monk. This story now takes the route of typical Chekhov鈥檚 realistic line. There is no happy ending. Things go from bad to worse and their remains a sense of atonement and a lesson. I had read this story 3 years back and since then I always wanted to share my thoughts on it. It had created an impact on me. A long-lasting one!
I also feel that through this story Anton Chekhov has validated insanity to a great extent. It gives you another dimension of thinking about ravings and mental excitements. Do you feel seeing phantom is an illness? Do you believe in the saying mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body)? Chekhov will contradict you here. This normalcy is for the common herd. Your being normal will question your genius.
鈥� And are you sure that the men of genius, whom all men trust, did not see phantoms, too? the learned say now that genius allied to madness. My friend, health and normal people are the only herd. Reflections upon the neurasthenia of the age, nervous exhaustion and degeneracy, etcetera can only seriously agitate those who place the object of life in the present- that is the common herd.鈥�
The protagonist of this story feels gloomy after recovering from illness. He was happy with his delirium. He says miserably to his wife; 鈥淲hy have you cured me? I went out of my mind, I had megalomania; but then I was cheerful, confident and even happy. I was interesting and original. Now I have become more sensible and stolid, but I am just like everyone else: I am 鈥� mediocrity; I am weary of life鈥h, how cruelly you have treated me!
This is a story with morals. If you think you are hallucinated. If you think, you frequently fall into a delirium. Read this story swiftly. There are high chances that you are a genius. The black monk validates it.
December 25, 2018
鬲卮賷賰賵賮 賷賰鬲亘 毓賳 丕賳賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 賯亘賱 丕賱噩賲賷毓 賵 賱賰賳 賴賱 賴賵 丕賱兀賵賱 賮毓賱賸丕 責
賱賵 賰丕賳 賷毓乇賮 丕賷賸丕 賲賳賰賲 兀賷 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賵 賯氐丞 賯氐賷乇丞 鬲毓乇囟 兀卮賰丕賱 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賲賳 丕賱卮賷夭賵賮乇賷賳賷丕 賮賱賷鬲賮囟賱 亘鬲乇卮賷丨賴丕
丕賳丕 锟斤拷賳亘賴乇 賲賳 噩夭卅賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 丕賳 丕賱賯氐丞 賯乇賷亘丞 噩丿賸丕 賲賳 賯氐丞 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱賮丕卅夭 亘賳賵亘賱 噩賵賳 賳丕卮 賵 丕賱匕賷 賳丕賯卮 賯囟賷鬲賴 賮賷賱賲 A beautiful mind
賵 賱賰賳 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賱賷爻鬲 爻毓賷丿丞 毓賱賷 丕賱廿胤賱丕賯 亘賱 賰卅賷亘丞
賲丕 丕賱匕賷 丨丿孬 賱鬲卮賷賰賵賮 丨賯賸丕 賱賯丿 丕毓鬲丿鬲 亘毓丿 賯乇丕亍丞 賯氐氐賴 賵 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 丕賱兀賵賱賷 丕賱鬲賷 賰鬲亘賴丕 亘毓丿 爻賳賵丕鬲賴 丕賱兀賵賱賷 丕賳 丕囟丨賰 賵 丕丨賷丕賳賸丕 賯賱賷賱丞 丕丨夭賳
賵 賱賰賳 丕賱丌賳 賴賳丕賰 毓賲賯 賵 丨夭賳 睾乇賷亘 禺賱賮 丨賰丕賷丕鬲 兀賳胤賵賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵 丕賱匕賷 爻亘亘賴 丨爻亘 賰賱賲丕鬲 兀氐丿賯丕卅賴 丕賱兀丿亘丕亍 賵 毓丕卅賱鬲賴 賴賵 氐乇丕毓賴 賲毓 丕賱賲乇囟 賮賷 爻賳賵丕鬲賴 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞
爻兀卮鬲丕賯 丨賯賸丕 賱賰賵賲賷丿賷丞 兀賳胤賵賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵 爻禺乇賷鬲賴 賲賳 爻賱亘賷丕鬲 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱乇賵爻賷 丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 鬲卮賷賰賵賮 賯丿 丿賮賳 賴匕賴 丕賱爻禺乇賷丞 賵 賱賳 兀賯乇丕 賱賴 丕賱丌賳 睾賷乇 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱毓賲賷賯丞 賵 丕賱賰卅賷亘丞
賱賵 賰丕賳 賷毓乇賮 丕賷賸丕 賲賳賰賲 兀賷 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賵 賯氐丞 賯氐賷乇丞 鬲毓乇囟 兀卮賰丕賱 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賲賳 丕賱卮賷夭賵賮乇賷賳賷丕 賮賱賷鬲賮囟賱 亘鬲乇卮賷丨賴丕
丕賳丕 锟斤拷賳亘賴乇 賲賳 噩夭卅賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 丕賳 丕賱賯氐丞 賯乇賷亘丞 噩丿賸丕 賲賳 賯氐丞 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱賮丕卅夭 亘賳賵亘賱 噩賵賳 賳丕卮 賵 丕賱匕賷 賳丕賯卮 賯囟賷鬲賴 賮賷賱賲 A beautiful mind
賵 賱賰賳 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賱賷爻鬲 爻毓賷丿丞 毓賱賷 丕賱廿胤賱丕賯 亘賱 賰卅賷亘丞
賲丕 丕賱匕賷 丨丿孬 賱鬲卮賷賰賵賮 丨賯賸丕 賱賯丿 丕毓鬲丿鬲 亘毓丿 賯乇丕亍丞 賯氐氐賴 賵 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賴 丕賱兀賵賱賷 丕賱鬲賷 賰鬲亘賴丕 亘毓丿 爻賳賵丕鬲賴 丕賱兀賵賱賷 丕賳 丕囟丨賰 賵 丕丨賷丕賳賸丕 賯賱賷賱丞 丕丨夭賳
賵 賱賰賳 丕賱丌賳 賴賳丕賰 毓賲賯 賵 丨夭賳 睾乇賷亘 禺賱賮 丨賰丕賷丕鬲 兀賳胤賵賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵 丕賱匕賷 爻亘亘賴 丨爻亘 賰賱賲丕鬲 兀氐丿賯丕卅賴 丕賱兀丿亘丕亍 賵 毓丕卅賱鬲賴 賴賵 氐乇丕毓賴 賲毓 丕賱賲乇囟 賮賷 爻賳賵丕鬲賴 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞
爻兀卮鬲丕賯 丨賯賸丕 賱賰賵賲賷丿賷丞 兀賳胤賵賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵 爻禺乇賷鬲賴 賲賳 爻賱亘賷丕鬲 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱乇賵爻賷 丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳 鬲卮賷賰賵賮 賯丿 丿賮賳 賴匕賴 丕賱爻禺乇賷丞 賵 賱賳 兀賯乇丕 賱賴 丕賱丌賳 睾賷乇 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱毓賲賷賯丞 賵 丕賱賰卅賷亘丞
February 21, 2017
賱丕 鬲賰賵賳 卮禺氐 毓丕丿賶 賷賳鬲賲賶 賱賱賯胤賷毓 貙毓賱賷賰 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 賲禺鬲賱賮丕
January 17, 2023
脟ehov'un insan ruhunun derinliklerine 谋艧谋k tuttu臒u nice 莽arp谋c谋 枚yk眉lerinden biri馃
September 24, 2021
賷賲賰賳 丕賱賳馗乇 賱賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賳 夭丕賵賷鬲賷賳 賲禺鬲賱賮鬲賷賳貙 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賵賴賷 賲丕 毓亘乇 毓賳賴 氐丿賷賯賳丕 丕賱丿丨賷丨 賮賷 丨賱賯丞 鈥徹� 賵丕賱鬲賷 賲爻賾鬲 賯賱亘賷 亘卮賰賱 禺丕氐貙 賰賵賳賴丕 鬲鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 賮賰乇丞 亘丕鬲鬲 賲購賱丨丞 賮賷 毓氐乇賳丕 丕賱丨丕賱賷貙 賵賴賷 鬲賯亘購賾賱 丕賱賲乇亍 兀賳 賷賰賵賳 毓丕丿賷丕賸貙 亘丿賵賳 賯丿乇丕鬲 禺丕乇賯丞 兀賵 兀賯丿丕乇 丕爻鬲孬賳丕卅賷丞貙 賮賳丨賳 賳毓賷卮 賮賷 毓丕賱賲 賷胤賱亘 賲賳丕 賮賷 賰賱 賱丨馗丞 兀賳 賳賰賵賳 噩賲賷毓賳丕 兀卮禺丕氐丕賸 亘丕乇夭賷賳 賵賳丕噩丨賷賳 賵毓馗賲丕亍貙 睾賷乇 丌禺匕 亘毓賷賳 丕賱丕毓鬲亘丕乇 丕賱囟睾賵胤丕鬲 丕賱賳賮爻賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲購孬賯賱 賰丕賴賱 丕賱賲乇亍 丨鬲賶 賷氐賱 廿賱賶 賲亘鬲睾丕賴貙 賵鬲賱賰 丕賱鬲賷 鬲爻丨賯賴 丨賷賳 賱丕 賷氐賱貙 賵丕賱鬲賷 賷賳鬲噩 毓賳賴丕 賮賷 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱兀賲乇 賲禺鬲賱賮 丕賱丕囟胤乇丕亘丕鬲 賵丕賱兀賲乇丕囟 丕賱毓氐亘賷丞 ..
丕賱孬丕賳賷丞貙 兀賵丨賶 賱賷 亘賴丕 丨賵丕乇 亘爻賷胤 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱賰賳 匕賵 丿賱丕賱丕鬲 毓賲賷賯丞貙 賵賴賷 氐毓賵亘丞 鬲賯亘賱 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賳賲胤賷 賱卮禺氐 賲禺鬲賱賮 賵賲賳賮乇丿 賮賷 匕丕鬲賴貙 丨鬲賶 賵廿賳 賰丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱卮禺氐 賮賷 丕賳爻噩丕賲 賰賱賷賾 賵鬲賵丕賮賯 賲乇賴賮 賲毓 丨丕賱鬲賴貙 賮鬲氐亘丨 丨賷賳賴丕 賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕賳賯丕匕賴 兀卮亘賴 亘丕毓丿丕賲 賲毓賳賵賷 賵鬲卮賵賷賴 賱賰賱 賲丕 賴賵 噩賲賷賱 丿丕禺賱賴 ..
- 兀賳鬲 卮亘丨貙 鬲賴賷丐丕鬲貙 賵廿匕賳 賮兀賳丕 賲乇賷囟 賳賮爻賷丕賸貙 賲噩賳賵賳責
- 丨鬲賶 賱賵 賰丕賳 匕賱賰貙 賮賷賲 丕賱禺噩賱責 兀賳鬲 賲乇賷囟 賱兀賳賰 毓賲賱鬲 賮賵賯 胤丕賯鬲賰 賵兀丨賴丿鬲 賳賮爻賰貙 賵賴匕丕 賷毓賳賷 兀賳賰 囟丨賷鬲 亘氐丨鬲賰 賮賷 爻亘賷賱 丕賱賮賰乇丞貙 賵賯乇賷亘丕賸 賷丨賱 丕賱賵賯鬲 丕賱匕賷 鬲賴亘賴丕 賮賷賴 丨賷丕鬲賰 兀賷囟丕賸貙 賮賴賱 賴賳丕賰 賲丕 賴賵 兀賮囟賱責 廿賳 賴匕丕 賴賵 賲丕 鬲爻毓賶 廿賱賷賴 毓丕丿丞 賰賱 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱賲賵賴賵亘丞 丕賱賳亘賷賱丞 ..
賳毓賲貙 賱賯丿 噩賳賳鬲貙 賰賳鬲 賲乇賷囟丕賸 亘噩賳賵賳 丕賱毓馗賲丞貙 賵賱賰賳賷 賰賳鬲 賲乇丨丕賸貙 賳卮賷胤丕賸貙 亘賱 爻毓賷丿丕賸貙 賰賳鬲 胤乇賷賮丕賸 賵兀氐賷賱丕賸貙 賵丕賱丌賳 兀氐亘丨鬲 兀毓賯賱 賵兀乇氐賳貙 賵賱賰賳賷 氐乇鬲 賲孬賱 丕賱噩賲賷毓貙 兀賳丕 毓丕丿賷 ..
丕賱孬丕賳賷丞貙 兀賵丨賶 賱賷 亘賴丕 丨賵丕乇 亘爻賷胤 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱賰賳 匕賵 丿賱丕賱丕鬲 毓賲賷賯丞貙 賵賴賷 氐毓賵亘丞 鬲賯亘賱 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賳賲胤賷 賱卮禺氐 賲禺鬲賱賮 賵賲賳賮乇丿 賮賷 匕丕鬲賴貙 丨鬲賶 賵廿賳 賰丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱卮禺氐 賮賷 丕賳爻噩丕賲 賰賱賷賾 賵鬲賵丕賮賯 賲乇賴賮 賲毓 丨丕賱鬲賴貙 賮鬲氐亘丨 丨賷賳賴丕 賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕賳賯丕匕賴 兀卮亘賴 亘丕毓丿丕賲 賲毓賳賵賷 賵鬲卮賵賷賴 賱賰賱 賲丕 賴賵 噩賲賷賱 丿丕禺賱賴 ..
- 兀賳鬲 卮亘丨貙 鬲賴賷丐丕鬲貙 賵廿匕賳 賮兀賳丕 賲乇賷囟 賳賮爻賷丕賸貙 賲噩賳賵賳責
- 丨鬲賶 賱賵 賰丕賳 匕賱賰貙 賮賷賲 丕賱禺噩賱責 兀賳鬲 賲乇賷囟 賱兀賳賰 毓賲賱鬲 賮賵賯 胤丕賯鬲賰 賵兀丨賴丿鬲 賳賮爻賰貙 賵賴匕丕 賷毓賳賷 兀賳賰 囟丨賷鬲 亘氐丨鬲賰 賮賷 爻亘賷賱 丕賱賮賰乇丞貙 賵賯乇賷亘丕賸 賷丨賱 丕賱賵賯鬲 丕賱匕賷 鬲賴亘賴丕 賮賷賴 丨賷丕鬲賰 兀賷囟丕賸貙 賮賴賱 賴賳丕賰 賲丕 賴賵 兀賮囟賱責 廿賳 賴匕丕 賴賵 賲丕 鬲爻毓賶 廿賱賷賴 毓丕丿丞 賰賱 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱賲賵賴賵亘丞 丕賱賳亘賷賱丞 ..
賳毓賲貙 賱賯丿 噩賳賳鬲貙 賰賳鬲 賲乇賷囟丕賸 亘噩賳賵賳 丕賱毓馗賲丞貙 賵賱賰賳賷 賰賳鬲 賲乇丨丕賸貙 賳卮賷胤丕賸貙 亘賱 爻毓賷丿丕賸貙 賰賳鬲 胤乇賷賮丕賸 賵兀氐賷賱丕賸貙 賵丕賱丌賳 兀氐亘丨鬲 兀毓賯賱 賵兀乇氐賳貙 賵賱賰賳賷 氐乇鬲 賲孬賱 丕賱噩賲賷毓貙 兀賳丕 毓丕丿賷 ..
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December 31, 2019At the climactic end of this story, the main character finds himself in the Crimean town of Yalta on the edge of the Black Sea. The book I finished yesterday, , also ended in Yalta with the main character staring out at the Black Sea. The Crimea has featured in at least eight of the books I've read in the past few months and though I've never visited it, it has become part of my mental landscape.
July 4, 2022
Another literary gem from Chekhov, a wizard of the short story form (and of course plays!). It's filled with ambivalence and questions about the line between madness and genius, mortality and immortality... then there are more ambiguities like the presence of beautiful and terrible in just about everything, starting with the Chekhovian beautiful walk through the garden with flowers and flowering fruit trees but also filled with the smoke generated to prevent frost ("wandering through the smoke like shades"), to the very ending This superb story/novella deserves much more than a terse review but I'd rather point anyone reading this to the brilliant review by Katia that should inspire many further thoughts.
April 26, 2009
One of the things I like best about the great nineteenth-century Russian authors is how they can have their characters say outrageously grandiose things without making them sound ridiculous. Such are their characters' passions and romantic ideals that they get away with statements which in Western European or American literature would draw a guffaw from the reader. Take, for instance, this violent outburst by Andrei Kovrin, the schizophrenic hero of Chekhov's story 'The Black Monk':
'I was going out of my mind, I had megalomania, but I was bright and cheerful, even happy. I was interesting and original. Now I've grown more rational and stable, but I'm just like everyone else, a nobody. Life bores me... Oh, how cruelly you've treated me! I did have hallucinations, but did they harm anyone? Who did they harm, that's what I'd like to know!'
Personally, I love that kind of stuff when it fits into the story, but I can see how a less romantically inclined reader might roll his eyes and go, 'Yeah, you tell 'em, buddy. Right on.' Russian characters have that effect on some people.
Of course, Kovrin is not just any character. He's an academic on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Advised by a doctor to take a break, he travels to the Crimea to visit an old friend, but doesn't actually stop working. Soon he gets so overworked that he begins to see and have ardent discussions with a black monk others can't see. A gothic and somewhat haunting tale exploring the relationship between genius and insanity ensues. Both Kovrin and his friend Pesotsky are manic, but Pesotsky's mania takes a more socially acceptable form than Kovrin's. Chekhov (who had hallucinations about a black monk himself and, like his hero, died at a young age because he kept working while suffering from TB) leaves it up to his reader to decide which of the various kinds of madness depicted in the story is worse. With its expert characterisation and oppressive mood, 'The Black Monk' is a good story, intense and compelling and quintessentially Russian. It's Chekhov at his best, and Chekhov at his best will never get old.
The second story in the volume, 'Peasants', is equally grim but more realistic. It centres on a man who, suffering from bad health and no longer able to support his family, travels from Moscow to the countryside village where he grew up, only to find that his parents have too much on their minds to look after him and his family -- a hard-drinking son, a slutty daughter-in-law, taxes to pay, and so on. And of course the local council is to blame for everything, because it wouldn't do to blame the vodka, would it? 'Peasants' paints a bleak picture of a society torn asunder by poverty and alcoholism. It rings true, and probably was -- Chekhov was a dcctor, and as such met many poor people. I don't think it's Chekhov's best story, but it's very readable, albeit depressing. Then again, I don't think anyone reads Russian literature for the cheer it brings to people's lives.
'I was going out of my mind, I had megalomania, but I was bright and cheerful, even happy. I was interesting and original. Now I've grown more rational and stable, but I'm just like everyone else, a nobody. Life bores me... Oh, how cruelly you've treated me! I did have hallucinations, but did they harm anyone? Who did they harm, that's what I'd like to know!'
Personally, I love that kind of stuff when it fits into the story, but I can see how a less romantically inclined reader might roll his eyes and go, 'Yeah, you tell 'em, buddy. Right on.' Russian characters have that effect on some people.
Of course, Kovrin is not just any character. He's an academic on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Advised by a doctor to take a break, he travels to the Crimea to visit an old friend, but doesn't actually stop working. Soon he gets so overworked that he begins to see and have ardent discussions with a black monk others can't see. A gothic and somewhat haunting tale exploring the relationship between genius and insanity ensues. Both Kovrin and his friend Pesotsky are manic, but Pesotsky's mania takes a more socially acceptable form than Kovrin's. Chekhov (who had hallucinations about a black monk himself and, like his hero, died at a young age because he kept working while suffering from TB) leaves it up to his reader to decide which of the various kinds of madness depicted in the story is worse. With its expert characterisation and oppressive mood, 'The Black Monk' is a good story, intense and compelling and quintessentially Russian. It's Chekhov at his best, and Chekhov at his best will never get old.
The second story in the volume, 'Peasants', is equally grim but more realistic. It centres on a man who, suffering from bad health and no longer able to support his family, travels from Moscow to the countryside village where he grew up, only to find that his parents have too much on their minds to look after him and his family -- a hard-drinking son, a slutty daughter-in-law, taxes to pay, and so on. And of course the local council is to blame for everything, because it wouldn't do to blame the vodka, would it? 'Peasants' paints a bleak picture of a society torn asunder by poverty and alcoholism. It rings true, and probably was -- Chekhov was a dcctor, and as such met many poor people. I don't think it's Chekhov's best story, but it's very readable, albeit depressing. Then again, I don't think anyone reads Russian literature for the cheer it brings to people's lives.
February 18, 2023
賯氐丞 毓賳 賱毓賳丞 丕賱賲毓乇賮丞 賲賳 賳丕丨賷丞貙 賵賲爻丕賵卅 丕賱丕賳禺乇丕胤 賮賷 丕賱毓賲賱 賲賳 賳丕丨賷丞 兀禺乇賶.
賴賳丕 賳噩丿 卮丕亘 賮匕貙 賲噩鬲賴丿 賵賲鬲賮賵賯 賮賷 丿乇丕爻鬲賴 賵毓賲賱賴 囟丕毓鬲 丨賷丕鬲賴 亘爻亘亘 賲氐賷亘丞 丕賱乇丕賴亘 丕賱兀爻賵丿!
丨賯賷賯賷 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 亘賰賱賲丕鬲賴 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞 賵丕賱賲乇賰夭丞 丿丕卅賲丕賸 賲丕 賷亘賴乇賳賷鉂�
賴賳丕 賳噩丿 卮丕亘 賮匕貙 賲噩鬲賴丿 賵賲鬲賮賵賯 賮賷 丿乇丕爻鬲賴 賵毓賲賱賴 囟丕毓鬲 丨賷丕鬲賴 亘爻亘亘 賲氐賷亘丞 丕賱乇丕賴亘 丕賱兀爻賵丿!
丨賯賷賯賷 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 亘賰賱賲丕鬲賴 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞 賵丕賱賲乇賰夭丞 丿丕卅賲丕賸 賲丕 賷亘賴乇賳賷鉂�
May 1, 2019
"In ancient times a happy man grew at last frightened of his happiness --it was so great!--and to propitiate the gods he brought as a sacrifice his favourite ring. Do you know, I, too, like Polykrates, begin to be uneasy of my happiness. It seems strange to me that from morning to night I feel nothing but joy; it fills my whole being and smothers all other feelings. I don't know what sadness, grief, or boredom is. Here I am not asleep; I suffer from sleeplessness, but I am not dull. I say it in earnest; I begin to feel perplexed."
"But why?" the monk asked in wonder. "Is joy a supernatural feeling? Ought it not to be the normal state of man? The more highly a man is developed on the intellectual and moral side, the more independent he is, the more pleasure life gives him. Socrates, Diogenes, and Marcus Aurelius, were joyful, not sorrowful. And the Apostle tells us: 'Rejoice continually'; 'Rejoice and be glad.'"
Jan 18, 19
* The second time I read this short story. The idea that sorrow puts a person on a higher intellectual level must be forgotten at some point.
October 19, 2015
賱賲 兀鬲賵賯毓 兀賳 鬲賳賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱賯氐賷乇丞 廿毓噩丕亘賷 賱賴匕賴 丕賱丿乇噩丞 貙 賵賱賲 兀鬲賵賯毓 兀賷囟丕賸 兀賳 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 鬲賳丕賵賱 賮賰乇丞 毓賲賷賯丞 亘賴匕丕 丕賱卮賰賱 賮賷 氐賮丨丕鬲 賯賱賷賱丞 丕賱毓丿丿 亘賴匕賴 丕賱亘乇丕毓丞 .
丕賱賯氐丞 鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱 兀賴賲賷丞 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賳丕 貙 賮亘丿賵賳 匕賱賰 賳鬲丨賵賱 廿賱賶 兀卮禺丕氐 毓丕丿賷賷賳 貙 賷睾賱亘 丕賱乇賵鬲賷賳 毓賱賶 丨賷丕鬲賴賲 貙 亘賱 賵賯丿 賷賳毓夭賱賵賳 毓賳 賲丕 丨賵賱賴賲 亘爻亘亘 匕賱賰 貙 賮賷 丨賷賳 兀賳 賯賱賷賱丕賸 賲賳 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱廿孬丕乇丞 丕賱禺賷丕賱賷丞 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賳丕 賱丕 鬲囟乇 亘賱 鬲噩毓賱賳丕 賯丕丿乇賵賳 亘卮賰賱 兀賰亘乇 毓賱賶 鬲丨賲賱 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賵丕賱鬲毓丕賲賱 賲毓 賰丕賮丞 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賵賷亘毓丿賳丕 毓賳 丕賱賲卮丕賰賱 賵賳卮毓乇 亘丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 丕賱兀賯乇亘 廿賱賶 丕賱賰賱賷丞 .
丕賱賯氐丞 鬲丿賵乇 丨賵賱 兀賴賲賷丞 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱禺賷丕賱 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賳丕 貙 賮亘丿賵賳 匕賱賰 賳鬲丨賵賱 廿賱賶 兀卮禺丕氐 毓丕丿賷賷賳 貙 賷睾賱亘 丕賱乇賵鬲賷賳 毓賱賶 丨賷丕鬲賴賲 貙 亘賱 賵賯丿 賷賳毓夭賱賵賳 毓賳 賲丕 丨賵賱賴賲 亘爻亘亘 匕賱賰 貙 賮賷 丨賷賳 兀賳 賯賱賷賱丕賸 賲賳 丕賱噩賳賵賳 賵丕賱廿孬丕乇丞 丕賱禺賷丕賱賷丞 賮賷 丨賷丕鬲賳丕 賱丕 鬲囟乇 亘賱 鬲噩毓賱賳丕 賯丕丿乇賵賳 亘卮賰賱 兀賰亘乇 毓賱賶 鬲丨賲賱 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賵丕賱鬲毓丕賲賱 賲毓 賰丕賮丞 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 賵賷亘毓丿賳丕 毓賳 丕賱賲卮丕賰賱 賵賳卮毓乇 亘丕賱爻毓丕丿丞 丕賱兀賯乇亘 廿賱賶 丕賱賰賱賷丞 .
April 6, 2021
Acabo de ler 鈥� O monge negro 鈥� de Anton Tchekhov . Com uma narrativa poderosa , esse livro foi uma del铆cia de ler.
Muitas vezes s茫o nossas ilus玫es, nossas alucina莽玫es que d茫o sentido 脿 nossa vida. Quando isso nos 茅 tirado , parece que tudo se desmorona, parece que a realidade 茅 mais dif铆cil de se enfrentar do que as alucina莽玫es. 脡 justamente isso que acontece com Andrey Vasilievich Kovrin, um jovem inteligente, culto que por estar estressado vai 听passar um tempo na casa de campo de seu primo Pesotzky, que tem uma bela filha , T芒nia, com quem acaba se casando. Um fato ocorre em sua vida, ele come莽a a ver um monge negro , que vem lhe falar da sua capacidade, de seu valor. Sua esposa vendo que Ele fala sozinho se preocupa e come莽a a dar a ele rem茅dios fortes que ,com o tempo , faz com que suas alucina莽玫es desapare莽am鈥� mas 茅 a铆 que tudo 听se complica鈥�
Uma del铆cia de leitura...amei demais.
Muitas vezes s茫o nossas ilus玫es, nossas alucina莽玫es que d茫o sentido 脿 nossa vida. Quando isso nos 茅 tirado , parece que tudo se desmorona, parece que a realidade 茅 mais dif铆cil de se enfrentar do que as alucina莽玫es. 脡 justamente isso que acontece com Andrey Vasilievich Kovrin, um jovem inteligente, culto que por estar estressado vai 听passar um tempo na casa de campo de seu primo Pesotzky, que tem uma bela filha , T芒nia, com quem acaba se casando. Um fato ocorre em sua vida, ele come莽a a ver um monge negro , que vem lhe falar da sua capacidade, de seu valor. Sua esposa vendo que Ele fala sozinho se preocupa e come莽a a dar a ele rem茅dios fortes que ,com o tempo , faz com que suas alucina莽玫es desapare莽am鈥� mas 茅 a铆 que tudo 听se complica鈥�
Uma del铆cia de leitura...amei demais.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2016
賰賱賲丕 丕乇鬲賯賶 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賮賷 鬲胤賵乇賴 丕賱匕賴賳賷 賵丕賱禺賱賯賷貙 賵賰賱賲丕 丕氐亘丨 丕賰孬乇 鬲丨乇乇丕賸 貙 兀氐亘丨鬲 丕賱丨賷丕丞 鬲噩賱亘 賱賴 丕賱賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲毓丞 .
June 21, 2018
賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱亘卮乇 賱丕 賷賳鬲賲賵賳 賱賳賮爻 丕賱賯胤賷毓 ... 賰賱 賷睾賳賷 毓賱賶 卮丕賰賱鬲賴
April 5, 2011
Among the short stories I read by Chekhov, this stood out so far, mainly because, its strikingly close to one of Dostoevsky's favorite subject, the disturbed mind and its repercussions. The story reminds me of Dostoevsky's The Double, where his hero, Goldyakin suffers a form of schizophrenia and sees a vision of his own self and at the same time, Kovrin parallels the character of Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment. Both became delusional of their own genius, the other was pushed to murder and the other succumbs to his own death.
In the story, the eternal truth or the question of it was often addressed yet not define. Perhaps, it was intended by Chekhov to leave the interpretation to his readers. The symbolic figure of the black monk represents a part of that eternal truth as an awaken consciousness, somehow Kovrin, in the midst of his madness was able to tap the divine consciousness and it appeared to him as a hallucination in the form of the black monk but the apparition of the black monk suddenly halted as he acknowledged that its presence was unreal. Its like being slightly awakened and then suddenly fall back into a deep slumber again....as Kovrin lost the connection with the black monk, he succumbed to his own ego that led to his eventual suffering. The blissful smile that was set on his face upon his death symbolizes his non-judgment acceptance of his fate. Nonresistance, non-judgment acceptance of life's suffering is the eternal truth because it triggers the awakening of the spirit as the heart learns to understand, forgive and love.
In the story, the eternal truth or the question of it was often addressed yet not define. Perhaps, it was intended by Chekhov to leave the interpretation to his readers. The symbolic figure of the black monk represents a part of that eternal truth as an awaken consciousness, somehow Kovrin, in the midst of his madness was able to tap the divine consciousness and it appeared to him as a hallucination in the form of the black monk but the apparition of the black monk suddenly halted as he acknowledged that its presence was unreal. Its like being slightly awakened and then suddenly fall back into a deep slumber again....as Kovrin lost the connection with the black monk, he succumbed to his own ego that led to his eventual suffering. The blissful smile that was set on his face upon his death symbolizes his non-judgment acceptance of his fate. Nonresistance, non-judgment acceptance of life's suffering is the eternal truth because it triggers the awakening of the spirit as the heart learns to understand, forgive and love.
July 21, 2016
" 賷丕 氐丿賷賯賷 貙 丕賱丕氐丨丕亍 賵 丕賱胤亘賷毓賷賵賳 賴賲 賮賯胤 丕賱丕卮禺丕氐 丕賱毓丕丿賷賵賳 貙 丕賮乇丕丿 丕賱賯胤賷毓 "
October 23, 2021
I think this is only the second work I've read by Anton Chekhov and sadly I wasn't amazed by this either. He's was a good writer, I can see that but I haven't yet found one that worked for me
January 7, 2019
#丕賱乇丕赖亘冲丕賱兀爻賵丿
鬲兀賱賷賮 : 兀賳胤賵丕賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮
毓丿丿 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 : 40
丕賱賵賯鬲 賰賰鬲丕亘 賲爻賲賵毓 :01:16:30
丕賱賳賵毓 : 乇賵丕賷丞 賯氐賷乇丞
丕賱鬲賯賷賷賲 : 4/5
賴賱 丨賯丕 賳丨賳 賲賵噩賵丿賷賳 丕匕丕 賲丕匕丕 毓賳 丕賮賰丕乇賳丕 賴賱 賴賷 賲賵噩賵丿丞 責 兀匕丕 丕禺亘乇賳賷 丕賱卮禺氐 丕賱匕賷 賮賷 毓賯賱賷 兀賳 兀賯賮夭 賲賳 丕賱噩爻乇 賵賯賮夭鬲 賮賴賱 賴匕丕 賷噩毓賱賴 賲賵噩賵丿丕 賱丕賳賴 兀孬乇 毓賱賶 丨賷丕鬲賷 .
賰賱 卮賷亍 賰賱 卮賷亍 賲賵噩賵丿 賱賰賳賴 賲賵噩賵丿 丿丕禺賱 乇兀爻賰 賮賯胤 賱賰賳 禺丕乇噩賴 賱丕 鬲賵噩丿 丕賱丕 丕賱賰賷丕賳丕鬲 丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 . 賱匕賱賰 賱丕 鬲禺亘乇 丕丨丿 毓賲丕 賮賷 乇丕爻賰 賮丕賳鬲 賲噩賳賵賳 亘賱 噩賲賷毓賳丕 賲噩丕賳賷賳 賵丕賱卮禺氐 丕賱毓丕賯賱 兀賳 賵噩丿 賮賴賵 兀賷囟丕 賲噩賳賵賳 賮賰賷賮 兀氐亘丨 毓丕賯賱 賵爻胤 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱賲噩賳賵賳 . 賱匕賱賰 兀丨賮馗 噩賳賵賳賰 賮賷 噩賲噩賲鬲賰 賵兀乇毓賴 賵乇亘賴 賵丿毓賴 賷賰亘乇 賵賷賳囟噩 賵丿毓賴 賷爻賷乇 丨賷丕鬲賰 . 賮兀賳賴 賴賵 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賵丨賷丿 丕賱氐丕丿賯 賲毓賰 賵賴賵 賲賳 爻賷禺亘乇賰 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 毓賳丿賲丕 賷賰匕亘 丕賱噩賲賷毓 . 賵丕賱丕賴賲 賮賵賯 賰賱 匕賱賰 兀賳 匕賱賰 丕賱氐賵鬲 丕賱匕賷 賮賷 乇兀爻賰 賷毓乇賮 賰賱 卮賷亍 毓賳 賰賱 卮賷亍 賮賴賵 賲賵噩賵丿 賮賷 毓賯賵賱 丕賱亘卮乇 賲賳匕 禺賱賯鬲賴賲 賵乇丕賮賯賴賲 賲賳匕 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 . 賱匕賱賰 丕賱噩賳賵賳 丿丕卅賲丕 兀賰孬乇 丨賰賲丕 賲賳賰 兀賳鬲 .
鬲兀賱賷賮 : 兀賳胤賵丕賳 鬲卮賷禺賵賮
毓丿丿 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 : 40
丕賱賵賯鬲 賰賰鬲丕亘 賲爻賲賵毓 :01:16:30
丕賱賳賵毓 : 乇賵丕賷丞 賯氐賷乇丞
丕賱鬲賯賷賷賲 : 4/5
賴賱 丨賯丕 賳丨賳 賲賵噩賵丿賷賳 丕匕丕 賲丕匕丕 毓賳 丕賮賰丕乇賳丕 賴賱 賴賷 賲賵噩賵丿丞 責 兀匕丕 丕禺亘乇賳賷 丕賱卮禺氐 丕賱匕賷 賮賷 毓賯賱賷 兀賳 兀賯賮夭 賲賳 丕賱噩爻乇 賵賯賮夭鬲 賮賴賱 賴匕丕 賷噩毓賱賴 賲賵噩賵丿丕 賱丕賳賴 兀孬乇 毓賱賶 丨賷丕鬲賷 .
賰賱 卮賷亍 賰賱 卮賷亍 賲賵噩賵丿 賱賰賳賴 賲賵噩賵丿 丿丕禺賱 乇兀爻賰 賮賯胤 賱賰賳 禺丕乇噩賴 賱丕 鬲賵噩丿 丕賱丕 丕賱賰賷丕賳丕鬲 丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 . 賱匕賱賰 賱丕 鬲禺亘乇 丕丨丿 毓賲丕 賮賷 乇丕爻賰 賮丕賳鬲 賲噩賳賵賳 亘賱 噩賲賷毓賳丕 賲噩丕賳賷賳 賵丕賱卮禺氐 丕賱毓丕賯賱 兀賳 賵噩丿 賮賴賵 兀賷囟丕 賲噩賳賵賳 賮賰賷賮 兀氐亘丨 毓丕賯賱 賵爻胤 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱賲噩賳賵賳 . 賱匕賱賰 兀丨賮馗 噩賳賵賳賰 賮賷 噩賲噩賲鬲賰 賵兀乇毓賴 賵乇亘賴 賵丿毓賴 賷賰亘乇 賵賷賳囟噩 賵丿毓賴 賷爻賷乇 丨賷丕鬲賰 . 賮兀賳賴 賴賵 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱賵丨賷丿 丕賱氐丕丿賯 賲毓賰 賵賴賵 賲賳 爻賷禺亘乇賰 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 毓賳丿賲丕 賷賰匕亘 丕賱噩賲賷毓 . 賵丕賱丕賴賲 賮賵賯 賰賱 匕賱賰 兀賳 匕賱賰 丕賱氐賵鬲 丕賱匕賷 賮賷 乇兀爻賰 賷毓乇賮 賰賱 卮賷亍 毓賳 賰賱 卮賷亍 賮賴賵 賲賵噩賵丿 賮賷 毓賯賵賱 丕賱亘卮乇 賲賳匕 禺賱賯鬲賴賲 賵乇丕賮賯賴賲 賲賳匕 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 . 賱匕賱賰 丕賱噩賳賵賳 丿丕卅賲丕 兀賰孬乇 丨賰賲丕 賲賳賰 兀賳鬲 .
October 18, 2018
芦丕賱乇丕賴亘 丕賱兀爻賵丿禄 賱賷爻 禺賷丕賱賸丕 亘賱 賴賵 亘丿丕禺賱 賰賱 賲賳賾丕貙 賯賱賾丞賹 賮賯胤 賴賲 賲賳 賱丿賷賴賲 丕賱賯丿乇丞 賵丕賱卮噩丕毓丞 毓賱賶 鬲噩爻賷丿賴.
鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賴賳丕 賷毓乇賾賷 亘賵丕胤賳 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞貙 賷賰卮賮 毓賲賾丕 賮賷賴丕 賲賳 噩賳賵賳貙 兀賵 賲丕 賳馗賳 兀賳賴 噩賳賵賳 孬賲 賳賰鬲卮賮 兀賳賴 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞! 賱賯丿 賰丕賳 丕賱乇噩賱 爻毓賷丿賸丕貙 爻賵丕亍賸 賰丕賳 毓亘賯乇賷賸丕 兀賲 賱丕貙 丕賱賲賴賲 兀賳賴 賰丕賳 爻毓賷丿賸丕貙 賱賰賳 丕賱亘丕賯賷 睾囟亘賵丕 毓賱賷賴 賵噩毓賱賵賴 毓丕丿賷賸賾丕貙 孬賲 賲丕鬲 賵賱賲 賷賮賴賲賴 兀丨丿貙 賯爻賵丕 毓賱賷賴貙 賰丕賳 賷乇賶 鬲賴賷丐丕鬲 賱賰賳 賲賳 丕賱匕賷 兀夭毓噩賴 匕賱賰責! 賱丕 兀丨丿. 賱賰賳 賳丨賳 -賰丕賱毓丕丿丞- 賳賰乇賴 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮.
芦爻賷鬲賲賰賳 丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 賵丕賱兀賯丕乇亘 丕賱胤賷亘賵賳 賮賷 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱兀賲乇 賲賳 噩毓賱 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 鬲鬲亘賱賾丿貙 賵爻賵賮 鬲毓鬲亘乇 丕賱毓丕丿賷丞 毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵爻鬲賴賱賰 丕賱丨囟丕乇丞 -賵賯丕賱 賰賵冥乇賷賳 亘兀爻賶- 丌賴 賱賵 鬲毓賱賲賵賳 賰賲 兀賳丕 賲賲鬲賳 賱賰賲!禄.
賮賷 乇賵丕賷丞 賯氐賷乇丞 賷毓胤賷賳丕 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賲孬丕賱賸丕 賲賴賲賸丕 毓賳 賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞貙 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷毓乇賮 兀丨丿賹 賲丕 賴賵 賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 兀氐賱賸丕貙 丿丕卅賲賸丕 賲丕 兀丨亘賴 賮賷 賵氐賮 亘賵丕胤賳 丕賱賳賮爻貙 丕賱乇賵爻 毓賲賵賲賸丕 賱丿賷賴賲 賯丿乇丞 賮匕丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賳馗乇 亘丿丕禺賱 丕賱亘卮乇 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 兀賷 兀丨丿.
鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賴賳丕 賷毓乇賾賷 亘賵丕胤賳 丕賱賳賮爻 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞貙 賷賰卮賮 毓賲賾丕 賮賷賴丕 賲賳 噩賳賵賳貙 兀賵 賲丕 賳馗賳 兀賳賴 噩賳賵賳 孬賲 賳賰鬲卮賮 兀賳賴 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞! 賱賯丿 賰丕賳 丕賱乇噩賱 爻毓賷丿賸丕貙 爻賵丕亍賸 賰丕賳 毓亘賯乇賷賸丕 兀賲 賱丕貙 丕賱賲賴賲 兀賳賴 賰丕賳 爻毓賷丿賸丕貙 賱賰賳 丕賱亘丕賯賷 睾囟亘賵丕 毓賱賷賴 賵噩毓賱賵賴 毓丕丿賷賸賾丕貙 孬賲 賲丕鬲 賵賱賲 賷賮賴賲賴 兀丨丿貙 賯爻賵丕 毓賱賷賴貙 賰丕賳 賷乇賶 鬲賴賷丐丕鬲 賱賰賳 賲賳 丕賱匕賷 兀夭毓噩賴 匕賱賰責! 賱丕 兀丨丿. 賱賰賳 賳丨賳 -賰丕賱毓丕丿丞- 賳賰乇賴 丕賱丕禺鬲賱丕賮.
芦爻賷鬲賲賰賳 丕賱兀胤亘丕亍 賵丕賱兀賯丕乇亘 丕賱胤賷亘賵賳 賮賷 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱兀賲乇 賲賳 噩毓賱 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞 鬲鬲亘賱賾丿貙 賵爻賵賮 鬲毓鬲亘乇 丕賱毓丕丿賷丞 毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵爻鬲賴賱賰 丕賱丨囟丕乇丞 -賵賯丕賱 賰賵冥乇賷賳 亘兀爻賶- 丌賴 賱賵 鬲毓賱賲賵賳 賰賲 兀賳丕 賲賲鬲賳 賱賰賲!禄.
賮賷 乇賵丕賷丞 賯氐賷乇丞 賷毓胤賷賳丕 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賲孬丕賱賸丕 賲賴賲賸丕 毓賳 賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞貙 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷毓乇賮 兀丨丿賹 賲丕 賴賵 賮氐丕賲 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 兀氐賱賸丕貙 丿丕卅賲賸丕 賲丕 兀丨亘賴 賮賷 賵氐賮 亘賵丕胤賳 丕賱賳賮爻貙 丕賱乇賵爻 毓賲賵賲賸丕 賱丿賷賴賲 賯丿乇丞 賮匕丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賳馗乇 亘丿丕禺賱 丕賱亘卮乇 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 兀賷 兀丨丿.
March 14, 2022
bu uzun oykuyu can鈥檇an basilmis 鈥渄oktor cehov鈥檇an oykuler鈥漣n icinde okudum. kitabin genelindeki oykuleri cok begenmis olsam da kara kesis kendini hemen ayirdi digerlerinden. adi gibi kara, karanlik ve buna ragmen cok gercekci de bir yani var bu oykunun. severek okudum.
May 29, 2020
The marvelous stories were well-read - but simply make me want to read them in print so as to be able to truly savor them. The Black Monk did make an impression of the protagonist inexorably descending into a fantasy world. The stories examine the issues (guilt, boredom, neurosis etc) of late 19th C upper class in Russia and are a critique of society which is portrayed as crumbling. They are endlessly inventive and I would rather read them than listen to them (although the audio production was actually excellent).
I listened to the tapes again - without distractions - and even though my above review is OK, it doesn't really do these stories justice. All three are wonderful and I will certainly seek out more to read (or listen to in audio-books). I thought the reader was excellent.
The Black Monk is about Alexi Kovrin - a college professor Kovrin who was brought up by some neighboring landed gentry when his parents died of TB. He stays in touch with his foster family, and the reader is told that he has received an invitation to visit the family at their estate, which also contains a large horticultural nursery operation, for the spring/summer. He hasn't been there in 5 years and in the interval, the landowner (Yegor Semyonovich) daughter Tanya has grown up - and he muses if he might fall in love with her. Meanwhile, the reader also learns that Kovrin has been wearing himself out with study/reading/sleeplessness - perhaps heading to a breakdown. He does end up cracking up - but doesn't consider the departure from reality (which takes the form of heightened excitement "brilliance" etc - sounds like a type of mania) so bad, since people seem to respond to it, think he's exciting/brilliant etc. He has a recurring hallucination - a monk who conveys thoughts generated by Kovrin (obviously) about the nature of creativity "brilliance" etc. (Spoiler alert:) He does marry Tanya but she catches him one night talking to his imaginary friend the monk, and tearfully immediately takes him to a doctor for his obvious break from reality. Kovrin is cured but in the process becomes much less exciting and evidently creative "brilliant" although he does retain his position as a college professor. Kovrin begins to resent Tanya and her father for making him less exciting - and eventually the marriage falls apart. Unfortunately it's a bitter breakup - Yegor Semyonovich dies and Tanya blames Kovrin for his death. Kovrin in shock feels the old "brilliance" returning - tries to regain his composure and work - but the monk reappears and asks him why he doubted his assurance that he was brilliant? Kovrin then dies of the same disease that killed his mother (TB). A very powerful story - exploring the link between creativity and mental illness.
An Artist's Story describes a visit by a rather indolent landscape painter to the estate of the Bayalakurovs - where the sisters Gena (Missus) and Lida live. Lida is busy with zemstvo (local council) work - consisting of social service type activities, and more or less views the artist with disdain. He falls in love with Missus and she reciprocates but the potential love affair is cut short at Lida's insistence. He never sees Gena again - loses track of her - and the story ends on the haunting "Where are you now Missus?" This is an exploration of the conflict between social activism of the elites vs. the elite "laziness" or pre-occupation with endless self-examination etc. This is a recurring theme in the writer's work - and reflected a trend at that time in Russia, with liberalism, social activism being an ongoing trend among the intelligentsia/artists/writers etc - who obviously saw that the country needed to change if it was going to catch up with the West etc. The trend eventually culminated in the Russian Revolution but it is doubtful if many of these liberals realized that the Revolution would mean the definitive end of their leisurely lifestyles which enabled them to think about change in the first place and also the time to actually help others (as Lida devoted herself to helping others).
In Mire, Lieutenant Sokolsky pays a visit to the daughter of a brewery owner - the enigmatic, seductive and rebellious Susanna Moiseva Rothstein - to collect on a debt. Instead, she throws out the note and in response he loses his head and becomes a lover. When he shares the story with the landowner he is staying with, they both share a laugh since the landowner has also slept with the woman and he tells Sokolsky to leave town so as not to endanger his prospective marriage (since Sokolsky is engaged). Unable to help himself, the landowner visits Susan's house one day and there finds mobs of male visitors - including Sokolsky, although Sokolsky had told him he would leave town. Both men, like the others, could not stay away from Susanna. Disgusted, the landowner turns around and leaves Susanna's home. Like the other stories, this was carefully constructed and filled with wonderful descriptions and excellent characterizations and insight into the characters' thinking etc. However, I did find the one or two negative references to Jewish people smacking of antisemitism quite annoying to say the least. I looked up antisemitism in Chekhov on the internet and found that this was an issue - and reflected an unfortunate trend in Russia at the time. I doubt if this story, which is otherwise excellent, is included in current collections of Chekhov stories. I disliked the blanket prejudiced statements about Jewish people in this story.
All in all though despite my disappointment with Mire instances of antisemitism, I thought the stories and narration excellent. It's too bad Chekhov "pandered" to what was evidently a widespread prejudice at the time in Mire, though; he could have omitted the remarks which he must have anyway known were not true, and the story would have remained powerful and interesting enough without them.
I listened to the tapes again - without distractions - and even though my above review is OK, it doesn't really do these stories justice. All three are wonderful and I will certainly seek out more to read (or listen to in audio-books). I thought the reader was excellent.
The Black Monk is about Alexi Kovrin - a college professor Kovrin who was brought up by some neighboring landed gentry when his parents died of TB. He stays in touch with his foster family, and the reader is told that he has received an invitation to visit the family at their estate, which also contains a large horticultural nursery operation, for the spring/summer. He hasn't been there in 5 years and in the interval, the landowner (Yegor Semyonovich) daughter Tanya has grown up - and he muses if he might fall in love with her. Meanwhile, the reader also learns that Kovrin has been wearing himself out with study/reading/sleeplessness - perhaps heading to a breakdown. He does end up cracking up - but doesn't consider the departure from reality (which takes the form of heightened excitement "brilliance" etc - sounds like a type of mania) so bad, since people seem to respond to it, think he's exciting/brilliant etc. He has a recurring hallucination - a monk who conveys thoughts generated by Kovrin (obviously) about the nature of creativity "brilliance" etc. (Spoiler alert:) He does marry Tanya but she catches him one night talking to his imaginary friend the monk, and tearfully immediately takes him to a doctor for his obvious break from reality. Kovrin is cured but in the process becomes much less exciting and evidently creative "brilliant" although he does retain his position as a college professor. Kovrin begins to resent Tanya and her father for making him less exciting - and eventually the marriage falls apart. Unfortunately it's a bitter breakup - Yegor Semyonovich dies and Tanya blames Kovrin for his death. Kovrin in shock feels the old "brilliance" returning - tries to regain his composure and work - but the monk reappears and asks him why he doubted his assurance that he was brilliant? Kovrin then dies of the same disease that killed his mother (TB). A very powerful story - exploring the link between creativity and mental illness.
An Artist's Story describes a visit by a rather indolent landscape painter to the estate of the Bayalakurovs - where the sisters Gena (Missus) and Lida live. Lida is busy with zemstvo (local council) work - consisting of social service type activities, and more or less views the artist with disdain. He falls in love with Missus and she reciprocates but the potential love affair is cut short at Lida's insistence. He never sees Gena again - loses track of her - and the story ends on the haunting "Where are you now Missus?" This is an exploration of the conflict between social activism of the elites vs. the elite "laziness" or pre-occupation with endless self-examination etc. This is a recurring theme in the writer's work - and reflected a trend at that time in Russia, with liberalism, social activism being an ongoing trend among the intelligentsia/artists/writers etc - who obviously saw that the country needed to change if it was going to catch up with the West etc. The trend eventually culminated in the Russian Revolution but it is doubtful if many of these liberals realized that the Revolution would mean the definitive end of their leisurely lifestyles which enabled them to think about change in the first place and also the time to actually help others (as Lida devoted herself to helping others).
In Mire, Lieutenant Sokolsky pays a visit to the daughter of a brewery owner - the enigmatic, seductive and rebellious Susanna Moiseva Rothstein - to collect on a debt. Instead, she throws out the note and in response he loses his head and becomes a lover. When he shares the story with the landowner he is staying with, they both share a laugh since the landowner has also slept with the woman and he tells Sokolsky to leave town so as not to endanger his prospective marriage (since Sokolsky is engaged). Unable to help himself, the landowner visits Susan's house one day and there finds mobs of male visitors - including Sokolsky, although Sokolsky had told him he would leave town. Both men, like the others, could not stay away from Susanna. Disgusted, the landowner turns around and leaves Susanna's home. Like the other stories, this was carefully constructed and filled with wonderful descriptions and excellent characterizations and insight into the characters' thinking etc. However, I did find the one or two negative references to Jewish people smacking of antisemitism quite annoying to say the least. I looked up antisemitism in Chekhov on the internet and found that this was an issue - and reflected an unfortunate trend in Russia at the time. I doubt if this story, which is otherwise excellent, is included in current collections of Chekhov stories. I disliked the blanket prejudiced statements about Jewish people in this story.
All in all though despite my disappointment with Mire instances of antisemitism, I thought the stories and narration excellent. It's too bad Chekhov "pandered" to what was evidently a widespread prejudice at the time in Mire, though; he could have omitted the remarks which he must have anyway known were not true, and the story would have remained powerful and interesting enough without them.
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