Comparison's Theme In Misery, By Anton Chekhov

In the short story, Misery, by Anton Chekhov, the author enchants the theme of the story through the message of isolation and personal sorrow, through the main character Iona. Chekhov portrays Iona as an elderly man, who’s son is recently deceased, and who is searching for someone to talk too. In hopes of expressing his misery over his son’s death. When Iona is unsuccessful to find a partner to proclaim his grief too, he eventually finds comfort in his mare who is willing to listen to him. Through, Chekhov’s use of setting, characterization, and literary devices, he is able to illustrate an atmosphere of a grieving father and the hardships he faces.

To begin with, one of the most common motifs that Chekhov illustrates within the story is …show more content…
In the story, Chekhov uses strong literary devices, and he especially uses imagery to shine a light through the story’s true message. He uses descriptions such as, “the shades of evening are falling on the town. The pale light of the street lamps changes to a vivid colour, and the bustle of street grows noisier.” (Chekhov, 85). As well, another description that Chekhov uses to paint the picture of the story is “Just as the young man had been thirsty for water, he thirst for speech.” (Chekhov, 88). Chekhov uses imagery within in his story to allow the readers to get a better description of the pain in Iona’s life. The passages above showcase the setting and emotion that Iona is facing. Chekhov also illustrating Iona’s loneliness of being surrounded by people, but no one to talk too. Or, no one that will listen to him. Which in literally texts is quite normal for the reader to “produce twice as many remind[ers] of experience where the reader is an active participant in his/her mental image.” (Burke, 6). Chekhov, supports his central themes by overall, allowing the reader to feel as if they are in Iona’s …show more content…
Chekhov often enough, allows the use of diction to escape his story with different characters having different dialogues of speech. Within the story, Iona is seen using informal diction with his customers. While trying to find the words to voice his son’s death, he stumbles and pauses: “My son…, er… my son died this week sir.” (Chekhov, 86). Even when he is not discussing his son, he uses informal diction again while greeting his customers by saying “He-he!”, or “Me-er-ery, gentlemen.” (Chekhov, 87). Though, Iona’s sense of informal speech may be from coming from the country side, he may be struggling to find the words for his son’s death. When approach with an opportunity to speak of his son’s death, he stumbles over words. Death is not an approachable nor say topic to discuss. Which, Chekhov clearly shows through Iona’s sorrow of not being able to find the right words to describe his son’s