Chekhov's Literary Analysis

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Russian journalist Sergei Dovlatov once said, “You can delight in Tolstoy’s mind, Pushkin’s refinement, and Dostoevsky’s psychological penetration, but the only one you wish to be like is Chekhov.” Indeed, as one reads Chekhov’s work or about his life, it is hard not to relate to the man himself behind his immense literary achievements. In stark contrast to the higher-class backgrounds of other Russian literary giants such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Chekhov was born to a poor peasant family, and soon started providing its primary financial support. With a youth spent toiling as a student and later a medical doctor, it is not surprising that Chekhov’s development as a writer, as well as his aesthetic sensibility was quite unlike any of his peers. …show more content…
In his work “Hamlet and Don Quixote”, Turgenev associated Hamlet with “negation” in human nature. Painting him as a passive, ineffectual intellectual, Turgenev linked Hamlet to concepts such as egoism, unbelief, and irony. This analysis formed the basis for Turgenev’s “superfluous man” archetype, referring to well-educated members of society whose skepticism and ideological conflicts result in them ultimately contributing very little to it. As other authors such as Dostoevsky explored the idea in works such as “Notes From Underground”, the “superfluous man” gradually became a common, figure in Russian literature and culture. To Chekhov, Hamlet was an essential representation of Western literature, the predecessor of the “aristocratic” writings of authors such as Turgenev (Curtis 432). Because Chekhov rejected these styles as “palaces” his view of Hamlet was likely a mix of both respect and critique as well. This was the literary and cultural landscape surrounding Hamlet as Chekhov began writing. Chekhov’s references to Hamlet in The Seagull and The Cherry Orchard are especially illustrative of his technique. Being the first and last of what are often referred to as “Chekhov’s major plays”, examining the allusions to Hamlet in these two works also shows the development in Chekhov’s dramatic techniques. In both works, one also finds a continuous …show more content…
Instead, because Treplyov is himself the Hamlet of the story, it is as though he is showing disdain not only to Trigorin, but also towards himself for not achieving the same literary success. This subtle inversion breathes a visceral sense of cynicism and longing jealousy into Treplyov’s character. This mix of emotions is characteristic of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as well, but Chekhov presents it in a more relatable way, as opposed to the murderous revenge plot in Hamlet. Ultimately, Chekhov’s use of Hamlet is an inversion by nature, offering comedic value in its contrast to Shakespeare’s original work, while also re-imagining the ideas of Hamlet in a more everyday context. In Chekhov’s version of the play, Hamlet decides “not to be”, Ophelia lives to embody the arduous artistic journey, Claudius is ignorant, yet benign, and Gertrude has her own say in the matters of the plot besides who drinks the poisoned cup. Along the way, Chekhov criticizes and sympathizes with all the characters in his play, and his depiction of

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