In Exile” is a short story written by Anton Chekhov and is based on his real life experiences. This is one of the few stories that arose directly from Chekhov 's extended trip to Sakhalin Island in 1890 (Coulehan). He carefully recorded the misery of the inhabitants of the five-hundred-mile long island by speaking up to 160 people each day (Gale). Chekhov tells a story of several men that are in exile and the exchange that takes place between two of the men. A third-person narrator tells us, “Old Semyon, whose nickname was preacher, and a young tartar, whose name no one knew, were sitting by a campfire on the bank of the river” (Chekhov 111).
The first character, Preacher, is not what many would expect. Despite the name, he does not preach …show more content…
There are obvious differences between the Preacher and the Tartar. Preacher is a “harsh man” (Chekhov 111). The Tartar is completely opposite. He has an optimistic view in contrast to Preachers. In his eyes, the life he had before exile was what he wants back. Even when the preacher says, “And what to do want a mother and a wife for? It’s the devil stirring you up.” the tartar still believes that it is normal for humans to want. The tartar tells Preacher, “You say: want nothing. But nothing is bad” (Chekhov 116). Tartar wants out of exile and to see his family. He does not understand why Preacher thinks the way he does but Preacher has been doing the same thing for twenty-two years where as Tartar is new to exile and still hopeful of getting back to his old …show more content…
Preacher is a static antagonist within the story. He does not change his believe and, in fact, preaches that the others should think like him. He is hostile to the other characters, the tartar the most. Perhaps he sees himself within the tartar or he knows every man in exile starts out with hope but that hope disappears after years of exile. Preacher knows what it is like to be in exile for so long and believes god should give everyone this life. On the other hand, the tartar is the protagonist and has a different view. “God created man to be hopeful, be sad and sorrow” (Chekov 119). Both characters argue their beliefs and Preacher reminded the tartar that he is still “…young and foolish” (Chekhov 112). The tartar continues to cry outside as the others go inside the hut. Perhaps the Tartar is crying at the realization that he will not have his old life back or he is afraid of becoming like
The first character, Preacher, is not what many would expect. Despite the name, he does not preach …show more content…
There are obvious differences between the Preacher and the Tartar. Preacher is a “harsh man” (Chekhov 111). The Tartar is completely opposite. He has an optimistic view in contrast to Preachers. In his eyes, the life he had before exile was what he wants back. Even when the preacher says, “And what to do want a mother and a wife for? It’s the devil stirring you up.” the tartar still believes that it is normal for humans to want. The tartar tells Preacher, “You say: want nothing. But nothing is bad” (Chekhov 116). Tartar wants out of exile and to see his family. He does not understand why Preacher thinks the way he does but Preacher has been doing the same thing for twenty-two years where as Tartar is new to exile and still hopeful of getting back to his old …show more content…
Preacher is a static antagonist within the story. He does not change his believe and, in fact, preaches that the others should think like him. He is hostile to the other characters, the tartar the most. Perhaps he sees himself within the tartar or he knows every man in exile starts out with hope but that hope disappears after years of exile. Preacher knows what it is like to be in exile for so long and believes god should give everyone this life. On the other hand, the tartar is the protagonist and has a different view. “God created man to be hopeful, be sad and sorrow” (Chekov 119). Both characters argue their beliefs and Preacher reminded the tartar that he is still “…young and foolish” (Chekhov 112). The tartar continues to cry outside as the others go inside the hut. Perhaps the Tartar is crying at the realization that he will not have his old life back or he is afraid of becoming like