Life and work of Chekhov. The best works of Chekhov
In addition to artistic talent,
What is amazing in all these stories is the knowledge of life,
deep penetration into the human soul.
Ivan Bunin
The secret of Chekhov's mastery, the mystery of the impact on the reader has still not been fully solved. But one thing is clear: Chekhov is an unusual writer. Speaking about the features of the writer’s style, it is necessary to emphasize that:
1. His stories are based on a certain everyday situation (scene), and not a common problem or the fate of the hero.
2. An ordinary action leading to an unexpected result.
3. Great role of detail.
4. Speaking surnames.
5. Small form and deep content.
7. Rich range of vocabulary.
8. Individualization of the characters’ speech.
In the second half of the 80s Chekhov is included in great literature. Humor increasingly coexists with lyricism, psychological analysis. Anecdotal mask images give way to individual characters. In Chekhov's stories, serious and sad topics, questions arise about the meaning of life, about happiness, about freedom, and the knowledge of truth.
"Steppe" (1888)- Chekhov's first major work. “The story of one trip” (this is the subtitle of the story “Steppe”) is largely told through the eyes of the boy Yegorushka, who is being taken to the city to enter the gymnasium. He enthusiastically admires boundless expanses steppes. At the same time, the child’s impressions are often interspersed with the lyrical “intervention” of the author himself.
The story includes Chekhov's thoughts on unresolved issues of life and death, on the deeply personal problem of loneliness for him. The writer’s thoughts about the fate of his homeland were reflected in the image of the steppe.
An obituary of the great traveler Przhevalsky, written and published in 1888, became a milestone in Chekhov’s work. Two years after this event, Chekhov himself made a long and difficult journey to the island for research purposes. Sakhalin, where he carefully studied the life of convicts and exiles. For Chekhov this was a civic act. He traveled most of Siberia in a wagon. His tuberculosis worsened.
Before the trip I read Chekhov great amount literature about the geography of the island, its history. In the book "Sakhalin Island" (1893–1894) depicts local customs, figures of chiefs and overseers who “in dealing with inferiors they do not recognize anything other than fists, rods and cab driver’s abuse”. This book is the only example of documentary prose.
After what he saw on the “convict island,” Chekhov began to treat many phenomena of Russian reality much harsher and more mercilessly. It is no coincidence that after a trip to Sakhalin a very tough story appears "Ward No. 6" (1892). It describes the order of a provincial hospital, in the outbuilding of which madmen live, who are completely dependent on the watchman Nikita. Doctor Ragin, who headed the hospital, was shamefully indifferent to this until he himself ended up there and tasted Nikitin’s beatings.
In 1892, Anton Pavlovich acquired the Melikhovo estate in the Serpukhov district of the Tula province, where he settled.
Life in the Melikhovo estate answered a long-standing desire expressed by Chekhov in one of his letters: “If I am a doctor, then I need patients and a hospital; if I am a writer, then I need to live among the people... I need at least a piece of public and political life , at least a small piece..." He not only received the sick and participated in the fight against the cholera epidemic, but also built schools and churches, and organized relief for the hungry. The stories “from folk life", as the author himself characterized them, "Men" (1897) and "In the Ravine" (1900).
Important milestone in creative biography A.P. Chekhov is associated with Moscow Art Theater ohm “I thank heaven that, sailing on the sea of life, I finally ended up on such a wonderful island as the Art Theater,”- Chekhov wrote to his classmate at the gymnasium, who became an artist of this theater, A.L. Vishnevsky.
His passion for theater began in his high school years, and later, when Chekhov happened to visit provincial theaters, he recalled the Taganrog gallery and his youth.
Student’s speech with a message about the Moscow Art Theater (individual assignment)
“The famous Moscow Art Theater, founded in the 90s. two amateurs - the amateur actor Stanislavsky and the writer Nemirovich-Danchenko (both were gifted with extraordinary stage talent), gained fame even before the production of Chekhov's plays, but nevertheless this theater truly “found itself” and achieved artistic perfection thanks to his plays, and to them brought real glory. “The Seagull” has become a symbol of the theater - a stylized seagull is depicted on the curtain and programs.”
Vladimir Nabokov
Tuberculosis, which worsened in 1897, forced Chekhov to leave Melikhovo and settle in Yalta. At one time, tired of the intense daily work for newspapers and magazines, he dreamed of writing “from afar, from a crack.” Now the Yalta “chelka” tormented and oppressed Anton Pavlovich with its isolation, separation from the growing events in the country. “It’s like I’m in exile...– he complained in letters. – I feel like life is passing me by and how I don’t see much that, as a writer, I should see.”.
Anton Pavlovich seemed to many to be an apolitical person, alien to topicality. Meanwhile, as A.I. later wrote. Kuprin, “he was worried, tormented and sick with everything that the best Russian people were sick with”. When, to please the Tsar, the decision to elect Maxim Gorky as an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences was annulled because of his “political unreliability,” Chekhov, like V.G. Korolenko himself refused the title of academician.
At first Russo-Japanese War Anton Pavlovich hoped that its likely unsuccessful outcome would lead to long-awaited political changes in Russia. Already having no chance of recovery, several months before his death, Chekhov intended to go to the active army as a simple doctor.
According to the memoirs of V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, at the turn of the century Chekhov once said: “I see that great disasters await us. Russia needs to pay for its entire past... In what gigantic suffering must the new Russia be born... Just don’t lose faith in your people, no matter what they are!”.
In June 1904, Chekhov traveled to Badenweiler, in the German Black Forest. When he arrived in Germany, he had three weeks to live. On July 2, 1904, he died far from his family and friends, among strangers, in a strange city.
Homework
"Man in a Case"
1. How is the narrator Burkin shown? What can we say about his powers of observation and irony?
2. How does he feel about his story?
3. Why is Mavra, who never went anywhere, mentioned before the story about Belikov?
4. How is Belikov shown? Why do they call him “the man in the case”?
5. How does Burkin behave towards Belikov? Does he protest?
6. How and why did Belikov terrorize the city?
7. Why did Belikov die? How to understand the phrase: “Burying such people... is a great pleasure”?
8. What does the author condemn Burkina for?
"Gooseberry"
1. How and how is Ivan Ivanovich, the narrator, shown?
2. Why can’t he fall asleep, what is he thinking about?
3. How does the author appear in this story?
4. What is the meaning of the narrator’s words: “In the name of what to wait?.. In the name of what to wait, I ask you? In the name of what considerations?.. To wait when there is no strength to live, but meanwhile you need to live and want to live!”?
5. What is the role of descriptions of nature in the story?
6. What do we learn about Ivan Ivanovich’s brother? Appreciate his dream.
7. What is the purpose of this story? Why does the narrator say: “But it’s not about him, it’s about me. I want to tell you what a change took place in me in these few hours while I was at his estate.”?
8. What is the difference between Burkin and Ivan Ivanovich? How do listeners react to the story?
9. Why is the story called this? Does the name have a symbolic meaning?
"About love"
1. How and how is the hero-narrator shown?
2. Why does the author emphasize the discrepancy between the external and internal world?
3. What is the disharmony of Aleshin’s life?
4. What is tragic about the life of the Luganovichs and Pelageya?
Literature
1. D.N. Murin. Russian literature second half of the 19th century century. Guidelines in the shape of lesson planning. Grade 10. M.: SMIO Press, 2002.
2. E.S. Rogover. Russian literature XIX century. M.: Saga; Forum, 2008.
3. Encyclopedia for children. T. 9. Russian literature. Part I. From epics and chronicles to the classics of the 19th century. M.: Avanta+, 1999.
Among researchers of Chekhov’s work, there is still a widespread belief that in the writer’s artistic world “no one knows the real truth” (see, for example, the works of V. Ya. Lakshin, V. B. Kataev, etc.). The very possibility of finding in Chekhov's works a real embodiment of the highest truth of human existence was called into question. Common place many scientific works about Russian literature of the XIX-XX centuries. is the assertion that the great Russian writers generally gave preference not to “ideal” heroes (that is, not to righteous people living “as they should”), not to answers to the question “what is truth?”, but to “real”, “living”, heroic or at least to simply sincerely seeking and misguided people.
Here it is appropriate to recall the words of V. G. Korolenko from his letter to N. K. Mikhailovsky dated December 31, 1887 - January 1, 1888: “Then (in the 60-70s of the 19th century - A. T.) we everyone was looking for a "hero", and Messrs. Omulevsky and Zasodimsky gave us these heroes. Unfortunately, the heroes turned out to be all "applique", fake, head-on. Now, therefore, we are first of all looking not for a hero, but for a real one about a person, not a feat, but a spiritual movement, even if not commendable, but immediate (this is the strength of, for example, Chekhov).”
It is interesting to note that some representatives of the Russian intelligentsia attached exceptional importance to Chekhov's work. Thus, K.I. Chukovsky argued that “A.P. Chekhov seemed to his contemporaries to be the “measure of things,” and his books were “... the only truth about everything that was happening around.”
There were some reasons for this idea. According to literary critic I. Vinogradova, in late XIX V. “a new non-religious consciousness” dominated among the intelligentsia, which “faced the urgent need to re-found the entire system of moral and value orientation in life - the system that was previously held by the “keystone” of religious faith.”
It was important for A.P. Chekhov to include the figure of L.N. Tolstoy into the “new” system of “moral and value orientation.” He believed that if Tolstoy died, then everything would “go to hell” and the Russian people would have no moral support. At the same time, Chekhov himself still followed his own path. Enough to remember classic words Chekhov about the final part of Tolstoy's novel "Resurrection": "... to write, write, and then take and blame everything on the text from the Gospel - this is very theological." Chekhov said that he must first be convinced of the truth of the Gospel itself, and then refer to the Gospel texts.
As we see, on the one hand, the intelligentsia perceived Tolstoy and Chekhov as righteous people and sources of ideas about higher truth. On the other hand, the “bar” of requirements for goodies who are portrayed by writers. How to get out of such a contradiction?
At one time, A. S. Pushkin precisely defined the sphere of activity in which answers to questions about the meaning of the creativity and life of any writer are contained: “The words of a poet are the essence of his deeds.” I think we need to penetrate Chekhov’s secret, figure out what he saw absolute truth, the highest truth of life, is impossible without the writer himself, that is, without a careful, unbiased reading and study of him works of art and epistolary heritage.
Back in April 1879, A.P. Chekhov, in a letter to his brother Mikhail, advised reading I.S. Turgenev’s article “Don Quixote and Hamlet,” which made a strong impression on him. Then young Chekhov did not see Don Quixotes in the Turgenev sense of the word in the reality around him, i.e. selfless altruists who believe in the ideal. And yet it was precisely this Don Quixote type of people that impressed him. This means that even at the beginning of its active literary activity Chekhov was determined to seriously think about the highest truth of life, about the righteous.
And in the obituary article “[N.M. Przhevalsky]” (1888), he, speaking about ascetic travelers, actually writes specifically about righteousness: “Their ideology, noble ambition, which is based on the honor of the homeland and science, their perseverance, in no way hardships, dangers and temptations of personal happiness, an invincible desire for a once-planned goal, the wealth of their knowledge and hard work... their fanatical faith in Christian civilization and science make them in the eyes of the people ascetics, personifying the highest moral force (my italics - A.T. )". The appearance of the phrase "highest moral strength"shows that what was important to Chekhov was not just asceticism, but the purpose for which it was carried out. Therefore, it is no coincidence that he ended the article about Przhevalsky with the following words: "Reading his (Przhevalsky - A.T.) biography, no one will ask: why? Why? what's the point? But everyone will say: he is right" (4, 506).
In the obituary article "[N.M. Przhevalsky]" Chekhov outlined the value for literary works images of “people of heroism, faith and a clearly realized goal” (4, 506), consoling and ennobling other people. He pointed out their important educational role. Almost every story or story by a writer affirms this value. It is not without reason that one of the modern researchers expressed the opinion that art world Chekhov's story is built on truth and beauty.
Chekhov's literary works are mainly devoted to this problem of search new system orientation with a conscious, as if pre-agreed, renunciation of faith in God, from the Church. As is known, such refusal characterized the life not only of his heroes, but also of the writer himself. Therefore, according to the fair remark of A. Lyubomudrov, “understanding of the mystical reality of the Church is absent in the world of Chekhov.” Accordingly, it is unlikely that Chekhov thought about the types of righteous people in Orthodox understanding the words "righteousness". However, it is inappropriate to perceive Chekhov as a materialist and an atheist, which is what, for example, the modern biographer of the writer I. Berdnikov does in the book “Chekhov” (series “ZhZL”, M., 1978). Chekhov's letters testify to his recognition of the highest principle in life, “the fear of God.” Most likely, the writer was in the state of that “true sage” about whom he said his famous words: “Between “there is God” and “there is no God” there is a whole huge field that passes with with great difficulty a true sage" (8, 432). It seems that a similar state explains the peculiarities of Chekhov's artistic research the phenomenon of righteousness, the problematic nature of its unambiguous interpretation.
Meanwhile, back in 1886, Chekhov wrote the story “Holy Night,” where he showed how beautiful goodness is, how amazing Orthodox services are, how pure the monastic friendship of Hierodeacon Nicholas and the novice Jerome, how strong the humility of this novice, who did not abandon his obedience to the ferryman even then , when the Easter holiday arrived and it should have already been replaced. And the bright image of Hierodeacon Nicholas deserves special attention - not even a shadow touched him Chekhov's irony Moreover, Nicholas dies on the eve of Easter, which was considered by the people to be a sign of God’s special mercy and the righteousness of the deceased.
So, for example, in " travel notes""Sakhalin Island" (1893-1894) Chekhov tells about the priest Father Simeon of Kazan, who served in the Korsakov church in the 1870s. The style, mood, and sometimes even the vocabulary of this story are reminiscent of the New Testament story about the exploits of faith of the Apostle Paul: " Priest Semyon spent almost all his time in the desert... he froze, he was covered in snow, he was seized by illnesses along the way, pestered by mosquitoes and bears, boats capsized on fast rivers and he had to swim in cold water; but he endured all this with extraordinary lightness, called the desert dear and did not complain that life was hard for him... he never refused a cheerful company and, in the middle of a cheerful conversation, he knew how to insert some church text by the way..." (8, 261). The personality of the righteous Father Simeon has become legendary in Siberia, conquered the hardened hearts of soldiers and exiles.
Another example is Lipochka from the story “In the Ravine” (1900). Chekhov perfectly showed that no suffering could break her pure and humble soul. The writer does not hide the source of his heroine’s perseverance - this is faith in God, this constant turning of the eyes and soul to heaven. Spending the night with her mother Praskovya at the Tsybukins’, Lipa felt that “no matter how great the evil, the night is still quiet and beautiful, and yet God's world the truth is and will be, just as pure and beautiful..." (6, 408).
At the same time, Chekhov’s faith in science, in people of heroism and the lack of deep faith in God, in the grace of church life, allowed him only to admire the Christian world and encouraged him to seek the humanistic ideal of the righteous. Dr. Thomson from The Head Gardener's Tale (1894) can serve as confirmation of this. Thomson embodied the life of a “learned man”, which was fueled solely by love for people. He loved them like children, he helped them without sparing himself, and everyone around him, even robbers and animals, responded to him with love. The narrator Mikhail Karlovich connects the forgiveness of the murderer of the “holy” doctor with faith in Christ, and, therefore, in man, but in fact Christ is not in the story. Residents of the city where the doctor lived believed in the doctor, and they forgave the killer because they did not believe in the possibility of his murder.
Righteousness without faith in God is depicted in the story “My Life” (1896). Main character works Mikhail Poloznev tries to live in truth, in justice. However, his desire for truth turns into an unpeaceful state of mind, constant condemnation of other people, isolation from them, and destruction of his personal life. Negative truth is also preached by the contractor Radka, whom B. Zaitsev aptly called a sectarian: “Aphids eat the grass, rust eats the iron, and lies eat the soul.” Both Misail and Radish work hard, trying to resist the “lies,” but Chekhov makes it clear that his heroes do not know for the sake of what truth they endure sorrow and illness.
In a number of other works of Chekhov, specific images of the righteous are not given, but certain situations and provisions are given that denote the idea of righteousness. So, in the story "On Holy Week"We find an understanding of church life as a grace-filled introduction to the highest beauty and truth. (1887) In this work, the pure world of childhood appears: the little boy narrator describes his fasting and communion in the temple. Confession from the priest and initiation into the Holy Mysteries transforms the life of the hero: " How easy it is now, how joyful my soul is! There are no more sins, I am holy, I have the right to go to heaven! It is a great feat to forgive one's enemy - the bully Mitka. As we see, Chekhov's work is perhaps precisely Orthodox in spirit. The story "On Holy Week" can be put on a par with such a creation of "churched" literature as "The Summer of the Lord" by I.S. Shmeleva.
The transformation of the heroes takes place in the story “The Steppe” - “the old people shine” after the church service, the bright and childishly pure love of life and love of God. Christopher illuminates everything around with a clear light, instills a spirit of cheerfulness into a dull world. It seems that B. Zaitsev rightly did not agree with Chekhov’s judgment about his hero, made in a letter to A.N. Pleshcheev dated February 9, 1888: “Stupid Father Christopher is already dead.” Indeed, Fr. Christopher is smarter and wiser than the other heroes of "The Steppe", he always maintains a connection with God, and never loses heart. And modern researcher I. Naumova connects the image of a priest traveling in the steppe with that living highest principle, which really opposes sinfulness.
The gracelessness of life without faith, without God is the main theme of the story “A Boring Story” (1889). According to the correct remark of B. Zaitsev, the creation of such a work indicates a difficult spiritual state Chekhov. The story of Professor Nikolai Stepanovich, who thirsts for a general idea, in other words, the highest, truth of life that cannot be destroyed by anything, even death, the “God of a living person” speaks of ontological dissatisfaction and thirst true faith the author himself. Therefore, while depicting the ontological depth of righteousness, Chekhov remained in the sphere of epistemology, and his search for truth became more urgent and intense.
In the story "Duel" (1891) given beautiful image how the process of truth-seeking proceeds without faith in Chekhov’s world and how believers live who have found truth in God. The main character of the story Laevsky, summarizing his own and others’ life experience, reflects: “In search of the truth, people take two steps forward, one step back. Suffering, mistakes and the boredom of life throw them back, but the thirst for truth and stubborn will drive them forward and forward. And who knows? Perhaps they will swim to the real truth. .." (4, 479). Chekhov shows that in this way it is impossible to become righteous. Laevsky is not far removed from Nikolai Stepanovich from A Boring Story. “He has no God” (4, 460), - this is how the writer characterizes his hero. Laevsky, like the professor, is “tormented by spiritual thirst,” wants to pray to “someone” or “something,” even a thunderstorm. But there is no faith, and there is no transformation of the hero, despite the fact that after the duel Laevsky changed a lot, got married, and began to work. He repeats only the conclusion of his opponent von Koren: “No one knows the real truth” (4, 479), he still cannot navigate the world and is lost, weakens his soul in front of the people around him. Consequently, Laevsky cannot be considered a “saved Christian,” as some researchers of Chekhov do.
And in the same story “Duel” a real breakthrough into the sphere of ontology is made. The deacon tells the zoologist von Koren about the faith of his uncle “the priest,” who, when going to a prayer service for the sending of rain, took an umbrella with him. “Faith moves mountains,” asserts the deacon, and “some weak old man will babble just one word with the holy spirit... and in Europe there will not be one stone left on another” (4, 457). The always resourceful zoologist was unable to offer any substantive objection to the deacon’s simple and serious speech. The hymn to faith in God and the power of holiness based on it turned out to be beyond the reach of Chekhov’s irony. That is, we can say that behind the deacon’s speech, the entire course of development of the story “Duel” recognizes the highest truth of life.
Thus, artistic embodiment righteousness in Chekhov’s works shows the difficulty, the impossibility of finding one’s way in a world without God, without faith. The writer makes it clear through literary works that “the real truth cannot be found only if the “God of the living man” is excluded from the system of life orientation.”
Another thing is that Chekhov did not quite definitely and obviously place human righteousness in direct and necessary dependence on belonging to Orthodox Church. So, in the aforementioned story “In the Ravine,” Lipa, on the way from the hospital, met Kostyl and an old man, whom she called saints. But from the text of the work it is impossible to draw an affirmative conclusion that they Orthodox people. And yet, the entire artistic structure of the work convinces that they should be recognized as righteous: they are “a ray of light in dark kingdom"Ukleev, softening the souls of its inhabitants, they open up another dimension in ordinary, vulgar, terrible and criminal life, a dimension not subject to its influence. Obviously, the writer simply explores all the “cases” of righteousness, without giving preference to any of them.
The choice can only be made by the reader himself. That is, the originality of Chekhov’s artistic solution to the problem of righteousness lies in the fundamental impossibility of distinguishing the righteous people who are actually close to the author’s heart from those who can be “calculated” on the basis of an objective analysis of the artistic text as such.
The fact that Chekhov's heroes not only know, but also feel and live the real truth is evidenced by Chekhov's story "The Student", the most beloved, by the way, by the writer himself. It was about the suffering of Christ on the cross and about His Apostle Peter that Chekhov said the following words: “the truth and beauty that guided human life there, in the garden of the high priest, continued continuously until this day and, apparently, always constituted the main thing in human life and on earth in general." In the text of the story there is not a single artistically designed refutation of these words, for they are consonant not only with the hero, but also with the author of the work.
Thus, Chekhov's heroes not only know the real truth, but also try to live according to this truth. The texts of the writer's literary works objectively show both his religious doubts and faith, which is revealed through the images of the righteous, through the prototype of the righteous - Christ (the story "Student").
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is one of the greatest Russian literary writers of the nineteenth century. He is famous for the original type of literary works - small, condensed essays (almost excerpts), which are so deeply embedded in the soul of those who read them. This unique, graceful form of providing information fully satisfied the requirements of readers of that time, and at the present time is popular with the reading public. For my creative activity, marked by the publication of a play without the title “Fatherless” in one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, until his death, he wrote more than six hundred fifteen stories, four famous plays"Three sisters", " The Cherry Orchard", "The Seagull", "Uncle Vanya", travel essays(from Siberia, Sakhalin Island), poems, articles, notebooks and other journalism.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov traveled a lot throughout his life and he tried to depict everything he saw in his work, without too sharply denoting the social trend, focusing more on the little things that were barely perceptible to the eye. It is the little things that elude most people, but like nothing else that characterize the essence of the object being described, that give rise to emotions that move any person.
All of A.P. Chekhov’s work is permeated, like the work of Turgenev and Leo Tolstoy, with a great love for the human race and nature, which does not act as a background, but is a part of human life. To describe his heroes and their characters, Chekhov uses bright, artsy watercolor paints with the aim of maximizing the reader’s attention on the person being described, which provokes the effect of some kind of kinship with the character, concern for his fate.
Chekhov's work touches with its sincerity and fragmentation. Having finished reading any of A.P. Chekhov’s works, an emotion arises that has the right to exist, regardless of whether others like it. All his stories are distinguished by a certain incompleteness and duality of the possible. further development events associated with the hero, which presupposes the reader himself thinking through what he has read. Thanks to this feature of writing, Chekhov unobtrusively forces society to think about the meaning of life.
In particular, in Chekhov’s story “The Bride,” the author, showing the worthless philistine life of provincial characters and contrasting Sasha, who came to stay with her, through the reflections of the main character Nadyusha, leads the reader to the idea of the need for a radical restructuring of the life of society. The main character Nadyusha fulfills Sasha’s hope and leaves the province, because her soul strives for unknown distances, to study this wonderful world and benefit society.
In this article we will introduce you to the life and work of Chekhov, the great Russian writer and playwright. From it you will learn about how he became an original author, about the creative heritage of Anton Pavlovich, about the personality and character of the creator immortal works. Let's begin to describe Chekhov's life and work with his biography.
The writer's early years
Anton Pavlovich was born in Taganrog. His father, Chekhov Pavel Georgievich, was a merchant who was part of the third guild. Mother's name was Evgenia Yakovlevna. This is recorded in the registry book in the cathedral church of Taganrog.
According to the recollections of Chekhov's brothers and himself, upbringing in the family was strict. Studied young writer in a classical gymnasium, helped his father with his sister and brothers in the grocery store, and also sang in the church choir, which was organized by Pavel Georgievich. According to his father, the shop needed a master's eye, so Anton, being the most conscientious of all the children, found himself more often than others in the role of clerk. A living gallery of various human types, conversations, and characters passed before the future writer. He became an involuntary witness to various life situations, provisions, conflicts. All this contributed to the fact that Anton Pavlovich developed an early knowledge of people, he quickly matured.
Moving to Moscow
My father went bankrupt in 1876, fled to Moscow from creditors, where he settled with his family. The eldest sons, Nikolai and Alexander, left to study in the capital even earlier. Anton, however, remained in Taganrog to graduate from high school. He earned his own living, gave lessons, and even sent money to Moscow for his family. This is how it begins independent life and the work of Chekhov. During his years at the gymnasium, he created the drama “Fatherlessness,” the work “What the Chicken Sang About” (vaudeville), as well as many short comic works.
Studying at the University
Chekhov's life and work by year in the period from 1879 to 1884 is represented by the following events. At this time, the writer became a student at Moscow University, entering the medical faculty.
At the same time, he publishes short sketches, parodies, jokes in various humorous magazines ("Alarm Clock", "Dragonfly", "Oskolki") under various pseudonyms (My Father's Brother, Man Without a Spleen, Antosha Chekhonte, Purselepetantov). The first works that were published were parodies entitled “Letter to a Learned Neighbor”, as well as “What is Most Often Occurred...” Both works were published in 1880. Four years later, the writer’s stories appeared, “Tales of Melpomene,” followed by “Motley Stories” in 1886, “At Twilight” in 1887, and “Gloomy People” in 1890.
First recognition from readers and critics
Recognition did not come to Chekhov right away Russian critics, but he gained success among readers much earlier. And these critics can be understood. It was unclear what Chekhov the narrator was talking about, what goal he was leading to, what he was calling for. At that time, his refusal to preach and strive to solve “big” problems in literature (“What to do?”, “Who is to blame?”), as was traditionally the case in the works of Russian classics, was very unusual. However, a few years after his debut as a writer, in 1887, Chekhov was awarded the prestigious Pushkin Prize. This was recognition not only of him as a writer, but also of the genre in which Chekhov worked. Many of his contemporaries perceived the stories as a narrative about themselves, their lives. Chukovsky, for example, said that Tolstoy seemed omniscient, but his books were about someone else, but Chekhov’s story “My Life” was written as if about him, reading it as if you were reading your own diary.
Medical activity and its reflection in creativity
Having received the position of district doctor, in 1884 Chekhov began to practice medicine.
From April to December 1890, the writer was on the island of Sakhalin, which at that time became the place where Anton Pavlovich’s contemporaries were serving hard labor. This was a civic act for Chekhov, “going to the people.” Anton Pavlovich, in a book entitled “Sakhalin Island” (years of creation - 1893-1894), acted as a researcher of the life of the people, living in conditions of exile and hard labor. From that time on, as Chekhov himself said, all his work was “sweetened.” For example, the stories “Ward No. 6” and “In Exile” (both written in 1892) reflected the impressions of visiting this island. The trip significantly worsened the writer’s health; his tuberculosis worsened.
Moving to Melikhovo
Life and work of Chekhov, summary whose biographies we describe continue already in Melikhovo. Chekhov acquired this estate near Moscow in 1892. In it, he not only created his works, but also treated peasants, opened several schools and a first-aid post for their children, traveled to provinces that were gripped by famine, and also participated in the population census. Chekhov's life and work took place on this estate until 1898. The works “Rothschild’s Violin”, “The Jumper”, “The Seagull”, “Literature Teacher”, “Uncle Vanya” and others were written.
A. P. Chekhov: life, creativity and achievements in Yalta
The writer moved to Yalta in 1898. Here he purchased a plot of land on which he built a house. The following people visited Anton Pavlovich: famous contemporaries, like Maxim Gorky, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, Ivan Alekseevich Bunin, Isaac Ilyich Levitan.
At the end of the 1880s, Chekhov created many plays for the theater, such as “The Leshy,” “Ivanov,” “The Wedding,” as well as the vaudeville “Anniversary,” “The Bear.”
In 1896, not understood by the audience and actors, one of his most famous plays today, “The Seagull,” failed. But two years later she had a resounding success in the production of the Moscow Art Theater, becoming a symbol of the new performing arts. Chekhov's life and work were closely connected with the theater at this time. Best works The writer was also staged in "Uncle Vanya" (in 1898), "Three Sisters" (in 1901) and "The Cherry Orchard" (in 1904). Since then they have not left the stage in theater productions various countries peace.
Anton Pavlovich was elected academician in 1900 belles lettres, but he refused this title in 1902 (together with Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko), since Gorky’s election to the Academy was declared invalid by decree of the Tsar.
Last years
In 1901, Chekhov married O. L. Knipper, an actress who played in the Moscow art theater. Three years later, the writer goes to the resort of Badenweiler, Germany, for treatment, as his health is rapidly deteriorating. Here he died on June 2 (new style - June 15). Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was buried in Moscow, on Novodevichy Cemetery.
What does Chekhov's biography teach us?
The biography of Chekhov is instructive: this man educated himself. His words: “You have to train yourself.” In his youth, the writer was not at all the Chekhov we know. When his wife reported that Anton Pavlovich had a soft, compliant character, he told her that in fact his character was hot-tempered and harsh, but he was used to restraining himself, since it was not proper to let oneself go decent person, as Chekhov believed.
The life and work of a writer are closely interconnected. The author tried to prove what he wrote about in his works with his own life. The biography of his themes is instructive that the writer was able to suppress rudeness and hot temper, develop gentleness and delicacy, which none of the writers of that time possessed. This was reflected in his work. The difference between the early Chekhov (the author of parodies and feuilletons) and the Chekhov of the 1890s is striking: over time, his creations acquired nobility, classical restraint, precision in the expression of feelings and thoughts, and dignity. Chekhov's life and work are closely intertwined.
His favorite poems, which he dedicated at the age of 23 to Ekaterina Yunosheva, his classmate (“Forgive me for the last time”), he cited a year later in his story “Oh, women, women!..” as an example of mediocre rhyming.
Chekhov's transformation manifested itself even in appearance a writer who combined artless, typically Russian features with sophistication and deep nobility.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, whose life and work we are describing, was very modest, tactful and hardworking person. He was not a so-called “teacher of life” and avoided direct conversation about aesthetics and ethics in his works. But ennobling educational value his books were (and, of course, continue to be) above the influence of any passionate sermons. The writer was uncompromising about mediocrity and vulgarity, but his courage and this intransigence were special - subtle, tactful, Chekhovian.
L.N. Tolstoy called Anton Pavlovich “an artist of life.” The definition of this has two meanings: it means “artist” not only “master of words.” Chekhov painted his own life, having built it from the first to last minute as a proof of a moral theorem.
Features of Chekhov's stories
As we have already said, the early stories of such a multifaceted writer as Chekhov, whose life and work we briefly present in this article, are very different from others written after 1888. This milestone was mentioned for a reason - it is considered a turning point in the work of the author of interest to us. IN early stories(“Thick and Thin”, “Death of an Official”, etc.) the comic element dominates first of all. The imagination of their author, who called himself Purselepetantov, Antosha Chekhonte and others, was inexhaustible and rich in bright and unexpected funny incidents, paintings, stories. He knew how to observe them in life.
The stories of the 1890s seem different in tone. They are dominated by skepticism, sadness, and regret of the writer; they are largely philosophical. The poetics are different later works Chekhov, she expresses herself in genre definition these creations as satirical stories.
Actually on the outside simple works are complex, they leave a feeling of inexhaustibility, lack of agreement. they are not emphasized. The tone of the story is usually lyrical irony. With a sad smile, the writer peers at the person, reminds him of the beautiful, ideal life, the way it should be. The main thing for Chekhov is to awaken his readers moral consciousness, and not at all the imposition of one’s ideas about the world and man, literature, life.
Features of Chekhov's dramaturgy
Chekhov created his own theater, with his own special dramatic language. He was not immediately understood by Anton Pavlovich’s contemporaries. His plays seemed to many to be unstageable, clumsily made, with a lack of action, with chaotic, drawn-out dialogues, with the author’s intention unclear, etc. For example, M. Gorky wrote about “The Cherry Orchard” that it evokes a green longing for something in the audience. then the unknown. Chekhov created a theater of mood: halftones, hints with an “undercurrent” (Nemirovich-Danchenko) - in many ways anticipating dramaturgical quests in the 20th century.
Chronotope in Chekhov's drama
Anton Pavlovich expanded the concept of chronotope (space and time), characteristic of the classical Russian literature 19th century. In the works of his predecessors, the center was mainly the noble estate, peasant and noble Russia. And Chekhov introduced into his works the image of a city man with a corresponding urban worldview. Anton Pavlovich's chronotope - cities. This does not mean geography, but psychology, the feelings of a city person.
Chekhov also developed his own concept of depicting man and life - fundamentally unheroic, everyday. There are no acute conflicts, struggles, or clashes in the works. Sometimes it seems like nothing is happening in them. The movement does not go from one event to another, but from mood to mood.
The language of the plays is polysemantic, melodic, poetic, and symbolic, which was required to create a general sense of subtext and general mood.
The significance of Chekhov's work
- A book called "Sakhalin Island" appeared artistic document contemporary author's era.
- Chekhov was at the origins of modern tragicomedy.
- His works feature best samples Russian literature in all varieties of short prose genres.
- Chekhov's dramaturgy has become unique business card Russian literature in the world.
- The call that Anton Pavlovich left us: “Take care of the person within you!” - eternal.
- This author was not only a writer and playwright, but also a poet. The poems written during his years at the gymnasium reflect his life.
- And the work of Chekhov, best poems which can be found in the eighteenth volume" Full meeting writings and letters" and his biography are very remarkable.
- The artistic discoveries of this writer greatly influenced the theater and literature of the 20th century. Translated into many languages, dramatic works have become invariably included in theatrical repertoires around the world.
- This author managed to create new moves in literature, significantly influencing the development of the short story genre. The innovation lies in the use of the so-called stream of consciousness, a technique that was later adopted by James Joyce, as well as other modernist writers.
- Chekhov was the first in Russian literature to clearly demonstrate to us the image of an ordinary person from the provinces, devoid of a thirst for activity, a broad outlook, and good aspirations. Like no one else, the writer clearly showed how dangerous philistinism is for society and the individual (stories “The Literature Teacher”, “Ionych”).
So, we were in general outline presents the life and work of Chekhov. We have selected the best and most interesting and instructive for you. However, we recommend that you use other sources. Chekhov's life and work by dates can be studied in more detail if desired. There are now a great many books written about this author. It is interesting to read the correspondence of Anton Pavlovich with his wife, published in 1972 by V. Schatz, S. Danilova and others, as well as the work of N. I. Gitovich, created in 1986, which presents the memories of contemporaries about this great writer. The chronology of Chekhov's life and work can be supplemented based on these and other sources.
- Chekhov's work in the 90s.
- Dramatic works
- The last years of the writer's life
Chekhov's work is a unique phenomenon in the history of Russian literature, because it combines kind and sad humor, the presentation of eternal problems for humanity, gentle pedagogy and sometimes notes of tragedy.
Childhood and youth of A.P. Chekhov. First steps in creativity
The future Russian writer and playwright was born in the city of Taganrog in January 1860. His father was a merchant and kept a small shop where you could buy everything: from food to household items.
The family had many children. Chekhov later admitted that his childhood was difficult: together with his brothers and sisters, he helped his father, so he combined work and study. There was practically no time left for children's games and pranks.
Anton began writing early; his first stories and stories appeared when Chekhov was still a student at the gymnasium. The young man dreamed of literary fame, so he sent his novels and short stories to magazines, but publishers were in no hurry to publish them.
In 1879, an important event occurred in Chekhov’s life: he entered the medical faculty of Moscow University. At the same time, the life of a future doctor in Moscow is not easy: Chekhov is poor and, in order to earn a piece of bread, begins to look for literary work - he writes short humorous stories under the pseudonym "Antoshi Chekhonte" and many others no less funny names. These stories are gradually becoming popular. Later writer will collect all his early works in two collections, which he will call “Motley Stories” and “Innocent Speeches”.
Features of Chekhov's early work
Chekhov's early work mainly includes humorous works. These are stories such as “Thick and Thin”, “Death of an Official”, “Chameleon”, “Groom”, etc.
In these works the author ridicules many human vices and, first of all, hypocrisy, stinginess and servility. Two school friends met in the story “Fat and Thin.” We were sincerely delighted at the meeting and began a dialogue, but in the process it turned out that the fat one occupied a rank much higher than the thin one, and the thin one, having learned about this, immediately began to fawn over his former comrade. And all the joy of their meeting disappears.
Or another hero - “Chameleon”, who in any situation strives to show himself with the best side in front of your superiors and benefit from it. The story “Chameleon” itself takes up a little more than one page and causes laughter, but it is laughter through tears, because readers see in the hero’s behavior a response to their shortcomings.
Or another story, “The Groom.” It depicts a young man madly in love with his bride, the blond beauty Varya. The groom accompanies Varya to the train, gives her 25 rubles of money with him, however, despite all the bright feelings for his bride, he does not forget to take her receipt. What is this? Stinginess or cynicism. Or maybe hypocrisy?
But the fact of the matter is that our groom is truly in love, but still cannot give these “unfortunate” 25 rubles to his bride.
The peculiarities of Chekhov’s creativity of this period lie precisely in the creation of such works that tell about everyday life different people, ridiculing their vices, but forcing readers to turn to the world of their own souls, seeing the shortcomings of their own behavior.
Mid 80's XIX century Chekhov (who had already become a professional doctor by that time) is included in the “great Russian literature.” His name becomes known to readers, and his stories begin to enjoy incredible popularity.
Chekhov's work in the 90s.
Having already become a famous Russian writer, whose works were published in the leading literary magazines of the time, Chekhov went on a trip to Russia. In 1890, the writer visited Siberia and even reached the island of Sakhalin, which at that time was the most famous place of hard labor and exile in the empire.
The result of his trips is the book “Sakhalin Island,” published in 1895.
The themes of Chekhov's work of that period are related to the study human soul, deep motives of the personality’s psyche. During this period, the writer published his most famous works, the stories “Gooseberry”, “Man in a Case”, About Love”, “Ionych”, “Lady with a Dog”, “Ward No. 6”.
The writer thinks a lot about the fate of man, about the meaning of the feeling of love in people's lives. For example, in the story “The Lady with the Dog,” he describes the state into which two people plunge when they accidentally meet at a resort. Gurov and Anna Sergeevna cannot cope with the situation that has engulfed them. loving feeling. At the same time, the heroes are deeply unhappy, not only because external circumstances do not give them the opportunity to unite their destinies, but also because the very feeling of their love is deeply tragic.
Another Chekhov story from that period, which caused controversy among his contemporaries, is called “Darling.” It tells about the fate of a woman who lived all her life for others. Once she was lost in the fate of her first husband, after whose death she also devoted herself to all the interests of her second husband. When her second husband also died, Darling found herself a new object of love and care.
Moreover, the writer was so delicate that he did not give the author’s assessment to the heroine’s behavior, leaving this right to the readers. Some readers saw in Darling a heroine who, forgetting herself, was ready to love “her neighbor,” while others saw her as an empty and stupid woman who did not know what to do and therefore gave herself to everyone who was nearby.
In total, during this period of Chekhov’s work, the writer wrote about 150 works, many of which were included in the treasury of Russian literature.
Dramatic works
A.P. Chekhov also went down in the history of Russian culture as a talented playwright. He is the author of numerous works. These are the plays “Uncle Vanya”, “The Seagull”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “Three Sisters” and many others. To this day, these works are embodied in the repertoire of leading theaters around the world.
Largely thanks to the work of Chekhov and many of his talented contemporaries, actors and directors, they managed to give birth to new genre special psychologically oriented Russian drama.
The main thing in Chekhov's plays is the appeal to inner world his heroes. It was the writer who wrote the phrase that people can drink tea on stage, and at the same time their fate is being decided. In his plays there are few sharp, bright conflicts, dramatic collisions, scenes of murders and outright love confessions. Everything is hidden, naked and realistic. At the same time, his heroes are vital and humane. Chekhov himself wrote about this: “Let everything on stage be as simple and at the same time as complex as in life.”
Ranevskaya – main character play “The Cherry Orchard” - she is looking for happiness in life, but does not find it anywhere, she strives for good, but does not want to make efforts for any specific good deed. Three sisters from another Chekhov's play are also looking for something different in life better life, they dream of life in Moscow, but they themselves are afraid to take any action to make their dream come true. Another hero of the writer from the play “Uncle Vanya” creates an idol for himself from his relative, and when he realizes the falsity of his illusion, he falls into the deepest depression.
The last years of the writer's life
At the age of forty, shortly after his wedding to theater actress Olga Knipper, Chekhov learned that he was sick with a disease that was fatal for that time - consumption. The writer is forced to change his place of residence - he moves to Yalta. Here creative path Chekhov ends with the creation latest plays and the latest stories. The most striking work of that time is the story “The Bride,” which tells the story of the fate of a young girl from the provinces, who, instead of marrying a man she did not love, left her small town to study. This story also caused different assessments among contemporaries, but Chekhov himself considered it one of his favorite works.
In 1904, the writer went to Germany to improve his health. This is where death finds him. Chekhov's body was transported to Russia, where he was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. Already under Soviet rule in 1933, the cemetery was liquidated and the grave was moved to another place.
