Untimely thoughts are bitter. "Untimely Thoughts" A.M.

Late XIX V. Countryside in Russia. The village of Mironositskoye. Veterinarian Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Gimalaysky and the Burkin gymnasium teacher, after hunting all day, settle down for the night in the headman’s barn. Burkin tells Ivan Ivanovich the teacher's story Greek language Belikov, with whom they taught in the same gymnasium.

Belikov was known for the fact that “even in good weather he went out in galoshes and with an umbrella and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool.” Belikov's watch, umbrella, and penknife were put in cases. He wore dark glasses and kept all the locks at home. Belikov sought to create a “case” for himself that would protect him from “external influences.” The only things that were clear to him were the circulars in which something was prohibited. Any deviation from the norm caused him confusion. With his “case” considerations, he oppressed not only the gymnasium, but the entire city. But one day it happened to Belikov strange story: He almost got married.

It happened that a new teacher of history and geography, Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko, a young, cheerful man, from the crests, was appointed to the gymnasium. His sister Varenka, about thirty, came with him. She was pretty, tall, rosy-cheeked, cheerful, and sang and danced endlessly. Varenka charmed everyone at the gymnasium, and even Belikov. It was then that the teachers came up with the idea of marrying Belikov and Varenka. They began to convince Belikov of the need to get married. Varenka began to show him “obvious favor,” and he went for walks with her and kept repeating that “marriage is a serious thing.”

Belikov often visited Kovalenka and would eventually have proposed to Varenka, if not for one incident. Some mischievous person drew a caricature of Belikov, where he was depicted with an umbrella on the arm of Varenka. Copies of the picture were sent to all teachers. This made a very difficult impression on Belikov.

Soon Belikov met Kovalenok riding bicycles on the street. He was extremely indignant at this spectacle, since, in his opinion, it was not proper for a high school teacher and a woman to ride a bicycle. The next day Belikov went to Kovalenki to “ease his soul.” Varenka was not at home. Her brother, being a freedom-loving man, disliked Belikov from the first day. Unable to tolerate his teachings about riding bicycles, Kovalenko simply lowered Belikov down the stairs. At that moment, Varenka and two acquaintances were just entering the entrance. Seeing Belikov rolling down the stairs, she laughed loudly. The thought that the whole city would know about what had happened horrified Belikov so much that he went home, went to bed and died a month later.

When he was lying in the coffin, he had a happy expression on his face. It seemed that he had achieved his ideal, “he was put in a case from which he would never come out. Belikov was buried with a pleasant feeling of liberation. But a week later, life went on as before - “a tedious, stupid life, not prohibited by the circular, but not completely permitted either.”

Burkin finishes the story. Reflecting on what he heard, Ivan Ivanovich says: “Isn’t the fact that we live in a city in a stuffy, cramped environment, writing unnecessary papers, playing vint - isn’t this a case?”

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Man in a case

Man in a case
Title of the story (1898) by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904).
The main character is the provincial teacher Belikov, who is afraid of any innovations, actions not permitted by the “boss,” as well as reality in general. Hence his favorite expression: “No matter what happens...” And, as the author writes, Belikov “had a constant and irresistible desire to surround himself with a shell, to create for himself, so to speak, a case that would seclude him, protect him from external influences.”
The author himself began to use this expression as a common noun. In a letter to his sister M.P. Chekhova, he wrote (November 19, 1899): “The November winds are blowing furiously, whistling, tearing roofs. I sleep in a hat, in shoes, under two blankets, with the shutters closed - a man in a case.”
Playfully and ironically: a timid person, afraid of bad weather, drafts, and unpleasant external influences.

encyclopedic Dictionary winged words and expressions. - M.: “Locked-Press”. Vadim Serov. 2003.

Man in a case

This is the name for a person who is afraid of all innovations, drastic measures, very timid, like the teacher Belikov, depicted in the story by A.P. Chekhov's "Man in a Case" (1898). Belikov “he was remarkable in that he always, even in very good weather, went out in galoshes and with an umbrella and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool... When a drama club, or a reading room, or a tea house was allowed in the city, he shook his head and spoke quietly : “It is, of course, so and so, all this is wonderful, but no matter what happens” It is interesting to note that the expression “man in a case” was jokingly used by Chekhov himself; in a letter to M.P. Chekhova dated November 19, 1899, he wrote: “The November winds blow furiously, whistle, tear the roofs. I sleep in a hat, in shoes, under two blankets, with the shutters closed - a man in a case.”.

Dictionary of catch words. Plutex. 2004.

See what “Man in a Case” is in other dictionaries:

CASE. MAN IN A CASE. In Chekhov’s story “The Man in a Case”: “This man had a constant and irresistible desire to surround himself with a shell, to create for himself, so to speak, a case that would seclude him, protect him from external... ... History of words

- “MAN IN A CASE”, USSR, SOVIET BELARUS, 1939, b/w, 84 min. Drama. By story of the same name A.P. Chekhov. Cast: Nikolai Khmelev (see KHMELEV Nikolay Pavlovich), Mikhail Zharov (see ZHAROV Mikhail Ivanovich), Olga Androvskaya (see ANDROVSKAYA Olga... ... Encyclopedia of Cinema

This term has other meanings, see Man in a Case (meanings). Man in a Case (true incident) ... Wikipedia

Man in a case- Iron. (A person) living by his own narrow interests; isolated from people, from life; inert and closed. You are a man in a case, a cardboard soul, a folder for affairs! (B. Lavrenev. A story about a simple thing). He reminds her of something like Chekhov’s man in... ... Phrasebook Russian literary language

Man in a case- wing. sl. This is the name given to a person who is afraid of all innovations, drastic measures, very timid, like the teacher Belikov, depicted in A.P. Chekhov’s story “The Man in a Case” (1898). Belikov “was remarkable in that he always, even in very good times... ... Universal additional practical Dictionary I. Mostitsky

Razg. Disapproved About a man who closed himself in a circle of narrow philistine, petty-bourgeois interests, fenced himself off from real life, afraid of innovation and change. /i> Based on the title of the story by A. P. Chekhov (1898). BMS 1998, 619; BTS, 1470; FM 2002, 609; ... Big dictionary Russian sayings

man in a case- about someone who has closed himself in a circle of narrow, bourgeois interests, has isolated himself from real life, is afraid of innovations and changes. The expression goes back to the story of the same name by A.P. Chekhov. The main character of this work is Belikov, a teacher of ancient languages,... ... Phraseology Guide

man in a case- About someone who is isolated in a circle of narrow, philistine interests, afraid of any innovations From the title of the story by A.P. Chekhov... Dictionary of many expressions

"Man in a Case"- A MAN IN A CASE story by A.P. Chekhov (1898), ch. The hero is afraid of life and tries to hide from it in a case, a shell of regulations and stereotypes... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

This term has other meanings, see Man in a Case. Man in a Case ... Wikipedia

Books

Man in a Case, A.P. Chekhov. The hero of the story “The Man in a Case” is Belikov, a high school Greek language teacher. His main fear is “that something might not work out.” With the arrival of a new teacher, Mikhail, in the city...

End of the 19th century Countryside in Russia. The village of Mironositskoye. Veterinarian Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Gimalaysky and the Burkin gymnasium teacher, after hunting all day, settle down for the night in the headman’s barn. Burkin tells Ivan Ivanovich the story of the Greek teacher Belikov, with whom he taught in the same gymnasium.

Belikov was known for the fact that “even in good weather he went out in galoshes and with an umbrella and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool.” Belikov's watch, umbrella, and penknife were put in cases. He wore dark glasses and kept all the locks at home. Belikov sought to create a “case” for himself that would protect him from “external influences.” The only things that were clear to him were the circulars in which something was prohibited. Any deviation from the norm caused him confusion. With his “case” considerations, he oppressed not only the gymnasium, but the entire city. But one day a strange thing happened to Belikov: he almost got married.

The story of a man who lived according to the laws of society, always in fear of condemnation. Belikov – main character a story whose company was avoided by everyone in the area. The arrival of a new teacher, Mikhail, in the city changes Belikov’s life. He condemns Mikhail's sister Varenka for riding a bicycle, for which he receives rebuff from her brother. During the scuffle, the main character falls down the stairs. This causes laughter among eyewitnesses. Fear of condemnation and ridicule leads to Belikov dying.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's story “The Man in a Case” reflects spiritual state society at the end of the 19th century. A society in which there is no spiritual freedom, free thinking, a general fear of strict restrictions established by rules and regulations, where denunciations and distrust of each other are encouraged. The life of people closed in a “case” is internal slavery, suppressing the manifestation of natural human feelings, openness and goodwill, human dignity, the ability to express one’s thoughts without fear.

Read a summary of Chekhov's story The Man in a Case

The main character of the story, Belikov, is a teacher of ancient Greek at the gymnasium. His image is collective, typical of society. In the character and appearance of the main character, all the features of the appearance and character of a person “in a case” are most clearly expressed. Belikov's life passes in constant fear of violating any foundations, norms, or regulations. Everything in his life is arranged so that it does not deteriorate.

Everything was protected by a “case”: the feet were in galoshes so as not to get wet; the body is in a warm coat so as not to catch a cold; knife - in a case so as not to cut yourself; The umbrella is in a case so that it does not break. All actions and deeds of others that do not fit into strict rules cause Belikov’s condemnation. The entire gymnasium, and the residents of the entire city, were afraid to cause Belikov’s condemnation by their actions. They try not to invite this seemingly decent, but terribly boring and annoying person anywhere and, if possible, avoid him. In his society, everyone is imbued with the fear of doing something wrong, so as not to become guilty and condemned.

One day a new teacher came to work at the gymnasium, whose name was Mikhail Kovalenko. He arrived with his sister, whose name was Varenka. She charmed everyone in the gymnasium with her appearance and character, including Belikov. Belikov began to often come to visit Kovalenko and go for walks with Varenka. He was even planning to get married. But one day someone depicted Belikov and Varenka in a picture and sent the caricature to all the teachers. And soon Belikov was outraged by another incident. One day he saw Mikhail and Varya riding bicycles. For this, he condemned the girl’s behavior.

Belikov expressed his complaints about the inadmissibility of a woman riding a bicycle to Mikhail, and he lowered the main character down the stairs. Varenka and her friends saw this scene. Everyone laughed out loud. The terrible thought that the whole city would be aware of this situation brought the main character into such horror that when he came home, he went to bed. A month later he died suddenly.

Belikov considered the meaning of his whole life to be detached from everyone with the help of covers and cases. And he finally cut himself off. He found himself in a coffin - an eternal and ideal case. He will definitely never get out of this again. It is raining on this day. Those present put on galoshes and hid under umbrellas. Almost like Belikov during his life. And this symbolically shows that with Belikov’s death there were no profound changes in society.

Over time, an atmosphere of mistrust, suspicion, and denunciation still reigned in the gymnasium and in the city. Because " case image thoughts" is a typical phenomenon for that era in Russian state, in which there were very real and terrible mechanisms of spiritual suppression of the individual.

Untimely thoughts are bitter. "Untimely Thoughts" A.M.

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