THE DARLING

The Darling

Love consumes Olenka. 

She gives all of herself  in her relationships -- in her first marriage to a manager of a theater -- she  bends her will completely to her husband --- she thinks about the same things as her husband and does everything to please him -- when he dies -- she marries again -- this time her new husband is in the timber business and timber becomes her life. 

Here is a woman who is completely selfless or completely afraid -- she either gives all of herself because of her nature or she can't bear to be alone.  We admire her devotion and yet we also know we should be pitying her. 

Tolstoy in his criticism of The Darling states that Chekhov was trying to use Olenka to make a point about how women need to empower themselves yet Chekhov was such a great artist that instead of creating a character we should be looking down on -- he created a character who is inspiring because of her ability to love so completely.

As a modern reader you are left with the feeling that Olenka has got to get a life -- that she is way too submissive and that she needs to do some yoga -- read some self-help books -- go on an Oprah show binge to enhance her self-image -- yet despite all that -- Tolstoy is right -- you can't help but feel for Olenka. For her loneliness -- for her great beautiful all-powerful woman heart.