The Two Volodyas
What I am finding interesting as I continue to read Chekhov's short stories are his female characters. He really seems to possess great compassion for them; it's as if he is their sole advocate. Many of the stories so far have highlighted how unfairly Russian society during that time treated women. How so many highly capable women had to conform or could never live up to their potential. Men had the upper hand and no matter how talented and beautiful of a woman you were -- you had to reduce yourself to being with a man (many not worthy) for money or simply to avoid being seen as an old maid.
The Two Volodyas presents us with Sofya Lvovna, a vivacious young woman of twenty-three recently married to Colonel Yagitch, 54, two years older than her father. She married him for money. We are introduced to her as she is coming home from a dinner party in a sledge, inebriated, trying to convince herself that she actually loves her husband. In fact, she is madly in love with Volodya, 30, who is writing a thesis on foreign literature. She grew up with Volodya, loved him from afar but never expressed her love to him directly. He is quite handsome and has many ladies throwing themselves his way. Just like Colonel Yagitch had during his heyday.
Sofya Lvovna is not happy. Her misery stems from the realization that she will go through life with a man she doesn't love. As she meditates on her position, the sledge passes by a church where Olga, a nun, and a friend of Sofya Lvovna, lives. It seems in those days, many young women entered the nunnery to escape the grim realities of their existence. Olga's brother was sent to penal servitude and her mother has recently died. Once, a lively soul who loved to attend balls and have fun, Olga, according to Sofya Lvovna, has become a cold, lifeless being.
Sofya Lvovna wants to rebel against the established order. She wants to shout to the world her longings, her passions. But when she is realistic about her prospects -- she almost envies Olga -- at least she has come to terms with her life and she has God with her. What, Sofya Lvovna thinks, will she have as she gets old.
Eventually, Sofya Lvovna throws herself at Volodya and he uses her for a week and then dumps her. And she is left alone with her yearnings and ambitions unrealized. She often goes to complain to Olga and one wonders whether Sofya Lvovna will some day too resort to hitch her lot with the nuns.
I like your analysis. Finally, though, I think Chekhov leads the reader to decide which of the two, Sofya or Olga as the most unfulfilling life. Both seem to be able to delude themselves and one can imagine that Sofya will soon find some other handsome man to fall in love with, whereas Olga has only religion.
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DeleteThanks for your comment. As Karl Marx said: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." In her situation, Olga needs all of the above. While Sofya might fall in love with another handsome man -- she too as she ages will have to come to terms with a system where the cards are stacked against women. Some day when her pain is great enough -- she may very well look to the comfort religion offers her.