A MALEFACTOR

A Malefactor

The conversation revolves around a nut but it reveals a lot about the cultural differences between those with power and those who feel powerless. Between those who uphold the law and those who see the law as an impediment.

The magistrate sees the consequences of the unscrewing of the nut and is worried about trains being derailed and people being killed -- and the peasant sees the nut as vital to his livelihood and rationalizes his actions.

As the famous line from Cool Hand Luke goes:  "What we've got here is (a) failure to communicate"

The magistrate asks questions to Denis Grigoryev -- a down and out peasant. And we see in the disconnect between the magistrate and the peasant -- the different ways they approach life.

The magistrate demands logic and reason -- but what's logical to the magistrate is illogical to the peasant. So what the magistrate is demanding from the peasant is impossible. He wants him to conform to rules which in Denis Grigoryev's eyes make no sense.

He needs the nuts to fish and eat -- so how can he stop taking them?

What's great about this story is it's so simple -- but it reveals so much. The same arguments made in this story by the magistrate and the peasant are still being made every day -- by those who feel disenfranchised -- with nothing to gain by following the established norm -- so they do what they feel they have to do -- and when caught they are sent to jail -- but that won't change their behavior.

As long as someone needs a nut or anything else to survive -- they will find a way to take it -- and those with a vested interest in keeping things as they are will do whatever they can to stop them.

What is needed then in this story and in our current world -- is some sort of reform -- where people can survive without feeling they have to unscrew nuts which are needed to keep the trains running. But reform is always talked about and very rarely occurs. The well-heeled are not going to give up their privileges willingly and not only that -- they will actually encourage the so-called criminality of the peasants by buying fishing nets laden with nuts from them.

Class differences will always exist -- and one class will always have their priorities -- and those priorities are bound to clash -- and the conversation about these priorities will likely continue along the lines we find in A Malefactor.

What amazes me about Chekhov is that his stories written about particular incidents occurring in Russia in the 19th century are so universal and timeless.

Duh -- that's why he's a classic.