The Goal: Read. Reflect. Respond. Over two hundred Chekhov stories. Constance Garnett translations.
Monday, August 15, 2011
THE REQUIEM
A father, Andrey Andreyitch, calls his deceased daughter a harlot.
The priest is upset.
The father, a former lackey now a merchant, doesn't understand why the priest is upset.
Why does the father think his daughter was a harlot?
Because the daughter was an actress. Gasp!
I'd like to see Andrey Andreyitch in the same room with Meryl Streep. I don't think he'd ever make it out of there.
Times certainly have changed. The president of France is married to an actress. Although, I wonder what Queen Elizabeth would say if one of her family -- maybe her new granddaughter-in-law -- decided to take up a thespian career.
And in terms of conservative religious folks -- do they view an actress as a suitable profession? Not.
So while we do want to think that times have changed greatly since this tale was written -- it has and it hasn't.
What is curious is why the daughter died. Was it related to her lifestyle? Was she Lindsay Lohan in her behavior? Chekhov doesn't tell us -- other than the last sentence which mentions "the woes and tribulations of which that poor soul was full."
We can understand why she might be troubled -- especially if her own father considered her a harlot.
Also, let's not forget her father neglected her when she was growing up and left her to the fortunes of the master's family. No matter how many dance lessons she received it wouldn't replace a father's attention.
Ironically, look at the problematic lives the children of famous actors face in our times due to neglect. The father might have an Oscar and the children a pool and maids -- but at what price? (Check out the recent film: Somewhere.)
Many artists have unhappy childhoods and find art as a viable outlet.
Let us hope that at least while she was on the stage the daughter of the merchant Andrey Andreyitch, Mariya, found solace and even bliss.
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Part of the story does seems to be about the views Russians had of thespians at that time. This of course is not so relevant to our age, though it is consonant with the occasional conservative catchprase "why don't you get a REAL job?"
ReplyDeleteBut what I found more acute was the divide between a hard working father and his priveleged daughter. That the pious and industrious man cannot understand the simple beauties of life is shown when the daughter comes to tears upon observing the natural landscape of her hometown and the father cannot make sense of this simple aesthetic pleasure. This seems to me to hightlite a yet current concern with conservatism. The idea that if you obey tradition and work hard, you will lead a life worthwhile. Which is not necessarily the case, as shown by the daughter who seems to have gotten more out of life than the father.
Thanks for your insightful comment. The life of an artist is still not fully respected and maybe never will -- which is also why their unique vision will always be in high demand.
ReplyDeleteI have recently gone trough the story . The anger of the Priest is understandable. Why on earth should a father use the dastardly and abominable word for his deceased daughter especially when he has come to the Chrch asking for a Requiem . This is quite baffling
ReplyDeleteInteresting article about acting and its perils.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/silence-script-article-1.3561359
Suppose your pretty daughter was "adopted" by the rich family you work for. They even take her away from you and provide for her in the city. Why? Out of the goodness of their hearts? I suspect that she's being groomed for sex when she comes of age. As an innocent child, she doesn't know any of this. But, eventually she's made to understand that if she doesn't "pay" them back, out she goes. Wanting the fine life she's been brought up in, she accepts. Hence, the harlot. It explains why she bursts into tears at the end.
ReplyDeleteAndrei believes the words actress and harlot are synonymous in accordance with the social taboos of the time. But, the Chekhovian twist is her father has hit upon the exact truth even if he doesn't know just how right he is.
How she eventually became a theatre actress is not given to us, but to continue her life of luxury she most likely slept with wealthy benefactors and sugar daddies. I don't think actresses were paid a whole lot.
If my interpretation is correct, then the last sentence of the story becomes quite poignant as does the story.
Correction - Andrei knows exactly what she is even though he doesn't know the full details.
ReplyDeleteWhat's apparent is his deep love for her despite her being a harlot and her deep shame of being one.
An added note - all the villagers know it, too. It's why they all file out of the church and don't attend the funeral service. They don't want to be associated with a prostitute.
ReplyDeleteEven Father Grigory knows it. But, the father is the only one who calls a spade a spade and doesn't use the euphemism "actress." He still loves his child, which is quite moving.