FROST

Frost

What I liked best about this story is that all the talk leads somewhere. The mayor, governor, and the bishop reminisce about their past. And their memories inform them into action. By placing themselves in the past they come to appreciate the misfortune of those suffering in the cold in the present and they do something about it.

Most talk remains just talk.

The talk here is about the weather and what Russian writer would not write about the weather? The Russian winter has obviously played a big role in her history. Just ask Napoleon or Hitler.

In this story we are transported back to an ordinary town and hear how many in Russia believed enduring the harshness of the winter made the Russian a more hardy soul.

The frost has not affected the mayor's tongue in any way. Chekhov introduces this character very nimbly. From his sense of humor to his managerial skills and his incapacity to keep silent.

This town although suffering from the winter frost seems like it has a big heart. The officials seem genuinely involved in the community and its affairs.

As I write this blog, winter approaches and while not entirely welcomed, this story makes one respect those who brave the cold and make the most with what they got.

IN TROUBLE

In Trouble 

Fate.

One day you're eating caviar and the next you're out in the street begging or worse.

That's life or so this story tells you.

Makes me think of the whole Bernard Madoff scandal. One day the king of Wall Street and the next a convict. Avdeyev claims he signed the audit without checking. Instead of using a high powered auditing firm, Madoff's accounting firm was run by David G. Friehling, "who operated from a tiny storefront office in the New York City suburb of New City in Rockland County." 

Of course, our actions help determine our fate. But only to an extent.

We can deny it all we want but fate is like a ticking time bomb --  therefore we have to live in the moment. 

Chekhov the Zen Master.

A STORY WITHOUT A TITLE

A Story Without A Title

Evil. Damn evil!

Vice. Drinking, gambling.

Sexy women.

The monks hide from sin.

Hide from lust.

Hide from passion.

Unfortunately they also hide from life.

Our animal nature wants -- needs -- to gratify itself.

We can overcome it. Through prayer. Through meditation. Through avoidance.

But temptation is always there.

A neon sign that never goes away.

And we are all susceptible to the charms of the flesh -- vice in all its forms has its allure -- so we must be cautious.

But not too cautious.

Otherwise we might forget to live.

However, miles away from town -- the monks created their own life -- they might've known happiness --- but like the story of Adam and Eve when they tasted the sinful world through the words of the Father Superior they couldn't resist it. Chekhov is being cheeky here. I would give the monks more credit. Their life in the monastery is a choice. They had escaped to the isolated monastery for a reason-- and a life regimented by prayer and asceticism can be rewarding and healthy.

What will happen to those monks in town? How long will they be able to maintain their happiness? They will drown in wine and women and gambling and before you know it -- they'll be crossing the desert back to the monastery.

To be fair -- the monks are not children -- they may be tempted like all people -- but they would have their faith -- their devotion -- their discipline to guide them through.

If you have the will you can overcome your animal nature and ascend to a more enlightened being.

Okay, I gave it my best shot defending the monks -- all I know is the picture of the long haired full lipped comely woman keeps dancing in my mind.

I'm heading to town!

THE BEGGAR

The Beggar

The beggar begs. He lies. Skvortsov the lawyer confronts the beggar on his lies. Tells him he should go find a job. The beggar tells him there is no job for him to do. Finally Skvortsov offers the beggar the opportunity to chop some wood for him. Luckily for the beggar he is taken to Olga the cook who despises him.

The cook holds nothing back She tells him what a pathetic lazy drunkard he is and how he'll be going to hell and most importantly after finishing haranguing him the cook takes some pity and chops the wood for him.

And that is what saves Lushkov the beggar. Talk is cheap. The fact that the cook chops the wood for him shows Lushkov what real compassion is all about. Maybe Olga chops the wood because she feels guilty after lambasting the beggar - whatever the reason -- the fact that she takes some action gives her words credibility.

The lawyer wants to pat himself on the back for saving the beggar but without the real actions of the cook the beggar would still be begging.

And without running into Lyshkov in the theater the lawyer would never have learned the truth  He would be thinking  he deserves credit for helping -- when in fact it was the cook who had no interest in flattering herself on her charity that provides the crucial hand.

How many Olgas are out doing vital work who never get any credit and how many Skvortsovs are out there thinking they are saving the world?

DARKNESS

Darkness

The peasant is desperate.

He needs help.

Family is starving and the brother who has the means to make a living is in jail.

So he begs a doctor at the convict prison to let the brother out.

Doctor ignores him.

He tries to go to a head honcho peasant official and that does no good.

So he returns to the doctor.

This time he brings his father.

The doctor still ignores him.

Justice.

Hard to get when you're poor.

Then and now.