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!