MALINGERERS

Malingerers

Another Chekhov story about wealthy do-gooders and crafty peasants. (See The New Villa)

The question is who is really the malingerer?

Marfa Petrovna, the General's widow, dispenses some herbal pills to the peasants and she feels fulfilled. Especially when the peasants return and tell her how wonderful her cures are.The peasants give her life meaning and purpose. For such work naturally the peasants deserve some reward. The fact she gives them wood or a cow seems a small compensation for their affirmation of her calling.

After all, if let's say you were a chef and people lined up to taste your food and they told you how your cooking has entirely changed their life -- well, you'd be extremely satisfied. That's all you'd really want is for people to tell you much they love your food and that what you do matters -- and if those people got something back from you it would never equal what they've given you.

At the end of the story -- Marfa Petrovna finds she is being fooled by the peasants -- however, what is the value of that awareness? Her calling will be destroyed -- her faith in humanity shattered -- will this make her happier -- or just cynical?

In the end, will she keep the truth or swallow the medicine and go back to believing in the peasants and her cures?

Sometimes lies are more effective than the truth.

Placebo, anyone?