The Kiss
Ryabovitch, an insecure and far from extraordinary officer, mistakenly experiences a kiss by a mysterious woman one night while visiting a general's home.
His life is completely altered. He has come into contact with something that shakes him up. The imagined perfection of what life should be like -- could be like -- if he had the luck -- the looks -- the character to attract the lady of his dreams.
But it is only a dream. A dream that will forever torment him with the sweet possibilities of a life he finally realizes will never be his.
The Goal: Read. Reflect. Respond. Over two hundred Chekhov stories. Constance Garnett translations.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
A PROBLEM
A Problem
Rebel Without a Cause. 1891 style.
Breaking the rules. Not caring about the rules, the law -- whatever -- only about partying -- women -- booze -- you name it.
And the adults. They don't understand.
This story could have been written about today's youth.
Yesterday's youth.
1891 youth.
20,000 B.C. youth.
Does it matter?
Every generation complains about its youth.
And the young will always want to do what they want to do.
Rebel Without a Cause. 1891 style.
Breaking the rules. Not caring about the rules, the law -- whatever -- only about partying -- women -- booze -- you name it.
And the adults. They don't understand.
This story could have been written about today's youth.
Yesterday's youth.
1891 youth.
20,000 B.C. youth.
Does it matter?
Every generation complains about its youth.
And the young will always want to do what they want to do.
A WOMAN'S KINGDOM
A Woman's Kingdom
"And while she was warm in bed and struggling with sleep -- which seems, as though to spite one, particularly sweet when one ought to get up -- "
Just loved this aside by Chekhov because it's so real!
A Woman's Kingdom presents the world of Anna Akimovna. She is the rich factory owner whom everyone depends on for work and charity. However, although she has everyone kissing up to her -- she is lonely and unhappy. She longs to marry.
The story is interesting because it captures the world of Anna Akimovna as only Chekhov can. We are made to feel part of that world -- while we are also allowed our judgments.
Yesterday, I was reading an excerpt of Gay Talese's famous Esquire article of the 1960's "Frank Sinatra Has A Cold" -- and I can see many similarities between Sinatra's reality and Anna Akimovna's. Especially the sense that while they have plenty of people around them -- hangers on -- necessary and entertaining -- somehow in their soul they are yearning for a deep connection to another human being -- they want to experience true love -- but their exalted position makes that almost impossible to achieve.
"And while she was warm in bed and struggling with sleep -- which seems, as though to spite one, particularly sweet when one ought to get up -- "
Just loved this aside by Chekhov because it's so real!
A Woman's Kingdom presents the world of Anna Akimovna. She is the rich factory owner whom everyone depends on for work and charity. However, although she has everyone kissing up to her -- she is lonely and unhappy. She longs to marry.
The story is interesting because it captures the world of Anna Akimovna as only Chekhov can. We are made to feel part of that world -- while we are also allowed our judgments.
Yesterday, I was reading an excerpt of Gay Talese's famous Esquire article of the 1960's "Frank Sinatra Has A Cold" -- and I can see many similarities between Sinatra's reality and Anna Akimovna's. Especially the sense that while they have plenty of people around them -- hangers on -- necessary and entertaining -- somehow in their soul they are yearning for a deep connection to another human being -- they want to experience true love -- but their exalted position makes that almost impossible to achieve.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
TERROR
Terror
Living a life where your wife who you love with all your heart and soul doesn't love you. And you know no matter what you do -- she never will. It eats you up inside until you are simply a ghost -- passing through -- and you go through the motions without being connected -- without meaning.
Some are born to taste the bitter medicine of existence even if they are decent and deserve better -- and others get to bite the sweet fruit of life even if they don't merit it.
That is the terror of fate.
Living a life where your wife who you love with all your heart and soul doesn't love you. And you know no matter what you do -- she never will. It eats you up inside until you are simply a ghost -- passing through -- and you go through the motions without being connected -- without meaning.
Some are born to taste the bitter medicine of existence even if they are decent and deserve better -- and others get to bite the sweet fruit of life even if they don't merit it.
That is the terror of fate.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
THE PARTY
The Party
A touching family drama.
A rich couple consumed with appearances -- at the same time hating the falsity -- seeking truth -- simplicity -- authenticity. They love each other madly -- but the call and duty of society gets in the way until tragedy strikes.
All the nonsense disppears and they finally see the truth.
Liked the story. The party as seen from the point of view of Olga Mihalovna -- is a chore -- Chekhov puts us in the party and lets us enoy it -- up to a point -- Olga keeps reminding us of how much trouble it is -- and we can sympathize with her plight -- we've all been there hosting a party trying to make everyone happy except ourselves.
Living in any society demands from us a certain amount of conformity -- we rarely get to live the life we want -- we all have obligations we'd rather do without -- and we get caught up in the rituals and appearances and as a result we sometimes feel empty -- unhappy -- unsatisfied -- and I think what Chekhov is illustrating here is that hopefully it doesn't take a terrible event of some kind to wake us up and remind us of what really matters in this world.
A touching family drama.
A rich couple consumed with appearances -- at the same time hating the falsity -- seeking truth -- simplicity -- authenticity. They love each other madly -- but the call and duty of society gets in the way until tragedy strikes.
All the nonsense disppears and they finally see the truth.
Liked the story. The party as seen from the point of view of Olga Mihalovna -- is a chore -- Chekhov puts us in the party and lets us enoy it -- up to a point -- Olga keeps reminding us of how much trouble it is -- and we can sympathize with her plight -- we've all been there hosting a party trying to make everyone happy except ourselves.
Living in any society demands from us a certain amount of conformity -- we rarely get to live the life we want -- we all have obligations we'd rather do without -- and we get caught up in the rituals and appearances and as a result we sometimes feel empty -- unhappy -- unsatisfied -- and I think what Chekhov is illustrating here is that hopefully it doesn't take a terrible event of some kind to wake us up and remind us of what really matters in this world.
Monday, March 21, 2011
THE HUSBAND
The Husband
In a provincial town, a woman attends a dance teeming with officers and recaptures her youth, her dreams, and her former beauty.
Her husband, a miserable tax-collector cannot stand idly by while his wife is transforming herself. He tells her to come home or else. She reluctantly leaves the dance and with it her dreams and beauty; instead she is filled with disgust for her husband and her life.
This satisfies her husband but only to a degree. He wishes he could go back to the dance and make all those others who dare to enjoy life feel the emptiness of his existence.
Misery loves company but hates intruders.
In a provincial town, a woman attends a dance teeming with officers and recaptures her youth, her dreams, and her former beauty.
Her husband, a miserable tax-collector cannot stand idly by while his wife is transforming herself. He tells her to come home or else. She reluctantly leaves the dance and with it her dreams and beauty; instead she is filled with disgust for her husband and her life.
This satisfies her husband but only to a degree. He wishes he could go back to the dance and make all those others who dare to enjoy life feel the emptiness of his existence.
Misery loves company but hates intruders.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
AN ANONYMOUS STORY
An Anonymous Story
This is a real long story. I will just give some of my impressions.
Although full of ideas and life -- the story doesn't quite gel. Something is missing which elevates it to a great story. Is it that the narrator is distant -- dying -- hopeless -- wanting to live but seems to have lived his life in the past? I'm not sure. It's hard to put a finger on it -- but something is foggy -- not quite clear -- it affects you and you want to dive into it -- but it doesn't quite let you. Would love to get feedback from others -- did you feel something was missing in the story too?
Liked the part of the story where the narrator is a footman and we get a glimpse of what life was like for a servant in Russia in the late 19th century and which I'm sure hasn't changed much for a servant serving the rich anywhere in the world.
Liked the character of Zinaida Fyodorovna -- to an extent. You want to imagine -- she is beautiful and noble and a free spirit -- but the reality is probably very different. You sympathize with her plight -- but again -- one feels that she is elusive -- we never really know her -- maybe that's the point -- we see her as the footman sees her -- catching shadows of her but never fully her soul.
The characters of the officials are very well portrayed -- one also thinks that they share much in common with officials in many countries all over the world -- they get their privileges for a price -- a big price.
All in all, I would recommend reading this story -- just for the letter -- the letter that calls on all of us to rise up and live before it's too late.
This is a real long story. I will just give some of my impressions.
Although full of ideas and life -- the story doesn't quite gel. Something is missing which elevates it to a great story. Is it that the narrator is distant -- dying -- hopeless -- wanting to live but seems to have lived his life in the past? I'm not sure. It's hard to put a finger on it -- but something is foggy -- not quite clear -- it affects you and you want to dive into it -- but it doesn't quite let you. Would love to get feedback from others -- did you feel something was missing in the story too?
Liked the part of the story where the narrator is a footman and we get a glimpse of what life was like for a servant in Russia in the late 19th century and which I'm sure hasn't changed much for a servant serving the rich anywhere in the world.
Liked the character of Zinaida Fyodorovna -- to an extent. You want to imagine -- she is beautiful and noble and a free spirit -- but the reality is probably very different. You sympathize with her plight -- but again -- one feels that she is elusive -- we never really know her -- maybe that's the point -- we see her as the footman sees her -- catching shadows of her but never fully her soul.
The characters of the officials are very well portrayed -- one also thinks that they share much in common with officials in many countries all over the world -- they get their privileges for a price -- a big price.
All in all, I would recommend reading this story -- just for the letter -- the letter that calls on all of us to rise up and live before it's too late.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)