The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov - Essay Example

? 24 May The Lady with the Dog: The still vibrant popularity of the short story “TheLady with the Dog” across the globe clearly signifies the extent of Anton Chekhov’s posthumous reputation. The Lady with the Dog is such a short story that has no climax, no complication, and no conclusion as well. Even the story ends at the word “beginning”, which makes it different from the other short stories. The purpose of this paper is to present a discussion related to the four sections into which the story is divided, while mentioning where each of these sections starts and ends, scrutinizing the mood and theme particular of each section, and the overall effect of such division of sections in the story on the readers. The first section of the story describes the initial meeting in Yalta between the lead characters Dmitrii Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna, who have both come to Yalta for vacationing. The protagonist Gurov is a married man and is a professional banker in Moscow. He appeares apparently dissatisfied with his marital life. Gurov’s dissatisfaction underlining his marital life leads to multiple affairs with many women. The first section of the story identifies the reputation Gurov has earned for a veteran adulterer. Gurov appears to be a cynical, bored, and a flirtatious sort of a person who even considers women to belong from a low breed. Being a middle-aged man and a father of three children does not stop Gurov from ensuing various affairs with women, although he has to end most of the affairs on a tragic note. Even his own disgust and inevitable boredom over each ended relationship does not stop him from ensuing an unlawful relationship with a woman Anna, whom he sees strolling on the seaside resort with her little dog. Actually, Gurov vacations by himself in Yalta and he intends to continue his infidelity whenever such an opportunity presents itself in an order to satisfy his sexual urge and mental tensions, which he finds hard to satisfy and relieve with the help of his official wife. The mood of the story in the first sections depicts casual romance and an advance on adultery particularly by the male character. It also highlights the various factors that lead to the development of an adulterous relationship between the two characters who both appear to be hugely dissatisfied from their marital lives. The second section revolves around the consummation of the affair between Gurov and Anna, while also throwing light on Gurov’s remaining time in Yalta. While the relationship begins with Gurov being attracted to the glamour of inexperience over Anna’s eyes and the diffidence of her character, the sexual intimacy ends between the two characters owing to Anna’s moral values and conscientious nature. The mood of this section describes the looming prospect of separation between the two characters and their own grief and sorrow over separation. Fear and doubt form the key elements for describing the mood of this section. Anna appears to be highly self-conscious and fearful after sleeping with Gurov, thinking that he might have lost respect for her after committing adultery. Anna finds her affair with Gurov to be cataclysmic for her and she realizes this because she appears to be a morally alive and extremely sensitive person, who cannot bear the shame of infidelity but commits it because she detests her husband. Despondency and inevitable gloom overcome Anna, who wishes to escape the intimiacy with Gurov. Wish to separate from Gurov overcomes the fear to alienate from him, and this clearly signifies a dramatic shift of mood. This shift of mood is proved by Anna’s own statement in the story, “It's a good thing I am going away … It's fate itself!” (The Lady with the Dog). The third section is based on describing Gurov’s return to Moscow and his visit to Anna’s hometown after overcoming with his undying love for her. The mood of this section also signifies gloom, distress, dissatisfaction, and the change in Gurov’s character as it grows from being trifling and pleasure-seeking to tragic and increasingly morose. Gurov returns to Moscow with an intention of resuming his daily activities with a fresh mind and clear heart but he does not know that his memories of Anna will no fade away that easily. Though he tries to immerse himself in work and spends his free hours playing card games at the local clubs, his heart and mind strain for Anna’s company and his ears long to hear her voice. Anna is nowhere to be seen and this makes Gurov excessively tragic. He knows that her long absence signifies that she herself wants to stay away from him in an order to escape self-disgust and shame. Gurov, on the other hand, appears not be so ashamed of his despicable character rather he longs for Anna only, because she makes him feel normal. According to Chekhov, “Anna Sergeyevna did not visit him in his dreams, but followed him about everywhere like a shadow” (Eshbaugh). Finally, Gurov decides to visit Anna and goes to her hometown where he meets her in a theatre and expresses his undying love for her, which makes Anna realize that both she and him are doomed by their emotions for each other and she decides to pay Gurov a visit soon in Moscow. The fourth and final section of the story is based on Anna’s visit to Moscow. Though Anna appears to be frightened by her husband on what his reaction would be if he discovers his wife’s relation with a stranger, she secretly appears to be thrilled by the highly romantic and contended life she shares with her lover. The thrill she feels in spite of herself by being close to her lover induces her to fulfill her promise and go to Moscow. But, Anna feels highly discontented because of the secrecy she has to maintain for visiting her lover and expressing love for him. She wants to be free from the feelings of shame, disgust and the increasing strain she has to cope with by telling lies to her husband. Gurov also realizes that he has fallen in love for the first time in his entire life and both he and Anna wonder how they continue their lives while being with each other forever. Though each of them wants to live with each other, they realize that they will have to wait very long before they can free themselves from the intolerable bonds and express love for each other openly and fearlessly. The mood of this section signifies the distress of Anna and Gurov over their potentially tragic lives and the looming prospect of their futures. “They are aware though that “the most complicated and difficult” part in their plan is just beginning.” (Cuizon). As the story is broken into four parts, it manages in capturing the full attention of the readers and takes them from understanding the change brought in Gurov’s heart after meeting Anna to the tragic shift of events that occur for both Anna and Gurov later. The division into four sections helps the readers in adapting themselves to the emotional complexity and turn of events as they are explained in the story in a way that is not hard to comprehend for a common reader. The overall effect of the four sections is such that one cannot help but realize the thrilling nature of love shared by Anna and Gurov, and feel sorrow for both of them as their love is doomed from the very start. Works cited: Cuizon, Gwendolyn. “The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov.” 01 Apr. 2007. Web. 24 May. 2011. < http://bookstove.com/classics/the-lady-with-the-dog-by-anton-chekhov/> Eshbaugh, Ruth. “Literary Analysis of The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov.” 21 Jun. 2007. Web. 24 May. 2011. “The Lady with the Dog.” 2011. Web. 24 May. 2011. < http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/chekhov/section1.html> Read More