Characteristics of the hero
When you read the late stories of A.P. Chekhov, you involuntarily pay attention to the fact that they are permeated with some kind of sadness; they contain a dream of unattainable harmony, sharply contrasting with a wretched and awkward life. This motif sounds with particular force in the wonderful story “Ionych”.
The plot of this little masterpiece is a sad story of a young zemstvo doctor who turned into a disgusting, evil and self-interested creature. How and why does such a metamorphosis happen to the hero? The writer helps to find the answer to this question, as if placing milestones on Startsev’s life path: “more than a year has passed,” “four years have passed,” “several more years have passed.” Each period of time is perceived as a kind of milestone, showing the changes that occur in the hero’s inner world. The environment into which this young doctor finds himself is of great importance in the spiritual degradation of Dmitry Startsev.
The beginning of Chekhov's story introduces the reader to the boring and monotonous setting of the provincial town of S., which, however, was brightened up by its attraction - the Turkin family, which all city inhabitants unanimously considered the most educated and cultured. Indeed, each member of this family has some kind of talent. Ivan Petrovich Turkin tirelessly entertains guests with his jokes and charades. His wife Vera Iosifovna writes novels, which she reads to guests, finding grateful listeners in them. The Turkins' daughter Katerina Ivanovna, according to others, is a talented pianist, so she firmly decides to study at the conservatory in order to achieve fame and glory. The list of talents of this gifted family is certainly impressive, but let us remember how Chekhov describes the Turkin family, showing it in the perception of a new person - Dmitry Ionych Startsev. The phrase that Ivan Petrovich developed his extraordinary language through long exercises in wit is somewhat alarming. In my opinion, wit is an innate quality of a person - it cannot be developed. This natural conclusion is immediately confirmed by typical examples of Turkin wit (“I’m sorry, thank you,” “hello, please,” etc.), which, moreover, are repeated a year later, and several years later, just like a phrase from Shakespeare’s “Othello.” , which is pronounced first by a servant boy, and then by a mature, stalwart young man. Everything convinces us that the Turkins, alas, are mediocre. This is evidenced by Vera Iosifovna’s soporific novel and by Kotik’s playing, which struck the keys with such force as if it wanted to drive them deep into the piano. In any case, this is exactly the impression her performance made on Dr. Startsev. But he, along with everyone else, admires Kotik’s talent, speaks approvingly of the mistress of the house’s romance, and laughs at Ivan Petrovich’s jokes. Internal state The “fresh” person clearly contrasts with the unnatural, posturing “intelligence” of this very cultured family. If the most talented people in the city are so untalented, then what about the rest! Thus, by depicting the Turkin family in close-up, the author thereby characterizes the low educational and cultural level of the urban intelligentsia. It becomes clear into what kind of environment the young, active doctor found himself, who at first differs favorably from the townsfolk with his honesty, hard work, dedication, and desire to do useful, noble work.
Everyday people for a long time They irritated him with their conversations, their views on life, and even their appearance. He soon came to the conclusion that with such people one could only play cards, have a snack and talk about the most ordinary everyday things, without touching the spheres of politics or science. The emerging conflict between an intelligent, educated, hardworking person and a wretched philistine environment, however, does not find further development in the story. Perhaps this comes from the fact that Startsev, for the first time in his life, passionately and passionately falls in love with Katerina Ivanovna Turkina. This feeling pushes all other problems into the background, forcing young man idealize this pretty, intelligent girl, fulfill all her whims and caprices. Although common sense tells Startsev that Kotik will not be a good assistant or friend for him, it is she who the hero wants to see as his wife. He has little doubt that his proposal will be accepted, wondering how his life will turn out after marriage. And here, in his dreams and thoughts, somewhat alarming thoughts clearly appear that they will probably give a lot of dowry, that he will have to move from Dyalizh to the city and engage in private practice.
This means that Doctor Startsev, who is passionate about working in the zemstvo hospital, receiving patients there on Sundays and holidays, in the event of marriage, is ready, without any doubts or regrets, to part with his life’s work. This dangerous symptom suggests that the popular ideas, under the influence of which the young intellectual goes to serve the people, never became his convictions. Therefore, it cannot be said that Startsev changed his views: he simply did not have them. It is noteworthy that the hero very easily makes compromises and deals with his conscience. He is incapable of even experiencing real suffering. After all, after Kotik’s refusal, Startsev was worried and tormented for exactly three days, and then his life returned to its previous rut. Even memories of a beloved girl are limited to the lazy phrase: “How much trouble, however.”
Thus, Chekhov already here debunks his hero, revealing the amazing indifference and callousness of his soul, in which there is a clear tendency towards complete death. Therefore, in my opinion, there is nothing surprising or unexpected in the subsequent transformation of the hero. Having said goodbye to his only love and dream of noble service to people, Startsev narrows his circle of interests. The only real pleasure he gets is from playing vint and counting his daily wages. During a meeting with Kotik four years later, under the influence of her tenderness, care, and love, a light began to glimmer in Dmitry Ionych’s soul; he felt the need to talk about himself. Sincere bitterness can be heard in his words addressed to Katerina Ivanovna: “How are we doing here? No way. We are getting old, getting fatter, getting worse. Day and night - a day away, life passes dullly, without impressions, without thoughts... Profit during the day, and in the evening a club, a society of gamblers, alcoholics, wheezing people, whom I can’t stand. What’s good?” This means that Startsev understands perfectly well that he is sinking and degrading, but he has neither the desire nor the strength to fight the vulgar philistine environment. He passively obeys her, and a few years later, at the end of the story, we already see a plump, red, shortness of breath man, who unceremoniously throwing open the doors, inspects the house scheduled for sale, although he already has two houses in the city and an estate in Dyalizh. He is completely alone, nothing interests him. The hero's life journey is completed. His soul was completely deadened, everything had evaporated from it except his progressive possessive interest.
A person, initially opposed to the vulgar philistine environment, becomes its terrible symbol. With this story, the author wanted to say a lot: about the wretched, unspiritual atmosphere that kills high noble impulses in young people, and about those intellectuals who are devoid of will, perseverance, purposefulness, and are incapable of fighting and defending their positions in life. But the main thing, in my opinion, is that Chekhov makes the reader think about what prevents people from living a full, rich life, working creatively, and loving sincerely and deeply. After all, the writer dreamed of just such a life, of a perfect, harmonious person in whom “everything should be beautiful.” Therefore, Chekhov’s wonderful story remains relevant today, helping us to notice the traits of Ionych in ourselves and those around us and fight them.
Characteristic literary hero When you read the late stories of A.P. Chekhov, you involuntarily pay attention to the fact that they are permeated with some kind of sadness; they contain a dream of unattainable harmony, sharply contrasting with a wretched and awkward life. This motive sounds with particular force in the wonderful story “Ionych”.
The plot of this little masterpiece is a sad story of a young zemstvo doctor who turned into a disgusting, evil and self-interested creature. How and why does such a metamorphosis happen to the hero? The writer helps to find the answer to this question, as if placing milestones on Startsev’s life path: “more than a year has passed,” “four years have passed,” “several more years have passed.” Each period of time is perceived as a kind of milestone, showing the changes that occur in the hero’s inner world. The environment into which this young doctor finds himself is of great importance in the spiritual degradation of Dmitry Startsev.
The beginning of Chekhov's story introduces the reader to the boring and monotonous setting of the provincial town of S., which, however, was brightened up by its attraction - the Turkin family, which all city inhabitants unanimously considered the most educated and cultured. Indeed, each member of this family has some kind of talent. Ivan Petrovich Turkin tirelessly entertains guests with his jokes and charades. His wife Vera Iosifovna writes novels, which she reads to guests, finding grateful listeners in them. The Turkins' daughter Katerina Ivanovna, according to others, is a talented pianist, so she firmly decides to study at the conservatory in order to achieve fame and glory. The list of talents of this gifted family is certainly impressive, but let us remember how Chekhov describes the Turkin family, showing it in the perception of a new person - Dmitry Ionych Startsev. The phrase that Ivan Petrovich developed his extraordinary language through long exercises in wit is somewhat alarming. In my opinion, wit is an innate quality of a person - it cannot be developed. This natural conclusion is immediately confirmed by typical examples of Turkin wit (“I’m sorry, thank you,” “hello, please,” etc.), which, moreover, are repeated a year later, and several years later, just like a phrase from Shakespeare’s “Othello.” , which is pronounced first by a servant boy, and then by a mature, stalwart young man. Everything convinces us that the Turkins, alas, are mediocre. This is evidenced by Vera Iosifovna’s soporific novel and by Kotik’s playing, which struck the keys with such force as if it wanted to drive them deep into the piano. In any case, this is exactly the impression her performance made on Dr. Startsev. But he, along with everyone else, admires Kotik’s talent, speaks approvingly of the mistress of the house’s romance, and laughs at Ivan Petrovich’s jokes. The internal state of a “fresh” person clearly contrasts with the unnatural, posturing “intelligence” of this very cultured family. If the most talented people in the city are so untalented, then what about the rest! Thus, by depicting the Turkin family in close-up, the author thereby characterizes the low educational and cultural level of the urban intelligentsia. It becomes clear into what kind of environment the young, active doctor found himself, who at first differs favorably from the townsfolk with his honesty, hard work, dedication, and desire to do useful, noble work.
For a long time, ordinary people irritated him with their conversations, views on life, and even their appearance. He soon came to the conclusion that with such people one could only play cards, have a snack and talk about the most ordinary everyday things, without touching the spheres of politics or science. The emerging conflict between an intelligent, educated, hardworking person and a wretched philistine environment, however, does not find further development in the story. Perhaps this comes from the fact that Startsev, for the first time in his life, passionately and passionately falls in love with Katerina Ivanovna Turkina. This feeling pushes all other problems into the background, forcing the young man to idealize this pretty, intelligent girl, to fulfill all her whims and caprices. Although common sense tells Startsev that Kotik will not be a good assistant or friend for him, it is she who the hero wants to see as his wife. He has little doubt that his proposal will be accepted, wondering how his life will turn out after marriage. And here, in his dreams and thoughts, somewhat alarming thoughts clearly appear that they will probably give a lot of dowry, that he will have to move from Dyalizh to the city and engage in private practice.
This means that Doctor Startsev, who is passionate about working in the zemstvo hospital, receiving patients there on Sundays and holidays, in the event of marriage, is ready, without any doubts or regrets, to part with his life’s work. This dangerous symptom suggests that the popular ideas, under the influence of which the young intellectual goes to serve the people, have not become his convictions. Therefore, it cannot be said that Startsev changed his views: he simply did not have them. It is noteworthy that the hero very easily makes compromises and deals with his conscience. He is incapable of even experiencing real suffering. After all, after Kotik’s refusal, Startsev was worried and tormented for exactly three days, and then his life returned to its previous rut. Even memories of a beloved girl are limited to the lazy phrase: “How much trouble, however.”
Thus, Chekhov already here debunks his hero, revealing the amazing indifference and callousness of his soul, in which there is a clear tendency towards complete death. Therefore, in my opinion, there is nothing surprising or unexpected in the subsequent transformation of the hero. Having said goodbye to his only love and dream of noble service to people, Startsev narrows his circle of interests. The only real pleasure he gets is from playing vint and counting his daily wages. During a meeting with Kotik four years later, under the influence of her tenderness, care, and love, a light began to glimmer in Dmitry Ionych’s soul; he felt the need to talk about himself. Sincere bitterness can be heard in his words addressed to Katerina Ivanovna: “How are we doing here? No way. We get old, we get fatter, we get worse. Day and night - a day away, life passes dullly, without impressions, without thoughts... During the day there is profit, and in the evening there is a club, a society of gamblers, alcoholics, wheezing people, whom I cannot stand. What's good? This means that Startsev understands perfectly well that he is sinking and degrading, but he has neither the desire nor the strength to fight the vulgar philistine environment. He passively obeys her, and a few years later, at the end of the story, we already see a plump, red, shortness of breath man, who unceremoniously throwing open the doors, inspects the house scheduled for sale, although he already has two houses in the city and an estate in Dyalizh. He is completely alone, nothing interests him. The hero's life journey is completed. His soul was completely deadened, everything had evaporated from it except his progressive possessive interest.
A person, initially opposed to the vulgar philistine environment, becomes its terrible symbol. With this story, the author wanted to say a lot: about the wretched, unspiritual atmosphere that kills high noble impulses in young people, and about those intellectuals who are devoid of will, perseverance, purposefulness, and are incapable of fighting and defending their positions in life. But the main thing, in my opinion, is that Chekhov makes the reader think about what prevents people from living a full, rich life, working creatively, and loving sincerely and deeply. After all, the writer dreamed of just such a life, of a perfect, harmonious person in whom “everything should be beautiful.” Therefore, Chekhov’s wonderful story remains relevant today, helping us to notice the traits of Ionych in ourselves and those around us and fight them.
Essay on literature on the topic: Ionych (Ionych Chekhov)
Other writings:
- Kotik Characteristics of the literary hero Turkina Ekaterina Ivanovna (Kotik) is the beloved of the young Startsev. At the time of her acquaintance with Startsev, she was 17 years old. She is thin and pretty, with a childish expression on her face. E.I. plays the piano well, is interested in art and plans to study at Read More......
- The short but very capacious stories of A.P. Chekhov are not always easy to understand if you do not remember the life position of the writer, who was strict, first of all, with himself. Everyone knows his statement: “Everything in a person should be beautiful: his face, his clothes, and Read More......
- In the image of Ionych, Chekhov showed how types like Belikov were created and their evolution. Before us are four stages in the life story of Dr. Startsev A. In revealing the content of these four stages, Chekhov succinctly demonstrates the gradual impoverishment of the hero’s spirit, the weakening of his will, the strength of resistance, the loss of Read More ......
- One of the main themes of Chekhov’s work is the exposure of the “vulgarity of a vulgar person,” especially in the everyday life and mood of the intelligentsia. The theme of “Ionych” is an image of the deadly force of philistinism and vulgarity. Chekhov examines the story of the educated, efficient doctor Dmitry Ionych Startsev, who turned into a Read More ......
- The story “Ionych” (1898) also tells about the downfall of a man who found himself defeated by the very philistine vulgarity that he himself so hates and which he sincerely despises. This is the story of the fall of a young talented doctor who chooses the path of gradual material enrichment and at the same time Read More......
- The name of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov will forever remain in Russian literature as one of the loudest. His stories and plays reflected the life of Russian society late XIX– beginning of the 20th century. The problems that Chekhov wrote about in his works have not lost their relevance and Read More......
- The story “Ionych” by A.P. Chekhov is based on a comparison of two worlds - Startsev and the Turkins. At the beginning of the story, the Turkins are a spiritually primitive environment of a provincial town, a symbol of vulgarity and stereotyped thinking. Here the letter - tour is reduced to the level of a home pastime, Read More ......
- Chekhov's skill as a storyteller is especially evident in the composition of “Ionych.” The composition of the story is subordinated to one common goal - to show the gradual spiritual impoverishment of the hero and the wretched life of the city. But how can you tell about the life of a hero and an entire city over the course of several pages? Chekhov achieves Read More ......
The story “Ionych,” dating back to the late period of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’s work, is filled with drama, deep sadness and loneliness. The main character at the very beginning of the work appears before the readers as a young zemstvo doctor. Startsev Dmitry Ionovich has just started medical practice and does not yet have large quantity patients. He does not yet have respect in society, just as he does not have good friends in the city. But he has a goal in life. Startsev certainly wants stability and reliability. Therefore, he works, earns money and saves it for the future. As the plot develops, the reader can observe how main character, how he goes towards his goal. After a year of staying in the city and practicing medicine, he has so many clients that he gets a horse and cart; after a while, he has two horses, then three. This suggests that he good doctor, who does his job efficiently, who helps sick people, curing them of illnesses, thereby gaining their trust.
Chekhov's character Ionych Startsev is a simple person in all respects. He does not prevaricate, is not inclined to deceive and be a hypocrite. All his thoughts are easy to read and understand. He does not build castles in the air and does not believe in pipe dreams. Startsev knows what he is capable of and does not strive to achieve more. This character prefers to have what fate gives him. He is in no hurry to do everything at once. For this slowness and regularity, the man receives a reward: he becomes a popular doctor, to whom people line up. They recognize him, talk about him and even consider him a close friend. It’s not for nothing that they call him Ionych. In this case, it is not a sign of disdain, but a sign of friendliness.
The characterization of Ionych cannot be complete without such a quality as insight, which the hero had thanks to his intellect and education. He could tell a lot about the residents of City C just by looking at them. Immediately after the first dinner in the Turkins' house, he realized what its inhabitants were like. Having fallen in love with Katya Turkina, thinking about the wedding, Dmitry Ionovich understood that he would probably have to move to the city to live, and, therefore, he would have to give up his practice at the zemstvo hospital. He knew that it would be quite difficult to get along with Katya, whose ardent character would be difficult to tame with love alone. The girl was beautiful, talented, but too willful. Startsev foresaw everything and could calculate for the future, but his feelings were stronger than his reason, so he risked succumbing to them.
Negative traits
Chekhov does not strive to show his hero only with positive side and tell the reader how unfairly fate dealt with Startsev. The collective image of Ionych is like positive features, and negative. For example, his apathy. The way he easily gave up the idea of losing Katya Turkina, the way he came to terms with his boring, monotonous life. Every time the author talks about the hero, moving forward several years, we see that the character becomes detached, lazy and only gets fatter every year. The character's noticeable degradation occurs due to his reluctance to change anything in his life.
The image of Doctor Startsev in Chekhov’s story “Ionych” at the very beginning of the work looks much more positive than at the end. If in the first chapters of the story he appears to the readers as an active, purposeful, enthusiastic person who openly despises the inhabitants of the city, believing that he can only drink and play cards with them, then gradually he turns into an average city dweller. The doctor rarely enters into conversations, never holds receptions, or attends parties. As if with the love that left his heart, all the desire for life also left. The fact that he is gradually becoming his own man among the city residents is also indicated by the fact that Ionych’s surname is gradually being forgotten. It cannot be said that the Hero does not notice the gradual degradation. In his conversation with Ekaterina Turkina, he directly answers: “How are we doing here? No way. We get old, we get fatter, we get worse. Day and night - a day away, life passes dullly, without impressions, without thoughts... During the day there is profit, and in the evening there is a club, a society of gamblers, alcoholics, wheezing people, whom I cannot stand. What's good?
Startsev condemns people, but, nevertheless, says “we,” identifying himself with the crowd, which he “cannot stand.” Perhaps Chekhov thereby wanted to show the duplicity of the character: on the one hand, he is a weak-willed person, on the other hand, the owner of a sacred mind. Gradually, from a positive image, offended by a girl, he turns into a callous and indifferent person, for whom it will be even easier without love. You won't have to sacrifice anything. Ionych's character changes before our eyes.
Work test
Story by A.P. Chekhov's "Ionych" was published in the "Monthly Literary Supplements" to the magazine "Niva" in the same year, 1898, in which it was written. This work cannot be attributed to a specific topic. It simultaneously talks about the development of man and the degradation of his soul. On the one hand, Ionych becomes a significant person in the city, he is wealthy and has special authority, but, on the other hand, material wealth negatively affects the spiritual development of the hero. Depending on what question the reader asks himself when reading this story, it can be attributed to a social theme (what role did society play in the development of Ionych’s character?), psychology (can a person resist society?) or philosophy (why does the hero choose such life path, does not continue to fight?).
From the author's notebooks and diaries, literary scholars were able to recreate the writer's original intention, which had both differences and similarities with the published text. What is the author's original thought? What changes did his idea undergo during the process? How radically different is it from the source material? What happened and what happened?
Initially, Chekhov wanted to write a story centered on the Filimonov family. It is not difficult to understand that this is a kind of prototype of the future Turkins. In the final edition, the main features of the members of this family were preserved. What is the difference then? It lies in the fact that at first there was no main character in the story, that is, Ionych himself. What does this change? At first glance, the theme of the story does not change: the spiritual poverty of the Filimonov (Turkin) family. But the appearance of Startsev in the work entails a change in the main idea of the work. If initially we were talking about the mental poverty of one particular family, then in the final version the Turkins are shown to be the best in the city, which makes you think about what the rest of the residents are like, and how the society of these people changed the life of the main character.
Meaning of the name
When you start reading Chekhov's story, you assume that the focus of his attention will be on the Turkin family: given detailed description each of its members with character and habits. Only later does the reader realize that the title is connected with the main character. Ionych is Dmitry’s patronymic. In its rough sound, the author conveys the essence of the metamorphosis that the doctor underwent. People use their patronymics to familiarly address those they know, but they don’t really respect them. Usually they talk about a person like this behind his back, wanting to emphasize their short acquaintance with him or even belittle him. All the inhabitants of the city intuitively understood that the promising young man had become one of them, a tradesman and everyman who had become isolated in the routine of days, had become flabby and had lost his purpose. If earlier he was respected, then by the end he became an ordinary resident of a county town, gray and faceless.
Ionych is Dmitry Ionovich Startsev. The chosen title focuses on the hero's nickname, which is given to him at the end of the story. This is precisely the meaning of the work. Having chosen this title for the story, Chekhov poses the question to the reader: “How did the zemstvo doctor Startsev turn into Ionych?” Only that reader can be said to have understood the essence of the work and was able to find the answer to this question in the text.
Genre, composition, direction
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is known as the author of plays and short prose. His work “Ionych” is a realistic story. A striking feature of this direction and main theme"Ionycha" are social problems, raised by the author. Also, belonging to realism is evidenced by an objective description and the presence of typical characters.
In a work, everything always follows one goal - the embodiment of the author’s thoughts. The composition follows this. This story by Chekhov consists of five chapters. Thus, the third chapter is the golden ratio. It turns out to be a turning point for the main character. In it, Startsev proposes to Kitty and is rejected. From this moment the hero's spiritual fall begins.
The essence
This is a story about a zemstvo doctor who walked, practiced and believed in love, but in a few years he turned into an “idol”, owning his own three, a plump man in the street, whose favorite pastimes were games and counting money.
The author talks about how, in the absence of the possibility of development and the desire for self-improvement, a person quickly gets used to a new, simpler pace of life - degradation. Having started with ambitious plans and good intentions, the hero lowers the bar and simplifies life, becoming an ordinary tradesman with a banal set of values: gambling, personal enrichment, a good reputation. Chekhov also reflects on the reasons for this transformation. Strong influence Startsev had a Kotik. Perhaps, if she had not treated her lover Dmitry Startsev so cruelly, if she had not mocked his love, then everything would have turned out differently. But these are just guesses and assumptions...
The main characters and their characteristics
- Turkins- “the most educated family.” They live on the main street of the provincial town of S.. All family members have static characters. Turkin Ivan Petrovich loves to joke and tell jokes. He speaks his own language to entertain guests. His wife, Vera Iosifovna, writes romance novels and reads them to guests in the evenings. Turkin's daughter, Ekaterina Ivanovna, or Kotik, as her family affectionately calls her, plays the piano. She even wanted to enter the conservatory, but nothing worked out. In the Turkins’ house there is also a footman, Pava, who, to lift the mood of the guests, theatrically cries out: “Die, unfortunate one!”
- Dmitry Ionovich Startsev- a talented doctor who went to work in city C after studying. This is an educated, sensitive and shy young man who tends to idealize everything. He does not live in the city itself, but several miles away from it. He falls in love with Katerina, proposes, but is refused. Gradually he changes, becoming irritable, callous and indifferent to everything. When describing this hero, an important feature is the degradation of his character throughout the work. She is shown through several constant details: the method of transportation (on foot, a pair, and then a trio of horses with bells), obesity, attitude towards society and love of money. The appearance of the hero is a clear reflection of the impoverishment of his soul.
Topics and issues
- Vulgarity in “Ionych”- one of the main topics. Startsev, getting used to life in the city, only silently played, drank, ate and counted money at home; he became far from his former ideals. His life goals dropped to daily routine worries and the desire to accumulate capital. The hero’s internal degradation is emphasized by his external changes: “Startsev has gained even more weight, has become obese, is breathing heavily and is already walking with his head thrown back.”
- City life. The description of life and morals in the city, and, in particular, the Turkin family, is associated with raising the topic of people’s mental poverty. How are the townspeople presented to us? How do they while away their leisure time? The main character himself speaks about this. Ionych talks about his pastime to Ekaterina Ivanovna. From his words about a typical day, we can clearly imagine how the residents spent their free time from work. Everything is monotonous, “life passes dullly, without impressions, without thoughts”: a club, playing cards, alcohol.
- Love. One can only speculate about what would have happened if Kotik agreed to marry Startsev. This did not happen, and the hero himself was happy about it at his last meeting with Ekaterina Ivanovna. Based on this, we can say that everything in his soul died away, and even such a strong feeling as love could not awaken him to life. But if you look at it differently, then Ekaterina Ivanovna cannot be called an unusual girl capable of awakening a great feeling. At the end of the story, Ionych, already taught by life, understands this.
Idea
Despite the presence of several themes in the story, the focus is on one issue - the relationship between man and society. No one will argue that by the end of the novel Startsev becomes as colorless a commoner as any citizen of the city. When comparing the portrait of the hero presented at the beginning of the book with Startsev’s lifestyle and appearance at the end, the impoverishment of his soul and the disappearance of high aspirations become obvious. If earlier his plans included a calling, expressed in an interest in medicine, then by the end it became clear that Dmitry had not fulfilled his destiny. According to Chekhov, it is passionate, conscious work that purifies and elevates us, pulling people out of the vanity and vulgarity of the world of things, everyday life and routine. Losing his love for his life’s work, being lazy and mingling with a crowd of worthless onlookers, Startsev betrays his dream and loses himself.
The author emphasizes the vulgarity of the hero with the help of details. This impression is also strengthened by the presence of Startsev’s double – the coachman Panteleimon. Complementing the characteristics and descriptions of Dmitry Ionych and the changes in his lifestyle, this helps to create a complete picture in the reader’s imagination.
Criticism
Your opinion about A.P.’s story Chekhov's “Ionych” was expressed by many literary scholars, writers and critics. It is quite difficult to generalize, since it is not unambiguous. Dmitry Ovsyaniko-Kulikovsky, a literary critic and linguist who was one of the first to write his review, in “Etudes on Chekhov’s Work” noted the unusual character of the hero: he does not oppose society, but succumbs to its influence.
Writers such as Kireev and Solzhenitsyn were more impressed by the episode of the characters’ explanation in the cemetery, rather than by the main story line. In connection with this scene, in their opinion, the story raises the theme of a person’s attitude towards death.
There are also negative reviews to this work, which emphasize the simplicity of the images of the characters, their lack of openness and detail. There are no less positive reviews about this story. The words of R.I. Sementkovsky reflect their general thought:
Interesting? Save it on your wall!Read latest works Mr. Chekhov, and you will be horrified by the picture of the modern generation that he painted with his characteristic skill.
From beginning to end, the dramatic work is saturated with sadness and spiritual loneliness. Each character had their own dreams and plans, but harsh reality prevented their implementation. To a greater extent, the people themselves are to blame for what happened because they were unable to resist life’s circumstances. The main characters of the story “Ionych” interact with each other throughout the entire work. Using the example of heroes, the author shows how you can ruin your life with your own hands if you do not try to change it for the better.
DMITRY IONYCH STARTSEV
Having received an excellent education, this young man had all the makings for a brilliant future. He did not strive for high goals, but was quite an enthusiastic person. Intelligent. He made a good impression. Curious by nature, open, naive in its simplicity. Dmitry always said what he thought. I never cheated. Arriving for medical practice, he was still full of hopes and plans. As the story progresses, Startsev goes through several periods of evolution, degrading and gradually turning from a person filled with vital energy into a morally devastated person. Hating everything that he loved so much in the beginning. Lost interest in everything that happens around, except money. Money became the meaning of life, managing to overshadow everything else.
TURKIN FAMILY
Ivan Petrovich. The head of the Turkin family. He loves his wife and daughter. A youthful man. Slightly overweight. Brunette. The soul of any company. He will always amuse you with jokes and jokes. A joker and an entertainer. I am ready to tirelessly entertain the public with stories from my life and new jokes. He loved to organize home performances, where he certainly assigned himself the main role, playing old generals. You can never tell from his facial expression whether he is serious or just joking once again. Time does not change this man, and his jokes remain the same as before, which becomes uninteresting and far from funny.
Vera Iosifovna. Ivan Petrovich's wife. She loves to write simple stories and announce them to guests who come to the house. Modest woman. Doesn't strive for fame. He does not want to get rich from his works, so he is categorically against their publication. A faithful wife and a good mother who wishes her daughter well-being and happiness. It often makes me feel sick.
Ekaterina Ivanovna. The only heiress of the Turkin family. In everyday life, affectionately called Kitty. Yuna. Romantic and dreamy. He plays the piano superbly, which delights the guests who often visit their hospitable home. Educated. Educated. With character. He knows how to defend his point of view and does as he sees fit, without listening to his mother. She firmly knows what she wants from life and strives to make her dreams come true.
Freedom-loving. Subsequently, the girl will have to come to terms with her mediocrity and return to parents' house. Katerina did not get married. She had no children. Attempts to arrange a personal life with a person who was a bright spot in her life will not be successful. During the years of her absence, Dmitry Ionych lost all interest in her.
