’s Little Foxes Essay, Research Paper
Anton Chekhov is a Russian writer. He was born in 1860 in Taganro, Russia.
His childhood was spent in the slums of a poor neighborhood. He and his brothers
worked long hours in the shop owned by his father. Later, he develops pleurisy in
his lungs which develops into tuberculosis. One year later, his father went bankrupt.
His father had always dreamed of a better life, and had recently moved into a better
house on a better street. To escape from being thrown in prison for not paying his
debts, his father took part of his family and fled to Moscow. Anton stayed behind in
Taganro. While in Moscow, his father?s family sunk even deeper into debt. They
were living in a basement in the slum area of town. In 1879, Anton graduated from
the university and went to Moscow to study medicine. During this time, he wrote
short stories, and drew comical sketches to help support his family. While he was in
Moscow, he and his best friend would save their money to go to the local theater.
Later, they made their way back stage, and were asked to perform in some plays.
This was the beginning of Anton?s theatrical performances. Even though he began
his medical studies in Moscow, his great love was writing short stories and plays.
Subsequently, he became famous in the literature field, but in 1889 his health was
deteriorating. By being a doctor, he knew that he had tuberculosis of the lungs and
the intestines. Later, in 1901, while writing The Three Sisters, he returned to
Moscow to be married to Olga, an actress who had leading roles in several of his
plays at the Museum Art Theater. During their marriage, they wrote numerous
letters back and forth. Chekhov was now in constant pain and would tire easily
while writing. He decided to travel with Olga to Berlin to see a specialist, but the
treatment only provided temporary relief. He died on July 9, 1904.
Bibliography
Influence on Writings
Chekhov went from prosperity to poverty, became educated, and then ends
up a successful writer. During his early childhood of poverty, he has fun by
mimicking the ways of society people. Some writers say that these early actions
cause comedy to be inserted in his plays. On the other hand, other writers say that
when he portrays a sense of hopelessness in his characters, he is reflecting on the
real-life experiences of his childhood. In addition, it is also believed by scholars
that Chekhov was influenced when he visited a Russian state prison on Sakhalin
Island. Later when he wrote his book, Sakhalin Island, he describes the terrible
conditions under which the convicts lived. As far as change is concerned, by
reflecting on the real-life change from czar rule which was going on in his lifetime,
he portrays the different ways that his characters accept change in their status in
society. For example, in his play, The Cherry Orchard , he portrays the feelings that
the characters attach to the cherry orchard before it is sold at auction. Furthermore,
he displays the dismay on their faces when the estate is finally auctioned off, and the
new owner is the son of a peasant. During the last act of The Cherry Orchard, he
causes his characters to accept the loss of their home and the cherry trees.
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