Anton Chekhov: From An Attack Of Nerves To Three Years

Anton Chekhov denied that any of his stories were autobiographical fiction, yet much of his work clearly grew out of his own experiences. From “An Attack of Nerves” to “Three Years,” different aspects of his life were incorporated throughout his stories. Each stage of Chekhov’s life made an impact in the tales he told.

Chekhov’s childhood was documented in great detail when he penned the story “Three Years.” The main character Laptev could have been Anton or any one of his brothers. In the tale, Chekhov had Laptev telling his wife:

He [his father] used to thrash me with a birch, pull my ears, and hit me on the head… We had to go to morning service and to early mass...at home we had to sing hymns…and when I pass a church I remember my childhood, and am overcome with horror (Ward No. 6 and Other Stories, xiv).

When he was a child Anton endured daily beatings by his father, was forced to attend church, and sing in the choir his father directed. Egov ruled every aspect of his life and Chekhov stated to friends “I had no childhood” (Ward No. 6 and Other Stories, xv).

In “Vanka,” Chekhov told of an orphan who wrote to his grandfather to save him from his

“On Official Business” is shrouded under a black cloud of death. An insurance agent named Lesnitzky committed suicide in the village headquarters, and the entire town of Syrnya was left to deal with the catastrophe. The policeman explained it best, “Folks are all upset… the children are crying... the women won’t go near the barn…some of the men [are] scared” (The Portable Chekhov, pg 442). With Lesnitzky’s body in the council building, his family and acquaintances were left to ponder over his motivations and what drew him to suicide. Along with Chekhov, many of the characters including Lyzhin were left to do their own soul searching on the matter of life and death. Five years after writing this tale Anton passed away at the age of