Chekhov Parallelism

Stories are a concept that transcend time. They are found in all languages, containing seeds of the culture’s traditions, values, and history inside the words themselves. To explore these stories means to pull apart and further understand the people and society from where it came. Yet, it also serves to connect cultures and introduce themes common throughout humanity no matter where or when one lives. Chekhov, a renowned Russian writer, exhibits within his several short stories concepts that are culturally unique as well as concepts universally understood. These truths don’t only just concern humanity but the world itself. In his stories, he presents settings that are static and unchanging. Interestingly, the characters lives are often presented as static as well, trapped in situations without an escape. The parallelism Chekhov develops between the environment and the characters works to emphasize the characters’ plights.

This technique is plainly evident in the short story “A Little Game”, where Nadenka is trapped reliving a winter’s sled ride. While the narrator and Nadenka sled down a

Perhaps this gives the audience insight into Chekhov’s perspective on his own life or perhaps it is only a critique of the lives his characters embody. Though it may never be fully clear what Chekhov’s reasons were for making the character’s plights so similar, it doesn’t negate the uncomfort that it inspires. Chekhov doesn’t just recognize this fact, but manipulates it, exacerbating the character’s imprisonment by using the environment to make it seem as if it’s physical as well as psychological. This fear of being trapped by one’s own life may be uncomfortable but it’s also common, something than many would rather avoid. With each story, Chekhov forces his audience to face that hard truth, and through his characters, the consequences of surrendering to