The Uncertainty of Happiness in Anton Chekhov's About Love

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Recommended: Personal narrative about life lessons

In Anton Chekov's "About Love" Alekhin also known as Pavel Konstantinovich shares a story within a story about his one true love Anna Alekeevna with Burkin, the high school teacher and Ivan Inanovich, the veterinary surgeon. The story shares how he and Anna grew to share an unconditional love for each other. The two sacrificed their love for each other for the happiness of others since Anna was already married and had two children. Later on in his life, Alekhin realizes that he had missed his one chance of true love, when he had the chance they should have sacrificed everything and attempted to live a happy life together. Although Alehin's tone while telling his story seems to doubt the possibility of true happiness, it is not until after he is finished that he seems to understand that by not sacrificing and taking chances in life, you hinder your chance of ever-attaining true contentment.

Living in his own form of futliarnost, Alekhin enforces the idea that ones own happiness is set upon the ideal they have envisioned for themselves.

I an educated man with a knowledge of languages, should, instead

of devoting myself to science or literary work, live in the country, rush

around like a squirrel in a cage, work hard with never a penny to show for it (198).

The term "futliarnost" is used to explain one who encasts himself physically, psychologically or morally in order to reduce the contact between oneself and the rest of the world. Alekhin's state of affairs with Anna comes in the form of a rejection of love, forcing him to keep busy with daily routines to keep his mind from pondering upon hi...

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...hat he had the chance to be in love was a taste of happiness. One must take chances and make sacrifices in order to obtain such a passionate emotion; if that person refuses to change their ways they may be pushing away a chance of happiness that may only come once. It is not until Alekhin is finished telling his story that he comes to realize many things about the situation and himself. Others may look upon happiness as a state of mind you create for yourself, a state of contentment. Alekhin was able to reach this state by occupying himself and achieving good in his life. One can look upon this story as one of irreverence or a lesson in life. Happiness is relative; a person can create happiness or unhappiness depending on how they choose to act upon chances life and loved ones present to them.

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