The Darling - Analysis

Anton Chekhov's story "The Darling" was a very debated story when it was written. Chekhov wrote the story during the Realism writing period, which was very different from the transcendentalist writing period. The Transcendentalist writers were great critics of the modern society because of the level of conformity. Transcendentalists believed that every person should strive to find their own identity in society. Chekhov's story "The Darling," when it was published, was a very controversial story that not even his friends could agree on its meaning (Bloom). One of the popular theories on the interpretation of the story is that the main character, Olenka, is portrayed as a "gentle slave" (Bloom). Through out the story, Olenka marries and becomes completely involved with a husband, and as soon as the husband leaves or dies, she immediately becomes completely absorbed in another man. The first man that she falls in love with is a man named Kukin (Bloom). She initially creates an interest for Kukin when he complains about the weather. That event could be used as an event to foreshadow the future events that Olenka would be eventually completely absorbed in Kukin's business. After Kukin's sudden death, Olenka falls into a depression for three months, until she meets Pustovalov, another man whom she falls in love with (Bloom). Similar events take place, and once again, Olenka is completely absorbed in Pustovalov's life and interests. Pustovalov dies, and Olenka is thrown into a depression once again. The cycle completes one more time, and Olenka is left once again with a man she is completely absorbed in. Another interpretation of the story would be that Olenka was devoted to another human for her entire life without asking for a single thing in return (Bloom). She would have been seen as a heroine, not as a slave. Her actions were perceived as selfless, and were deserving of recognition, which she never once asked for. She simply loved other human beings, unconditionally, asking for nothing in return. This story leaves a pleasant thought on the modern woman of the time, making her out to be a selfless person, despite the many marriages. 

Bloom, Harold, ed. "'The Darling'." Anton Chekhov, Bloom's Major Short Story Writers. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 2001.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BMSSAC28&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 5, 2012).