"Misery" by Anton Chekhov
Misery is a narrative written story with the focus on the characters psychological state rather than physical surroundings. The word misery meaning great mental or emotional distress (Dictionary.com, 2011) sets the mood of the story. This story is about grieving over the death of a loved one and how insensitive people can be. Iona, the main character, lost his son to an illness. During his encounters with many people Iona tries to speak of about his misery but no one is willing to pay him any mind. Iona with nobody to listen to his misery turns to his only companion that is his horse.
Upon reading Misery for the first time it felt dark, cold, and lonely. When I reviewed the story I came to realize that the darkness written represents the darkness held within Iona soul. Iona holding his emotions puts him in a dark corner with himself and with his view of life. Big flakes of wet snow are whirling lazily about the street lamps, which have just been lightened, and lying in a thin soft layer on roofs, horses backs, shoulders, caps. Iona, the sledge-driver, is all white like a ghost (About.com, 2011) . The cold and the snow makes Iona seam ghost-like even with all the commotion around Iona remains unseen. Iona fells cold, lonely, and full of grief. Iona is waiting to exhale to move past his sorrows. As his night goes on alone he is kempt with his own thoughts and feels depressed. Again he is alone and again there is silence for him. (About.com, 2011). Iona, lonely, desires to grieve by speaking to someone about his sorrows without a person to care about listening identifies how people are insensitive towards others and their grief. People who fail to react toward others situations are viewed as insensitive like in the story when Iona tries to tell his first fare the military officer about his despair, Several times he looks round at the officer, but the latter keeps his eyes shut and is apparently disinclined to listen (About.com, 2011). The officer did not want to console Iona so he dismissed his statement about his loss and rushed him on their journey and shut his eyes so he did not have to listen more. The group of boys Iona picked up was very cruel and abusive toward him, Tfoo! the devil take you! cries the hunchback indignantly. Will you get on, you old plague, or wont you? Give her one with the whip. Hang it all, give it her well. (About.com, 2011).
The writer seems to be recalling the events of a day. He may be writing a journal entry because he did not have anyone to speak to so he wrote his feelings down. Writing is another form of expression but like animals it cannot speak back but can be the beginning of the healing process. I can relate to this story because when one of my loved ones passed I felt as if I had to be strong for my family. I could not show my emotions to anyone because of this, I felt alone. Even with my family and friends around I, held myself short to everyone and my emotions inside of me. I was afraid to talk with anyone because I knew I would break down. The little mare munches, listens, and breathes on her masters hands. Iona is carried away and tells her all about it (About.com, 2011). I was searching for someone non-related to tell my misery to and found myself in the basement of my home telling it all in tears to my dog. The urge to say what I felt was bottled up inside and after I spoke those words and wept to my pet I began to heal and was able to support my family with their emotions even better. This story I believe ever person can relate to and the insensitivity of people is real. After reading this story for the third time I realize that there has been a time where I admit I have been insensitive toward people and I feel ashamed of it. With this new found emotion I will have more compassion towards others.
?
References
About.com. (2011). Retrieved October 31, 2011, from About.com Classic Literature: http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/achekhov/bl-achek-misery.htm
Dictionary.com. (2011). Retrieved October 31, 2011, from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/misery
Already have an account? Log In Now
3046