My least favorite Chekhov story, but still a good one. The specialty of Anton Chekhov is, his stories can ease the readers in such a manner no matter what he writes about. It has lot do with his characters and more than anything, the atmosphere he creates in his stories. His villages are breath taking and his cities are full of energy and not tiring to read through. He doesn't much go into the dark side of his characters like Gorky. And Chekov doesn't often use long descriptive sentences, everything about his tales are very simple. Chekov's short story "The Lady with the Pet Dog" seemed like it was going to be a charming piece, but it was instead disjointed and disturbing. Once past the choppy, excessive descriptions, the reader could finally focus on the fact that this bored middle aged man was preying on young girls to pass the time. The story was unsatisfying, the characters were left undeveloped, and the plot overall was unengaging. Other than the main characters, everyone was just so transparent; they didn't have characteristics or anything really that described them as something other than human. The writing of the characters definitely left something to be desired. It was odd how Gurov was able to leave his family for long periods of time without explanation, and Anna's background was confusing and uncompleted. Both characters just came across underdeveloped, especially by the end when they finally fell in "love." Their love story felt unfinished and immature. Although the plot embraced the idea that love can happen to anyone at anytime, the whole thing seemed out of place and inappropriate. Many enjoy the writing style of Chekhov, but the pompous, stream-of-consciousness was overall irritating. There were specific parts that had wonderfully written phrases and thoughtful ideals, such as, "He had two lives: one, open, seen and known by all who cared to know, full of relative truth and of relative falsehood, exactly like the lives of his friends and acquaintances; and another life, running its course in secret." It was the pieces like this that made the story any bit bearable and worthwhile. The plot line was predictable, and the characters were unlikeable and underdeveloped. Overall, the short story was disappointing, bland, and surprisingly very forgettable.
What do You think about La Dama Del Perrito (1901)?
The Lady with the Little Dog & Other Stories is the most known work of Anton Chekhov when it comes to tales and short novels (The Cherry Orchad is his most known piece among the Plays), worldwide. Nevertheless, there are few people who would recognise the beggining of this masterpiece simply because it has been translated from French to many foreign languages, and each of them made an impressive alteration to the classic "People were telling one another that a newcomer had been seen on the promenade--a lady with a dog".What makes Chekhov so profound and yet timeless and easy to relate is the simple fact his style is deprived of grease, unpretensious and humble one find hard to beleive he is reading in 2014 one thing conceived more than one century ago. The sparkling essence of human behaviour is portraited in simple, recognisable terminology much more proper to a Medicine Doctor than a man of Letters - which, what a coincidence, is quite the description of Chekhov.
—MKD
I appreciate that it's a short story about a man who evolves in his emotions, even though it's only the specter of mortality that brings about that evolution. But I prefer definitive endings. Do they run away together? Do they continue as they've been? Do they plot the murder of one or both of their spouses? Do they commit suicide because they can't be together in this life as they should? I don't know. I can guess. I can theorize. I can speculate. But I can't know. Because Chekhov decided not to write it and leave it open.
—Leldy007
Oh sweet lord! This was hands down the worst short story i have ever read. Such a shame!
—honey
