““Gooseberries”Gooseberries”p. 202p. 202

(First published in 1898)(First published in 1898)

ByBy

Anton Chekhov Anton Chekhov

(1860-1904)(1860-1904)

Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhovhttp://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/chekhovbio.html#PersonalInformationhttp://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/chekhovbio.html#PersonalInformation

Born in Taganrog, Born in Taganrog, RussiaRussia

Considered to be Considered to be the father of the the father of the modern short modern short story and playstory and play

Took a medical Took a medical degree from degree from Moscow UniversityMoscow University

Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov

"All I wanted was to "All I wanted was to say honestly to people: say honestly to people: 'Have a look at yourselves 'Have a look at yourselves and see how bad and and see how bad and dreary your lives are!' The dreary your lives are!' The important thing is that important thing is that people should realize that, people should realize that, for when they do, they will for when they do, they will most certainly create most certainly create another and better life for another and better life for themselves. . .themselves. . .

I will not live to see it, but I I will not live to see it, but I know that it will be quite know that it will be quite different, quite unlike our different, quite unlike our present life. And so long as this present life. And so long as this different life does not exist, I different life does not exist, I shall go on saying to people shall go on saying to people again and again: 'Please, again and again: 'Please, understand that your life is bad understand that your life is bad and dreary!'"and dreary!'"

— —Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov

Types of Conflict in Types of Conflict in “Gooseberries”“Gooseberries”

Person vs. Person vs. environmentenvironment– social social

—and natural

MovementMovement Identify the moves:Identify the moves:

– Exposition Exposition Walking through the fields of RussiaWalking through the fields of Russia

– Complication Complication Rain and seeking shelterRain and seeking shelter

– Climax Climax The story within the storyThe story within the story

– DenouementDenouement Falling asleep in clean sheets with rainFalling asleep in clean sheets with rain

Physical SettingPhysical Setting Fields of Russia outside a villageFields of Russia outside a village

– Natural setting—both friendly and hostileNatural setting—both friendly and hostile– Beautiful and inspiring until rain beginsBeautiful and inspiring until rain begins– Technology (man-made) is in backgroundTechnology (man-made) is in background

TrainTrain Telegraph wiresTelegraph wires

Alehin’s houseAlehin’s house– Man-made Man-made – Big, two storiesBig, two stories– WarmWarm– CarpetedCarpeted– Pictures of officers and ladies on the wallPictures of officers and ladies on the wall

Protagonists = Ivan Protagonists = Ivan Ivanovitch and BurkinIvanovitch and Burkin

IvanIvan– Veterinary surgeonVeterinary surgeon– Developing characterDeveloping character– Epiphany is swimming Epiphany is swimming

in the millpond and in the millpond and the decision to tell the decision to tell the storythe story

BurkinBurkin– Begins to change as a Begins to change as a

result of Ivan’s influenceresult of Ivan’s influence

– His awareness is His awareness is raisedraised

Antagonists =Alehin Antagonists =Alehin and Nikolayand Nikolay

Alehin remains Alehin remains unmoved by Ivan’s unmoved by Ivan’s story story

Nikolay IvanovitchNikolay Ivanovitch– Longs for the countryLongs for the country– Gentle and good-Gentle and good-

natured in beginningnatured in beginning– Fat and in denial at the Fat and in denial at the

endend– Wealthy landownerWealthy landowner– StaticStatic

Characters span two Characters span two storiesstories

First plotFirst plot– Ivan IvanovitchIvan Ivanovitch– Burkin—a high Burkin—a high

school teacherschool teacher– Alehin—landowner Alehin—landowner

with whom Burkin with whom Burkin and Ivan take and Ivan take sheltershelter Doesn’t wash muchDoesn’t wash much

– Pelagea—Alehin’s Pelagea—Alehin’s beautiful maidbeautiful maid

Second plotSecond plot– Ivan IvanovitchIvan Ivanovitch– Nikolay Nikolay

IvanovitchIvanovitch Ivan’s younger Ivan’s younger

brotherbrother

– Nikolay’s fat cookNikolay’s fat cook

TitleTitle– Highlights the story’s central symbolHighlights the story’s central symbol– What clues does this give to the What clues does this give to the

author’s intent and emphasis?author’s intent and emphasis? Point of ViewPoint of View

– Plot 1=Omniscient point of viewPlot 1=Omniscient point of view– Plot 2=Third person limited Plot 2=Third person limited

From Ivan Ivanovitch’s perspectiveFrom Ivan Ivanovitch’s perspective Find evidenceFind evidence

– Why are these the most effective Why are these the most effective choices?choices?

WaterWater RainRain

Causes wetness, Causes wetness, messiness, messiness, discomfortdiscomfort

Reminder of Reminder of suffering suffering

Watermill Watermill (p. 203)(p. 203)

Symbol of Symbol of successsuccess

Drowns out rainDrowns out rain Cold and Cold and

malignant watermalignant water

BathhouseBathhouse– Brown waterBrown water

MillpondMillpond– Ivan swims in the Ivan swims in the

pond in the rainpond in the rain

What does What does water water symbolize for symbolize for Chekhov?Chekhov?

Other SymbolsOther Symbols

GooseberriesGooseberries– The realization of The realization of

a dream of wealtha dream of wealth– Bitter and unripeBitter and unripe– Savoured in spite Savoured in spite

of thisof this FatnessFatness

– DogDog– CookCook– NikolayNikolay

All aspects of the All aspects of the settingsetting– Warmth of houseWarmth of house– Brown waterBrown water– Beautiful maidBeautiful maid– Bad smell of pipeBad smell of pipe– Hammering of Hammering of

rainrain

Doing good is more important Doing good is more important than being happy.than being happy.

– ““Without that silence [of the Without that silence [of the suffering], happiness would be suffering], happiness would be impossible.” impossible.” (p. 209)(p. 209)

Is artistic unity achieved?Is artistic unity achieved?