Chapter - 2

About Love

Anton Chekov

Summary of the story

Anton Chekov, the author of this story is a well-known Russian dramatist and short story writer. The narrator of this story is Alyohin. He shares his own story with his two Russian friends Burkin and Ivan.

In the beginning, he talks about Nikanor, the cook who loves Pelageya. She also loves him but Nikanor drinks a lot of alcohol beats her. Therefore, she doesn’t want to marry him. She only wants to live with him but Nikanor is a deeply religious person. So, he is ready to live with her after marriage. He thinks that it is wrong for a man and women to live together if they are not married.

Alyohin’s tells a story about himself. When he was studying at university, he loved a nice girl and lived with her. Every time held her in his arms and she was thinking about how much money he would give her for housekeeping for a month. When they were in love, they never stopped asking themselves fatal questions. He thinks that love is a hindrance and a source of dissatisfaction and irritation.

Alyohin has been living a farmer’s life at Sofyino since he graduated from the university because his father had borrowed a lot of money to pay for his studies. So instead of becoming a teacher or working in an office, he had to go home and work hard in the fields to pay off the debts. As an educated person, he was not fit for rough work and he did not enjoy working on the farm. Although he was a landowner, he would work with men and women just like a peasant.

He had been elected as an honorary justice in the circuit court and sometimes he had to go to town for a court case. There he could lead a luxurious life and meet educated people. He made friends in the town. One of the friends was Luganovich, who was assistant president of the circuit court. One day Luganovich invited Alyohin to his house for dinner. In his house, he meets Anna Alexeyevna, wife of Luganovich. Her first baby was born just six months before. She and her husband was a good-natured and simple-minded person.

Alyohin and Anna fell in love with each other. Every time went into town, he would go to the theatre together.

Anna’s behavior had been changed recently she felt that her life was unsatisfactory and ruined. She had psychological depression. She had psychological depression. She became ill by tension. The doctor advised her to go to Crimea for her treatment. Then Luganovich and his family had to move to the western province, where she was transferred. Many people came to the railway station to say goodbye to her. Alyohin ran into her compartment with a basket, which Anna had forgotten and then he had to say goodbye. When they saw each other for the last time, tears flowed from their eyes, they held each other, cried and separated forever.

The rain stopped and the sun came out. Burkin and Ivan enjoyed the scene outside and they were sorry for Alyohin.