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| "'''A Misfortune'''", sometimes translated "'''Misfortune'''" ({{lang-ru|несчастье}}, "Neschast'e"), is an 1886 story by ].<ref>Chekhov, Anton (2015). . Trans. ]. In ''Anton Chekhov: The Collected Novellas and Short Stories''. e-artnow. ISBN 8026838416.</ref><ref>Chekhov, Anton (2015). . Trans. ]. In ''Anton Chekhov: The Collected Novellas and Short Stories''. e-artnow. ISBN 8026838416.</ref> The story concerns Sofya Petrovna, the young wife of a country notary, whose attempts to turn away a suitor only expose her own desire for him and drive her toward an affair. |
"'''A Misfortune'''", sometimes translated "'''Misfortune'''" ({{lang-ru|несчастье}}, "Neschast'e"), is an 1886 story by ].<ref>Chekhov, Anton (2015). . Trans. ]. In ''Anton Chekhov: The Collected Novellas and Short Stories''. e-artnow. ISBN 8026838416.</ref><ref>Chekhov, Anton (2015). . Trans. ]. In ''Anton Chekhov: The Collected Novellas and Short Stories''. e-artnow. ISBN 8026838416.</ref> The story concerns Sofya Petrovna, the young wife of a country notary, whose attempts to turn away a suitor only expose her own desire for him and drive her toward an affair.<ref>Julius Katzer ''A.P. Chekhov 1860-1960'' p 161 - 1961 "Another instance is provided in the story "Misfortune," in which a married woman is listening to an admirer's protestations of love but does not yet realize the state of her own feelings. ..."</ref> | ||
| ==Background and publication history== | ==Background and publication history== | ||
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| The primary theme in "A Misfortune" is sexual enthrallment, one of the dominant concerns in Chekhov's early stories for ''Novoye Vremya''.<ref name=Rayfield36>Rayfield, Donald (1999). , p. 36. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.</ref><ref name=Loehlin>Loehlin, James N. (2010). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov'', p. 51. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.</ref> It is thus often compared to other stories written in this period, especially stories revolving around female sexuality. All these stories reflect a change from Chekhov's earlier writings: whereas the early works portrayed women as the passive subjects of male desire, the stories of 1886 depict women with more agency, whose sexuality affects the men around them and drives the plot.<ref name=Loehlin/> Whereas some of the stories cast "desiring women" in a sympathetic or positive light, "A Misfortune" focuses on the destructive and tragic aspect of female sexual power. As such, it relates especially to the contemporary stories "The Witch", "Mire", and "Agafia".<ref name="Loehlin, pp. 51–52">Loehlin, James N. (2010). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov'', pp. 51–52. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.</ref><ref name=Rayfield37>Rayfield, Donald (1999). , p. 37. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.</ref> | The primary theme in "A Misfortune" is sexual enthrallment, one of the dominant concerns in Chekhov's early stories for ''Novoye Vremya''.<ref name=Rayfield36>Rayfield, Donald (1999). , p. 36. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.</ref><ref name=Loehlin>Loehlin, James N. (2010). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov'', p. 51. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.</ref> It is thus often compared to other stories written in this period, especially stories revolving around female sexuality. All these stories reflect a change from Chekhov's earlier writings: whereas the early works portrayed women as the passive subjects of male desire, the stories of 1886 depict women with more agency, whose sexuality affects the men around them and drives the plot.<ref name=Loehlin/> Whereas some of the stories cast "desiring women" in a sympathetic or positive light, "A Misfortune" focuses on the destructive and tragic aspect of female sexual power. As such, it relates especially to the contemporary stories "The Witch", "Mire", and "Agafia".<ref name="Loehlin, pp. 51–52">Loehlin, James N. (2010). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov'', pp. 51–52. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.</ref><ref name=Rayfield37>Rayfield, Donald (1999). , p. 37. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.</ref> | ||
| Critics note the influence of ] on "A Misfortune", especially the novel '']'', a classic Russian work revolving around adultery.<ref name="Loehlin, pp. 51–52"/><ref name=Rayfield3637>Rayfield, Donald (1999). , pp. 36–37. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.</ref> Rayfield further notes the influence of ], who frequently employed sex as a motivation for characters.<ref name=Rayfield36/> According to Rayfield, Chekhov's characterization of Sofya and the narrator's condescension toward her "betray a too recent reading of Tolstoy". For Rayfield, though it hints at "a catastrophe about to ensue", the ending comes across as unearned posturing. Comparing "A Misfortune" to the later story "About Love", Rayfield writes that the sork shows that Chekhov had not yet moved beyond his influences.<ref name=Rayfield3637/> | Critics note the influence of ] on "A Misfortune", especially the novel '']'', a classic Russian work revolving around adultery.<ref name="Loehlin, pp. 51–52"/><ref name=Rayfield3637>Rayfield, Donald (1999). , pp. 36–37. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.</ref> Rayfield further notes the influence of ], who frequently employed sex as a motivation for characters.<ref name=Rayfield36/> "A Misfortune" may be intended as a parody of that work.<ref name=Bely>{{cite book |last= Bely |first= Andrei |=author-link= Andrei Bely|translator-last1= Maguire|translator-first1= Robert A. |translator-last2= Malmstad |translator-first2= John E. |year= 1978|title= Petersburg |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eBzZQ-5oLtkC&pg=PA316&lpg=PA316&dq=%22There+is+another+Sofia+Petrovna+in+Russian+literature+who+comes+to+mind:+the+heroine+of+Chekhov%27s+story%22&source=bl&ots=Gf80_Cez9g&sig=i6vlxZra3Ay4MCxdj-zdT3FsQGo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg0fqgj9XLAhXJ6yYKHRR6AkMQ6AEIHDAA#v=snippet&q=Sofia%20Petrovna&f=false |publisher= Indiana University Press |page= 315–316 |isbn=0253202191}}</ref> According to Rayfield, Chekhov's characterization of Sofya and the narrator's condescension toward her "betray a too recent reading of Tolstoy". For Rayfield, though it hints at "a catastrophe about to ensue", the ending comes across as unearned posturing. Comparing "A Misfortune" to the later story "About Love", Rayfield writes that the sork shows that Chekhov had not yet moved beyond his influences.<ref name=Rayfield3637/> | ||
| ==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| James N. Loehlin traces the influence of "A Misfortune" on Chekhov's well known later story "The Grasshopper", another "study of adultery".<ref>Loehlin, James N. (2010). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov'', pp. 82. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.</ref> Rayfield writes that Sofya's "half-teasing, half-reproaching" conversation with her would-be lover prefigure the dialogue between Elena and Vania in '']''.<ref name=Rayfield37/> | James N. Loehlin traces the influence of "A Misfortune" on Chekhov's well known later story "The Grasshopper", another "study of adultery".<ref>Loehlin, James N. (2010). ''The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov'', pp. 82. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.</ref> Rayfield writes that Sofya's "half-teasing, half-reproaching" conversation with her would-be lover prefigure the dialogue between Elena and Vania in Chekhov's play '']''.<ref name=Rayfield37/> "A Misfortune" may have influenced ]'s modernist novel '']'', which likewise features a character named Sofia Petrovna, who is likewise a married woman pursued by suitors.<ref name=Bely/> | ||
| ] adapted "A Misfortune" for ]'s series '']'' in 1973, featuring ].<ref>Leigh, Jacob (2002). , pp. 68, 196. Wallflower Press. ISBN: 1903364310.</ref><ref>Roberts, Jerry (2009). , p. 344. Scarecrow Press. ISBN: 0810863782.</ref> | ] adapted "A Misfortune" for ]'s series '']'' in 1973, featuring ].<ref>Leigh, Jacob (2002). , pp. 68, 196. Wallflower Press. ISBN: 1903364310.</ref><ref>Roberts, Jerry (2009). , p. 344. Scarecrow Press. ISBN: 0810863782.</ref> | ||
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"A Misfortune", sometimes translated "Misfortune" (Template:Lang-ru, "Neschast'e"), is an 1886 story by Anton Chekhov. The story concerns Sofya Petrovna, the young wife of a country notary, whose attempts to turn away a suitor only expose her own desire for him and drive her toward an affair.
Background and publication history
Chekhov wrote "A Misfortune" for St. Petersburg journal Novoye Vremya (New Times), which had invited him to contribute short pieces at the beginning of 1886. The story was published in August of that year. The move to Novoye Vremya gave Chekhov new freedom in his writing, opening him up to new influences and enabling him to increase both his productivity and the quality of his work. Russian literature scholar Donald Rayfield calls 1886 "an annus mirabilis" in Chekhov's early career.
Plot
Sofya Petrovna is a 25-year-old housewife, is summering in an unnamed town with her husband, Andrey, a notary. During the trip, Ilyin, a lawyer and old friend of Sofya's, has expressed his love for her. Sofya asks Ilyin to cease his advances and agree to remain friends, as her love for her husband and her respect for the "sanctity of marriage" ensure that nothing will come of his desires. However, Ilyin remains enthralled, and Sofya's attempts to turn him away only expose her own feelings for him.
When Sofya finally realizes the depths of her desire, she asks Andrey to take her away from the town, but he says they cannot afford it. At a party for summer residences, Ilyin begs Sofya to give in to their mutual desire. In a final attempt to save her marriage, Sofya reveals everything to Ilyin, but he dismisses her feelings as "a fancy". That night, Sofya departs to meet Ilyin.
Themes and analysis
The primary theme in "A Misfortune" is sexual enthrallment, one of the dominant concerns in Chekhov's early stories for Novoye Vremya. It is thus often compared to other stories written in this period, especially stories revolving around female sexuality. All these stories reflect a change from Chekhov's earlier writings: whereas the early works portrayed women as the passive subjects of male desire, the stories of 1886 depict women with more agency, whose sexuality affects the men around them and drives the plot. Whereas some of the stories cast "desiring women" in a sympathetic or positive light, "A Misfortune" focuses on the destructive and tragic aspect of female sexual power. As such, it relates especially to the contemporary stories "The Witch", "Mire", and "Agafia".
Critics note the influence of Leo Tolstoy on "A Misfortune", especially the novel Anna Karenina, a classic Russian work revolving around adultery. Rayfield further notes the influence of Guy de Maupassant, who frequently employed sex as a motivation for characters. "A Misfortune" may be intended as a parody of that work. According to Rayfield, Chekhov's characterization of Sofya and the narrator's condescension toward her "betray a too recent reading of Tolstoy". For Rayfield, though it hints at "a catastrophe about to ensue", the ending comes across as unearned posturing. Comparing "A Misfortune" to the later story "About Love", Rayfield writes that the sork shows that Chekhov had not yet moved beyond his influences.
Legacy
James N. Loehlin traces the influence of "A Misfortune" on Chekhov's well known later story "The Grasshopper", another "study of adultery". Rayfield writes that Sofya's "half-teasing, half-reproaching" conversation with her would-be lover prefigure the dialogue between Elena and Vania in Chekhov's play The Seagull. "A Misfortune" may have influenced Andrei Bely's modernist novel Petersburg, which likewise features a character named Sofia Petrovna, who is likewise a married woman pursued by suitors.
Ken Loach adapted "A Misfortune" for BBC2's series Full House in 1973, featuring Ben Kingsley.
References
- Chekhov, Anton (2015). "A Misfortune". Trans. Constance Garnett. In Anton Chekhov: The Collected Novellas and Short Stories. e-artnow. ISBN 8026838416.
- Chekhov, Anton (2015). "Misfortune". Trans. John Middleton Murry. In Anton Chekhov: The Collected Novellas and Short Stories. e-artnow. ISBN 8026838416.
- Julius Katzer A.P. Chekhov 1860-1960 p 161 - 1961 "Another instance is provided in the story "Misfortune," in which a married woman is listening to an admirer's protestations of love but does not yet realize the state of her own feelings. ..."
- ^ Rayfield, Donald (1999). Understanding Chekhov: A Critical Study of Chekhov's Prose and Drama, pp. 32–36. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.
- Johnson, Ronald L. (1993). Anton Chekhov: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne. ISBN 0805783490.
- ^ Rayfield, Donald (1999). Understanding Chekhov: A Critical Study of Chekhov's Prose and Drama, p. 36. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.
- ^ Loehlin, James N. (2010). The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov, p. 51. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.
- ^ Loehlin, James N. (2010). The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov, pp. 51–52. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.
- ^ Rayfield, Donald (1999). Understanding Chekhov: A Critical Study of Chekhov's Prose and Drama, p. 37. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.
- ^ Rayfield, Donald (1999). Understanding Chekhov: A Critical Study of Chekhov's Prose and Drama, pp. 36–37. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0299163148.
- ^ Bely, Andrei (1978). Petersburg. Translated by Maguire, Robert A.; Malmstad, John E. Indiana University Press. p. 315–316. ISBN 0253202191.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|=ignored (help) - Loehlin, James N. (2010). The Cambridge Introduction to Chekhov, pp. 82. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 1139493523.
- Leigh, Jacob (2002). The Cinema of Ken Loach: Art in the Service of the People, pp. 68, 196. Wallflower Press. ISBN: 1903364310.
- Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, p. 344. Scarecrow Press. ISBN: 0810863782.