How Can Social Circumstances can Affect Literature: Through Anton Chekhov's Short Stories

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According to Wikipedia, Realism is defined as a literary movement was based on "objective reality." It focuses on showing everyday activities and life, primarily among the middle or lower class society, without romantic idealization or dramatization. 
And Anton Chekhov is regarded as one of the best writers to write these kind of stories. And as I read his two short stories: "The Student" and "The Lady with the Dog," I've come to have some doubts about it's value as a literature. 
In fact, most of the literary works we have read so far relied on how effective and beautiful the writer could adapt, rearrange, and twist the story in their own way. So I wondered what the literary trend of realism could mean to us, or more. (Plus, I wasn't able to feel or be moved by this pair of somewhat dull and dry story. And to be honest, it was the main motivation to write this essay doubting its value or meaning toward us.) 

And searching more about the writer, Anton Chekhov, I saw some reasonable relevance between the story and the social background of 18 century Russian society. In society at that time, disconnections were really severe among individuals, and lack of emotion was a serious problem. For that reason, there were many marriages lacking love, and there was a lack of respect for each other from the social gap between men and women. And this social trend is so well manifested in these two short novels. "The Student" shows the gap between women and men by showing their lack of emotions or genuine relationship while "The Lady with the Dog" shows the lack of true emotions between Gurov and his wife. And Both stories try to find their solution to its lack from outside rather than inside the relationship. The Peter enters into the story and gives hope while Gurov tries to feel his lack of emotions by creating a new relationship with Anna. I thought this reflected the reality of Russia, which was then closed and difficult to find a solution within society. 

Aristotle said imitations may not stop by distorting reality, but by reproducing the nature of reality, adding new meaning to it can be a way to get closer to the ideal society-Idea. And I think this is a statement that depicts the true value of realism literature. I think the ultimate goal is to reflect and project something by showing it more real than the actual reality, and to convey what the writer wants to say to society. As I read about realism literature, there was a phrase that was most relevant and effective, so I want to share it.
This phrase is from famous french novel "The Red and The Black" written by Stendhal.
"Oh, sir. A novel is a mirror that goes up and down a big road. This mirror sometimes gives us the blue light of the sky, and sometimes the muddy mire of the road. But the person carrying the mirror in the pocket is accusing you of being immoral! If his mirror shows the mire, you are blaming it! Rather denounce the great road with its mire, and also the prosecutor who has allowed the water to rot and become muddy!"

P.S. I found the relevance between Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy while researching. I am planning to write more about it focused on the realism movement. + I just put one of my favorite song which lyrics are pretty poetic! Hope you enjoy...


Comments

  1. GarriochFebruary 28, 2019 at 6:33 PM

    Excellent exploration and conclusions. I may not agree with everything (I was getting a bit excited in paragraph to tell you how wrong you are about literary value) but you develop a sober and valid position later on. That said, Realism is not simple to write, and Chekhov strikes an almost perfect mathematical balance of parts and styles and details. Well done and Iike the intellectual 💪🏾. Flexing

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