The Student (Anton Chekhov)

-

 Title: The Student

Author: Anton Chekhov

Rating: 6 / 10


 Since <The Student> is a realist novel, it contains a story that would actually happen. This made me follow the storyline easily. 

However, it was too difficult to understand what the author wanted to say in the book. I read this book 10 times, and also read lots of book reveiws and analyses to understand it. I understood that it means human's feelings, mistakes, and lots of other events repeat through history, but I really couldn't understand why Ivan became optimistic in the end, and what does it mean. 

It was interesting to read considering "hero's journey" though. The depiction of miserable reality in the beginning is 'ordinary world', and when Ivan sees widows is 'call to adventure'. His mentor is probably Jesus, and talking with widows is 'special world'. Vasilisa's tear is 'reward', and when Ivan thinks by alone in the end is back to the 'ordinary world'. It was interesting to contrast the beginning and the end, because both are 'ordinary world' but the tone is completely different. It was very negative at the beginning, but at the end, he describes the beauty of nature. It shows how Ivan's perspective toward the world has changed. (197 words)

댓글

  1. Garrioch2022년 3월 10일 오전 10:08

    If we look at the title of the story "The Student" - we can ask - what does it mean to be a student? Ivan is a true student of life and he looks to find ways to be who he wants to be in every day life. He wants to be a preacher so he preaches at a campfire in front of two women. Does he truly move them or annoy them? Is he good at what he does? Even if he isn't, he walks away with inspired feelings that he has done something or learned something important for his future (like a KMLA student might if he or she has a breakthrough in a science class). A true student should be eager and even naive in what they love. They should become inspired by the smallest things. Maybe that is what Chekhov is showing us? Good questions and glad you researched a bit. Nobody really knows what is going on in many of Chehov's stories.

    답글삭제

댓글 쓰기

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

Gooseberries (Anton Chekhov)

-
 Title: <Gooseberries> Author: Anton Chekhov Rating: 8.5 / 10 I think Ivan had his own strong belief about happiness. He criticizes Nikolay for only thinking about his own happiness. We can know this when Ivan says, "A higher standard of living, overeating and idleness develop the most insolent self-conceit" while thinking about Nikolay, who became rich. He also says that there should be someone who continually reminds a happy man that there are unhappy people. It shows that Ivan thinks someone should work for the world, not for himself. He thinks being happy alone is a sin. I partially agree with Ivan. Nikolay spent his whole life only for one goal, and he was too stingy. He even treated his wife very badly because of the money. Moreover, he became very arrogant after becoming a landowner. His selfish happiness can be blamed. However, I mostly disagree with Ivan because his opinion about happiness is too critical. Working for themselves' happiness is not a bad thin
Read more »

Eveline (James Joyce)

-
Title: <Eveline> Author: James Joyce  Rating: 7 / 10 The story shows the miserable life of Irish woman. Even though the author was a man, he well depicted the difficulty of living in Ireland as a woman, and the woman's view on Irish society at the time. I think Eveline's choice was a good decision. Even though she is having hard time in Ireland, it will be hard to settle in a totally new place, too. She has no acquaintance in Buenos Ayres except Frank. Also, Frank is a kind guy to her now, but Frank may turn mean after arriving at Buenos Ayres, just like her father have changed after her mother's death. However, I didn't feel that Eveline's choice was really self-directed. She was paralyzed like a helpless animal at the crossroad even though it was her hope to escape from home. The reason of her choice is not clearly shown in the story, but if her choice was entirely self-directed, she would not be paralyzed. She would have been confident instead. Her choice
Read more »