Anton Chekhov’s Use of Ironies in His A Dreary Story
Russian author Anton Chekhov, in his A Dreary Story, masterfully employs the literary device of irony to subtly reveal his main character, Nikolay Stepanovitch. Sprinkled throughout this writing are many clever ironies that serve to give a glimpse into the melancholy life of on old man.
It is worth noting before actual examples of irony are examined, that this entire story is, in fact, one skillfully depicted irony. Nikolay Stepanovitch is continually desiring that his life would be bright and enjoyable while he himself is the cause of most of it’s dreariness by his pride and his refusal to reflect on all the good things he does have in his life. He sees himself as a great and wonderful professor, when in reality, he is an old, self-centered, unhappy and poor man. If he were willing to realize his own problems, work through them, and then look at the good attributes of his life, this story would be vastly different.
Interestingly, Chekhov contributes to the poignancy of this great irony with many small ones. One of the first ironies to stand out appears while he is speaking of Stepanovitch’s long, wretched nights and the cock that hails the beginning of the day. He says, “He is my first bringer of good tidings”, only to go on and tell of his miserable and predictable mornings. Another excellent irony is seen wile his old wife is giving her daily report of their sad financial status before breakfast. While she is talking, Stepanovitch looks at her and wonders how this could be the beautiful young woman whom he married, always positive and speaking of the finer things of life. He does not realize that he is in much the same state – aged, grouchy, and seeing life only as the monotonous schedule that elderly people often allow their lives to degenerate into. His financial life is also an irony. He tries to dress himself in fine clothes so as to appear a refined professor, while still trying to pay off his debts to his footman. He is upset that his daughter will not give up her lovely clothes and expensive music lessons, and that his son will not give his money earned in the army, so that Stepanovitch can have his luxuries. He then admits that this not what he wants, though. At one point he mentions “The Temple of Science” which is ironic due to the fact that science is what Stepanovitch worships. Another irony is seen when he says the erudition of the porters is greatly exaggerated and then goes on to speak of the long quotations and other scientific things his porter can do. Also, his pride and view of self superiority is seen here.
The greatest of all ironies however is his realization of the proximity of death and that he soon will be in the afterlife, but all he will think of is science. He says “As I yield up my last breath, I shall still believe that science is the most important, most essential thing in the life of man; that it always has and always will be the highest manifestation of love, and that only by means of it will man conquer himself and nature.” This is what this belief leads to. When all that is valued is the strong and tangible, when life draws to a close, one is left without purpose and without the joy of relationships. One is in despair at the end when he was no hope in the life hereafter.
As we have seen in this brief essay, Chekhov demonstrates how a literary device can be utilized not only to enhance a story, but also to emphasize and empower one’s writing. By carefully weaving ironies throughout his story, the reader is impressed with the fact that it is ironic to blame circumstances on our happiness, for it is within us to accept and enjoy our lives or cause it to be dreary.
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