Though the similarities and differences of characterizations in Chekhov and Oates’s different versions of “The lady with the pet dog” are evident, the purpose only becomes clear for the reader when the two versions are read and compared. The stories have different settings, but the characters in the story remain the same. There is Anna, Dmitry, and their respective families. Both Anton Chekhov and Joyce Oates chose to tell the story using a third-person narrator. This is one of the most important aspects of the characterization because if other characters were allowed to appear more within the story, the reader would have more than likely had a different view of the affair.
The word “lust” is one that is associated with sexual experiences. On the other hand, the emotional experiences, changes and struggles the main character undergoes are something that is not expected from the title of the story. Through the story’s use of vocabulary and sentence structure, theme, and representation of the narrator’s life overall, the irony of the short story’s title becomes clear. The narrator is like a delicate rose, and with each boy she becomes physical with, she loses a petal. Her experiences have seriously damaged any sure thoughts toward men.
Apparently, Karas has developed a drinking problem since his wife left him. Perhaps, being drunk causes Karas to feel as if he is dreaming. “Her sleep had always been provisional, what there was of it peopled by demons and faceless shapes and, and she told him once, by the murders of children” (152). Again, William Gay brings up dreaming. The reader can understand from those lines that Karas’s wife has always had bad dreams.
The reader gets an impression that she is aware of his infidelities and does not seem to care. She does not love him either and that is evident when she says “The part of philanderer does not suit you at all Dimitry” (Chekhov 211). Initially Gurov sees Anna as “something pathetic” (Chekhov 206). She is timid, young and unhappy in her marriage. Gurov and she spend a lot of time together in a vacation setting.
John believes that she is suffering from “a slight hysterical tendency.” At the time this story was written the word hysteria was used to describe a variety of symptoms men seemed to find in women. They believed that this was an emotional disturbance (597). So even though it seems that John has her best interest in mind, by John relaying of his own wisdom it leads him to misjudge, patronize, and dominate his wife. The relationship between John and the narrator is not necessarily a normal relationship between a husband and his wife. He refers to her as his “blessed little goose” and “little girl.” During this time men bossed around women like they were children so it’s interesting that he refers to her as a little girl.
I suffered myself to use intemperate language to my wife. At length, I even offered her personal violence. (Poe 272) In this excerpt the narrator describes his decline into alcoholism and how it affects him and those around him, especially his wife. He states how he could only think to use heated words towards his wife and even go as far as to assault her, while she quietly accepts the situation as if it were inevitable. Contrary to “The Black Cat”, this type of role almost flips between man and woman in “The Lady or the Tiger” where in fact it is the man whose life solely depends on the decisions made by his lover, such as when he looks for guidance in which door to open.
When first reading the story, the reader can form a certain opinion of Dmitry. We know he is a married man and has children. He also admits to being unfaithful to his wife on numerous occasions. He appears to now like women as he referrers to them as, “the inferior race” (192). This characteristic of his personality leads to the encounter between himself, and the young mysterious Anna Serveyevna, in the gardens of Yalta.
I’ve been best friends with my friends Mary and Cristy for almost twenty-two years. Cristy has constantly caused conflict in our group due to jealousy. When she wasn’t included in all conversations or movies, she’d act out horribly. She often felt singled out, ignored and disliked by us. That was not our true intentions.
The final line “Who could not say, ‘Tis pity she’s a whore?” can be seen as directed towards her and so she is blamed for everything that has occurred. Throughout the play she is seen as quite powerful and headstrong by refusing many marriage proposals and being quite stubborn in doing so. However, she is reduced to a weak being however upon dying which is a culmination of her passions. It is perceived that women are a danger to men and to society as a whole and so Giovanni’s actions are to be blamed not on himself, but on Annabella because of the beauty she possesses. Giovanni states that Annabella’s “lips would tempt a saint” thus showing the corruption her presence inflicts upon even the supposed innocent of men.
In the beginning, you immediately feel the isolation of the room in which our character lives, but you quickly figure she is there for a reason. In her writing in secret and disagreeing with physicians at all cost, you feel sorry for her, but also question if she is of right mind. There are times you are angry with the husband, but you know that is how it was at that time with how he treats her. I would agree most people reading would assume she is crazy and then see the clues that lead to postpartum depression and see the husband as not all bad. You cannot trust that her view of any reality when she seems most lucid is even clear enough for anything when you realize her state of mind.