We first meet Dmitri Gurov, a married middle aged man with children, who has been unfaithful to his wife many times. He has a great contempt for women and refers to them as "the lower race". But strangely can't get enough of them, " It seemed to him that he had been so schooled by bitter experience that he might call them what he liked, and yet he could not get on for two days together without the lower race". He is a player, a playboy. He doesn't feel comfortable around men so he focuses his energies on the ladies, "In the society of men he was bored and not himself, with them he was cold and uncommunicative; but when he was in the company of women he felt free, and knew what to say to them and how to behave; and he was at ease with them even when he was silent". He tells women what they want to hear so he can get them to bed, " In his appearance, in his character, in his whole na

Anna Sergeyevna is a young woman alone on vacation with her dog. We know she is married but the author doesn't go into her character a great deal, at least not to the extent of Dmitri. Perhaps it's not important.

Dmitri admits that this time feels a little different; "But in this case there was still the diffidence, the angularity of inexperienced youth, an awkward feeling; and there was a consternation as though someone had suddenly knock at the door." But still reacts how we expect him to, "Gurov felt bored already, listening to her. He was irritated by the naive tone, by this remorse, so unexpected and inopportune; but for the tears in her eyes, he might have thought she was jesting or playing at part."

Not how you expected the story to end is it? Of course not! We expected Dmitri to just go on with his life as a womanizer with no second thoughts for Anna. To pursue the easy life he loved so much. And Anna to stay with husband and pretend she had never betrayed him. But instead he chose the hard road to be with the woman he actually loves. "And it seemed as though in a little while the solution would be found, and then a new and splendid life would begin; and it was clear to both of them that they had still a long, long road before them, and that the most complicated and difficult part of it was only just the beginning".

Some common words found in the essay are:
Anna Sergeyevna, Dmitri Gurov, Anna Dmitri, , Anton Chekhov, anna sergeyevna, Lady Dog, simple anna, dmitri gurov, lower race, author doesn't,
Approximate Word count = 1062
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)