Analysis of Gooseberries by Anton Chekhov
According to Aristotle, happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of it... Happiness could mean many things to different people, depending on one's beliefs and values. Still, the greatest happiness for most is achieving one's dreams and aspirations. What price, if any, is one willing to pay for happiness? Can an individual be happy, however, when other human beings suffer? Can the ability "to give" and share make a person happier? These and some other questions and ideas are addressed in the story "Gooseberries" by Anton Chekhov. (A Pocketful of Prose, Vol. I)The narrator, Ivan Ivanich, talks about his brother, Nikolai, who was an office clerk. Nikolai worked very hard, saved every cent, married an ugly, wealthy widow. "He lived thriftily, never ate or drank his fill, dressed anyhow, like a beggar, and saved up all his money in a bank"(177). All this, for just one dream, one aspiration - country life. But how much is one willing to sacrifice in order to achieve a dream? "The years passed... he was over forty, and was still reading advertisements in papers, and saving up" (177). Finally, five years after his wife's death, Nikolai st
Many years later, the narrator visits his brother. "He was no longer the poor, timid clerk, but a true proprietor, a gentleman" (178). He now seemed to be a very happy and, maybe, a little bit of an arrogant man. Nikolai was very pleased with the gooseberries, which he had wanted to grow his entire life, and now he could, at last, taste the fruits. "I saw before me a really happy man, one whose dearest wish had come true..." (179). In this story, gooseberries symbolize Nikolai's achievement. Even though the berries may seem delicious at first, later the taste becomes bitter and sour. The same is true for Nikolai's life. It may seem to Nikolai, and the reader, that the ultimate goal of life has been achieved and all that's left is to enjoy it. This is not true, however, Nikolai has only achieved short term material happiness. Which, in the long run, will fade and there will be nothing significant left. Nikolai's life will become bitter and sour. One could have a hard time being happy in the long run if everyone around that individual is unable to achieve that happiness because of money or other factors. The author suggests the idea of helping others and not just living for oneself. Nikolai, the main character in this story, defines his success and happiness in very materialistic terms. Nikolai wants to get as much money as he possibly can by all and any means possible. In order to do that, however, he sacrifices many different things that could have made him successful and happy, like love and family. In his mind, thoug
Some common words found in the essay are:
Ivan Ivanich, Pyrrhic Victory, According Aristotle, nikolai happy, Prose Vol, nikolai's life, willing pay happiness, country life, price willing pay, bitter sour, willing pay, pay happiness, purpose life, ultimate goal, price willing, story gooseberries,
Approximate Word count = 1051
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
