The Bear by Anton Chekhov

 

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (29^th January 1860 to 15^th July 1904)

He was a Russian playwright and short story writer who is one of the greatest writers.  As a playwright he produced four classics and his best short stories are considered his best inspiring works by other writers and critics.  He was born on the feast day of St. Anthony the great on 29^th January 1860 in Taganrog.  He was the 3^rd of six surviving children.

Chekhov attended the Greek school in Taganrog. Due to financial crisis Chekhov had to pay for his own education.  He managed by private tutoring, catching and selling goldfinches and selling short sketches of him to the newspapers among other jobs.  He took responsibility for the whole family.  In 1884, Chekhov was qualified as a physician.  In 1887 he was so tired and ill due to overwork.  So he took a trip to Ukraine to enjoy the beauty of the Steppe.  Then he began to focus on the short story “The Steppe”.  His works are “The Seagull” (1895), Uncle Vanya (1897), “The Three Sisters (1900), and the “Cherry Orchard (1903) were revolutionary back bone to the medium of acting today.  The letters Anton Chekhov wrote during the two and a half month Journey to Sakhalin are considered the Best.  On 25^th may 1901 he married Olga Knipper.  By May 1904 Anton was terminally ill with tuberculosis.  Thereafter he died after a good champagne.  His death has become a history and it has been retold many times with different versions.  His body was buried next to his father at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

 

The Bear short summary

The Bear is one of the “Farce” play. It is a one-act play. It contains only three characters. The play starts with Elena Ivanovna Popova mourns over her dead husband. Even after seven months she stubbornly refuses to accept her normal life as she feels to remain faithful to her dead husband forever. Now Gregoril Stepanovich Smirnov enters with a knock. But Popova refuses to see him. Smirnov says he has come on urgent business. He demands Popova to return the money owed to him by her late husband. She is not in the mood to deal the matter, and she tells him to come the day after. Angered by her reply Smirnov refuses to leave. Soon they engage in serious arguments. But the unexpected happens, Smirnov fell in love with her, and her dimpled cheeks. He confesses his love. Popova is confused to take decision. Finally the two get close and kiss each other. Just then Luka her footman returns with the gardener and coachman and surprises to see them kissing passionately.

 

Study Plan

• Author’s Introduction
• Plot
• Literary Analysis
• Characters detail
• Techniques
• Themes           
• Light Comedy
• Irony
• Humor
• Setting
• Structure

 Plot progress

The arguments between Popova and Luka reveals that he tries to explain her that she must come out of mourning and enjoy life.  But she vows to prove her love by her isolation life. Popova vows to prove her love by mourning till the end of her life for unfaithful husband She had an argument with Smirnov. They insult each other. Very soon Smirnov fell in love with her.  Smirnov is not interested to argue as he could not control his love for her. The Anticlimax is when the servants see them kissing with love

 Characters

Popova

• Popova is the main character of the play “The Bear”
• 
  At the beginning she appears as a very gloomy widow
• Slowly this gloominess changes due to the new arrival Smirnov.
• She is confused when Smirnov proposes her
• Popova changes her mourning state into a happy state.
• It is so quick for her to change her mourning state.
• She vows to remain widow till the end. But could not remain so.
• There is an inner conflict in her character of Popova.
  
• There is a fast transformation in her character.
• She is very sensitive and emotional to reacts very quickly.
• Her determination is revealed when she vows to remain faithful to her dead husband.
• She is very Bold and courageous to face the challenge of Smirnov.

Smirnov

• Smirnov is a middle aged man, strong and well built.
• He lives with a decent income and status.
• 
  He is referred as the “Bear” because of physical strength, also for his aggressive and rude behaviors.
• He enters the house without any courtesy.
• He irritates and shouts at Popova without any mercy when she refuses to pay him.
  
• In certain situation Smirnov shows his male superiority over Popova.
• He faces financial difficulty, so calls on all debtors to get back his money but none of them pays.
• His intention is to get the money from Popova.
• He abuses Popova to get back his money. But she refuses to pay him. They fought over the problem.
• He proposes her all of a sudden. It is unexpected.
• The more he wants to get rid of Popova, the more he wants to get close to her.
• He thinks it is waste to argue with her, but deep down he feels exciting to talk to her as he is captivated by her bold and beauty.

Luka

• A loyal, aged footman of Popova.
• 
  He advises Popova to be normal and to move on with her life, without mourning for her late husband.
• He tries to help her to lead a happy life.
  
• Luka protects Popova in every situation.
• He tries to calm the situation, when there is a heated argument between Popova and Smirnov
• Luka is afraid of “the Bear” Smirnov as he threatens him.
• Obedient, kind and gentle. He always thinks the best for Popova.
• Quite surprised to see the fighting bulls kissing each other at the end.
•  

Literary Analysis

The Bear is a one –act play which deal with the unsteady feeling and commitment. The transformation of blind faith into practical reality of life.

 Exposition

The story starts with Mrs. Popova and her footman Luka. From their conversation the readers could understand the situation of Mrs. Popova a young and beautiful widow vows to prove her love and faith by mourning for her dead husband till the end of her life. She vows to leads a lonely life. Luka tries to advise her to lead a happy life leaving all her sorrows behind. But Mrs. Popova is not in a mood to listen.

Complication

Now the scene changes as Mr.Smirnov enters with the intention to get back his money from Popova. But Mrs. Popova could not pay her husband’s loan as she is facing financial difficulty. Mr.Smirnov too in need of money and is not ready to leave the place without his money for he too needs to pay interest to Bank. He told his problems with women and starts to express his opinion on woman aggressively.

Then the crisis begins when they both insult each other in a disgraceful tone. Both argue and start to challenge a duel with guns and pistols. At this point Smirnov’s attention turns towards Popova’s boldness, beauty and her courageous determination. He realizes that the more he fights with her, the more he wants to love her.

The falling action happens when Mr.Smirnov proposes her. He expresses his love to her which totally confuses her and shocks her. She could not believe “the Bear” Mr.Smirnov has changed into a loving and graceful man and proposing her. She could realise the genuine feelings from him. Finally she could not ignore his feelings and kiss, she accepts the reality of life and Mr.Smirnov

Technique

The major technique is Farce. It is a comedy. The play goes around three characters Mrs. Popova, Mr.Smirnov and Luka. The limited characters bring a good message with a touch of comedy. The title “The Bear” refers to the male character. Smirnov for he behaves in a more aggressive way. He sits in chair in a way to breaks them and curses the furniture. It brings out the sense of humor from Anton Chekhov.

The footman of Mrs. Popova also plays his part with a touch of comedy in certain situation such as he advises Mrs.Popova to come out of her lonely by referring the cats, midges and spiders. It is quite absurd and make us laugh, he is supposed to get rid of Smirnov but he is afraid to do so because Smirnov threatens Luka.

Mrs.Popova too refers her husband as a “bad child” which gives a funny impression.  He is a unfaithful husband who had many women in his life.  Also she wants to prove his genuine love to her husband but all changes after the arrival of Smirnov.

The most interesting scene is the arguments between Popova Smirnov.
They insult each other, argue and agree to go for duel and it goes to the extent of using pistol and guns. These are not expected from a timid young widow. But she is ready to fight till the end with Smirnov. The fault is from Popova’s side too, for she supposed to pay the loan of her late husband. But she is bold, beautiful and courageous to stand for her unfaithful husband. She asks Smirnov to teach how to fire, this is quite absurd. He teaches and also tells the price of different type of guns. In another situation Popova is confused for she asks him to leave one time, and at another she requests him to stay. Thus we can see many situation with the touch of comic elements.

 Themes

Money

Money is one off the major theme in the play Mr. Smirnov is need of money to pay his interest. His situation forces him to visit Mrs. Popova. This visit changes the end of the lonely life of Mrs. Popova. The affect of money could changes the behavior of human.

 Emotion

Anton Chekhov brings out the various emotions from these two characters, Smirnov appears to be a Bear in his behavior but he could not go on aggressively for a long, for he is soon get attracted to the bold and beauty of Mrs. Popova. Similarly Mrs. Popova who mourns and vows to remain faithful to her deceased husband, yet she could not control her feeling of love and she accepts the kiss of Smirnov to give a happy ending.

Loneliness and companionship

Popova and Smirnov are good examples for loneliness and in need of companionship to share their feelings. It is their loneliness which made them to burst their feelings. Mrs. Popova is conscious about her loyalty to her husband but her inner thirst for love and affection make her to fall for Smirnov who visits the lonely house after a long time of Popova’s husband’s demise.

Mrs. Popova reveals about her husband’s relationship with other women. This raises a question of her faith and infidelity.

Love

Love could be expressed in many ways in the play. Blind faith of Mrs. Popova to her unfaithful husband. Luka’s care for Mrs. Popova’s bright future. Smirnov‘s love for money as he in need of it. All their feeling changes when they come out with true emotions. Smirnov soon starts to love Popova his money mind changes and he longs for her love. Mrs. Popova too transforms accepting the love of Smirnov As her loneliness long for love and care.

Transformation

The beauty, boldness and determination nature changes the mind of Smirnov.
Her actions are unexpected. Smirnov is taken aback by her boldness. Similarly the Bear Smirnov proposal is unexpected. This confuses Popova for a while. But soon she changes her mind and accepts him. The changes of mind are quick but it gives an interesting happy end.

Irony

Irony comes from how the characters are transformed by the influence of their emotions. Both Smirnov and Mrs. Popova appears very strong and balanced and controlled by their emotions but deep down they expect the opposite. They long for love and companionship. Ironically they are incapable of cling to their strong feeling. They are soft hearted and in need of basic feeling of love. They both argue and express that they hate to love and loved but at the end they feel for each other. Smirnov takes every situation to insult woman but soon he realizes he could not resist his affection for her.

Smirnov mocks at Popova at every situation and there by reveals his state of mind ironically. He mocks at Popova about the loan and her husband’s financial troubles and reveals his critical situation without his knowledge. He says he looks well but in real he is in financial crisis. The final shows their hatred and heated arguments ends in love and kiss.

Humor

Absurd arguments between Popova and Smirnov.

Metaphor

Popova’s comment on Smirnov’s behaviour “you’re a boor! A coarse bear. But soon all changes.

 Contrast

Violence and love give an unexpected ending

Tension

Heated arguments between Popova and Smirnov.

Conclusion

The purpose of the play is to amuse the audience with the sense of humor. The Bear is a farce with the intention to amuse the readers. No intention to satirize the characters. Its purpose to show how the human are influenced and enslaved by emotions. Both the main characters are coarse and aggressive. They try to cover up their emotions of love and family affection. But all prove to be fake and ends up by captivation  by each other. They realize the reality of life. The style of the language used is very formal, informal, and colloquial in the play. It adds interest to the play, but in real life it is not acceptable to talk to a widow aggressively. The end shows the reality of human nature. No black sheep, no black spots,  all changes with the course of time.

 

 Thank you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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