About Love -Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov, a very famous Russian dramatist and story writer, talks on the nature of love in his famous story “About Love.” As in his most of the stories, he describes the sufferings of ordinary man in this story. Alyohin, the protagonist, suffers because he is bound to his responsibilities and the norms of the society.

Alyohin and his two friends were sitting in his village-home talking together. At the same time, Nikanor- the cook came there to ask what to serve for the guests at the dinner. According to Alyohin, the cook was in love with Pelageya and they were living together. But, Nikanor used to come home drinking a lot and used to beat her. That’s why, she didn’t want to marry him, instead, she wanted to live with him ‘just so.’ Nikanor was a religious man so he wanted to marry her.

Alyohin believes that love can not be defined just studying few cases, but he has a definite opinion that love is a hindrance and a source of dissatisfaction and irritation. To prove his opinion, he tells his own story to his guests.

After he graduated, Alyohin came back to his home at Sofyino. Though he was not fit for rough work, he was forced to work day and night to get rid of the debt that his father had taken to educate him. Although he was a landowner, he had to work as his servants until he paid off his debt.

Alyohin was elected honorary justice of circuit court, so that he had to go to the town go take part in the assizes of peace. He met Luganovich, the Assistant President of the court, and developed a good friendship with him. One day, Luganovich invited him to dine at his house where he met Anna, the wife of Luganovich. She was young and beautiful. Alyohin was attracted to her at first sight. Later, Alyohin came to his home-village, but he was disturbed by the memory of Anna. Every time, whenever he went to the city, he never came back without meeting her. The family accepted him as a noble fellow and developed a very good friendship with him. The Luganovich family believed that Alyohin was very unhappy because he had to busy himself on his farm instead of his education.

Though Anna and Alyohin loved each other, they could never express it. Alyohin thought Luganovich was not suitable for Anna but he could not marry her because he thought that it could ruin the peaceful family. Similarly, Anna also thought that she was not suitable for him. She also thought that he could marry with young and energetic girl. They loved each other very much but always tried to conceal it because of the society.

Later, Anna began to visit her parent’s house frequently. She was reported to have nervous breakdown. She was suffered and was not satisfied with her life. After many years, Luganovich was transferred to the Western provinces so he had to leave the town. Anna was sent to Crimea for her treatment. Before he bade goodbye to her, Alyohin entered into the apartment of Anna into the train and confessed his love towards her. Both of them wept for their love but they had to be separated forever.

At last, Alyohin comes to the conclusion that one should not reason his love from higher level, and should not give importance to happiness and unhappiness, sin or virtue, etc.