Analysis of the story “The Man in a Case” (A.P. Chekhov)

"Man in a Case"- a story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, written in May-June 1898.

"Man in a Case" analysis

• Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Himalayan- veterinarian, nobleman.
• Burkina- a gymnasium teacher, tells a story about Belikov

• Belikov- Greek teacher. He worked together with Burkin at the gymnasium.
• Cook Afanasy- old man 60 years old.
• Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko- teacher of history and geography. A young, dark, tall man.
• Varenka- Belikov’s beloved, 30 years old. Sister Kovalenko.

Theme "Man in a Case"- “case” life. The title of the story is directly related to the content.

Problem which Chekhov touches on in the story will always remain relevant. The writer warns about the dangers of philistinism and everyday vulgarity. Unbeknownst to yourself, everyone can fall into the “case” of their own prejudices, ceasing to think and reflect, search and doubt. And this is really scary, as it leads to complete devastation and personality degradation.

"Man in a Case" idea is expressed in a protest against the “case” life, or, in the words of the writer himself, in the desire to show that “everything that people have messed up, that they have set up, that people have blocked themselves with, everything needs to be thrown away in order to feel life, to enter into the original, simple attitude towards her."

The pathos of this story should also be noted. In addition to the satirical and comic, there is also a lyrical element here. This is achieved by personifying objects: “And it seems that the stars look at her tenderly and with tenderness and that there is no longer evil on earth, and everything is fine.”

As the main technique, the author uses an artistic detail, a case, which reveals not only inner world hero, but also the whole social phenomenon- “case life.” A person’s commitment to various cases, umbrellas, and galoshes acquires a symbolic character, and the phrase: “No matter what happens” becomes a catchphrase.

Composition “Man in a Case”- a story within a story, but this does not prevent Chekhov from conveying a unified assessment of the perception of human life, asserting his ideals and views on life. The plot structure of this story is simple and original. It is based on the clash between Belikov and Kovalenko, people who have completely different characters, different ideals and moral principles. As a prologue, we see a story from the Burkina gymnasium teacher to his friend, veterinarian Ivan Ivanovich, about a Greek language teacher named Belikov. The exposition “introduces” us to the appearance and lifestyle of the main character. The plot begins when a new history and geography teacher, Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko, comes to the city and is appointed to the gymnasium, and he comes not alone, but with his younger sister Varenka, with whom Belikov soon falls in love, which is the development of the action in the story. The climax of the story is a series of events: Belikov and Varenka’s desire to get married, a drawn caricature of the main character, Kovalenok’s riding bicycles, all these actions excited Belikov, which provoked a conflict between the main character and Varenka’s brother. The denouement of the story is the death of Belikov, which, according to all the characters in the story, is the solution to the whole problem. Burkin finishes the story. Reflecting on what he heard, Ivan Ivanovich says: “Isn’t the fact that we live in a city in a stuffy, cramped environment, writing unnecessary papers, playing vint - isn’t this a case?” — epilogue.

Conflict "Man in a Case" lies in the person himself and the world around him. Imagining Belikov, I see a man imprisoned in a small dark box. A man in a case... This unusual phrase very accurately reveals the essence of a person. But what is most striking is that a person does not try to change something in his life, he is comfortable and calm behind the walls of his “box”, because he does not see the terrible world, where there are so many problems, where people suffer, and when faced with troubles , must be extremely decisive. Anton Pavlovich describes to us a man who refuses the real world, because he is satisfied with his own, which seems to him better. Let's pay attention to appearance Belikova: even in good weather, he “walked in galoshes and with an umbrella and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool.” All his things were in cases, moreover, even “... his face, it seemed, was also in a case, since he always hid it in his raised collar.” The main character constantly wore “dark glasses, a sweatshirt, stuffed his ears with cotton wool, and when he got into the cab, he ordered the top to be raised.” This is the only reason we can say that Belikov did everything possible to put on the case. The nuances that Chekhov creates in Belikov’s appearance are symbolic. First we see that his glasses are in a case, and his umbrella is in a case, and this subsequently leads us to the idea that everything that Belikov has inside is in a kind of invisible case. What’s surprising is that such a nondescript and limited person How Belikov managed to chain the entire world around him in his chains, the people around him met his requirements and ideas.

The key detail of the story “The Man in the Case” is the death of the main character. He dies from shock, from unbearable amazement caused by an event that is something out of the ordinary for him. Chekhov's skill lies in the fact that he does not allow himself to directly reprimand those like his man in the case, he shows his idea of ​​​​their future, of what awaits them if they continue to crowd and crowd others in their protective and bitter case fear. Anton Pavlovich skillfully uses everyday details and barely noticeable nuances of Belikov’s life in order to most accurately reflect his inner motivations and the consciousness that fetters the main character.

A case is an object in which something can be hidden. Anything can fit in it. Anton Pavlovich placed in a case a real, living person who was afraid of everything in the world.

Chekhov has his own peculiarity in narrating. It lies in the fact that the story is within the story. In this work, the hunters gathered around the fire and told each other stories, one such story about a strange resident of the city of our narrator was used by the author as the basis of the story.

There lived a Greek teacher, Belikov, who always doubted everything except prohibitions. There was nothing unknown in the prohibitions; it said you can’t do something, which means it’s impossible. He was not interested in the reasons why this could not be done, the main thing for him was that it was necessary. As soon as a free choice appeared in the teacher’s life, he immediately began to doubt and think that nothing good could come of it.

Everything that Belikov had was kept in cases; he slept under the canopy, covering his head with a blanket. This man always wore glasses and a high-turned coat collar, which created a kind of sheath around him. Even the fact that he was a teacher ancient language, proves that with his help Belikov tried to hide from real life. He tried not to leave his comfort zone, but the unexpected happened. They decided to marry him to the sister of a history teacher, with whom he came into conflict and received two injuries at once: one mental, and the second physical. Since during the conflict our hero fell down the stairs right in front of his “future” wife, this greatly affected him mentally, and then he fell ill and died a month later. As a result, Belikov, as he lived all the time in a case, was buried in it, and those around him sighed calmly, because there was no longer a man who, with his behavior, instilled fear in the entire city, although he did not have any high-ranking rank or rank.

In my opinion, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, with his characteristic irony and satire, ridiculed in his story a society that is afraid of progress. As soon as something new and unknown appears in people’s lives, many reject it and try to hide in a shell, to protect themselves with an imaginary case. Only they forget that, fearing everything in the world, they still won’t be able to protect themselves from anything and sooner or later they will have to leave their little world or die.

Option 2

The work is an integral and final part of the prose cycle “Little Trilogy”, consisting of three short stories.

The main theme of the story, the writer represents human loneliness, the cause of which is a person’s personal decision to exist in his own closed shell, isolated from society and not recognizing life truth.

The central character of the work is Belikov, presented by the writer in the image of a Greek teacher teaching at a district gymnasium. Belikov is described in the story as a person who is afraid of the environment around him. real life and everything that happens around his person irritates him. For this reason, the hero creates his own shell, personal worldview, the so-called case, renouncing real life.

Also, the main character of the work is Mikhail Kovalenko, a man distinguished by his cheerfulness, sociability and cordiality, contrasting him with Belikov, characterized by an isolated lifestyle.

The compositional structure of the story consists of small fragments that are easy to understand, each of which has its own semantic load, expressing the essence of the events taking place.

In terms of genre, the work is a story written in a satirical style using a caricature, which allows us to demonstrate the meaninglessness of a closed image of human life, as well as emphasize the need for various kinds of initiatives and an active life position, since in a full human life there must be a manifestation of individual character traits, bright emotions, as well as various communication with the outside world.

The storyline of the story tells about the conflict between the two characters of the work in the images of Belikov and Kovalenko, since the heroes express different life positions in the form of the positive thinking of Mikhail and the passive, lifeless existence of Belikov, who consciously enclosed himself in internal slavery.

In addition to the main theme of the story, the writer touches on the problems of love and human happiness in the work, expressing them in the actions of the main character, who experiences fear of close relationships and makes a choice in favor of his own peace.

In the image of Belikov, the writer presents, with his characteristic irony, typical representatives of small, insignificant people, isolated from society and perishing in the moral and spiritual sense, not realizing their own misfortune and decay, deprived of real human emotions and feelings.

Analysis of the Man in the Case

This story is constructed in a simply original and unique way. The basis of this plot combines an intense battle between Belikov and Kovalenko, the heroes of the plot whose characters are completely different, with different principles and ideals.

Belikov lived constantly in anxiety, afraid of the pathogens of reality. He praised and even praised past times, expressing disgust for reality, and the ancient languages ​​that he taught to children were for him like a cover where he could hide from the real life that oppressed him. Children in schools did not need ancient languages, since they were no longer relevant at that time, but the highest authorities forced schools to teach them in order to distract young people from harmful hobbies. Thus, he instilled great fear in everyone. All those who surrounded him seemed to see how he greedily hid even his thoughts from them in the same closed case.

In addition to his eccentric appearance, the modest surroundings of his place of residence were added. Belikov slept on a small bed that looked like a box. When he got into bed, he wrapped himself up from head to toe. But even this precaution did not protect Belikov from everything he feared. But what is most surprising is that the hero of our work does not try to change anything in his life, to revive it in any way, no, he is comfortable and calm within the walls of his small “box”, because in this way he does not see this a terrible spoiled world, where there are a huge number of unresolved issues, where people suffer, strive to change their lives in better side, and when encountering some troubles along the way, they must be extremely fearless and brave, be able to solve everything and direct it in the right direction.

Anton Pavlovich tells us about a man who refuses the real world, with all its difficulties and joys, because he is completely satisfied with his own, which seems to him the best.

It is surprising that such a barely visible and incomprehensible person as Belikov was lucky enough to chain the entire outside world in his iron chains, the people around him met all the requirements and worldviews of our hero. Belikov - like life itself in all its glory, that everyday dirt, the swamp that each of us has to face day after day and at almost every step, that swamp that draws deeper and deeper, pollutes everything and suffocates with all its unbearably smelling dirt . Belikov is a public power, fearless in its indestructibility, since it does not feel, it is inaccessible to more than one human interest, passions and desires. All the power of Belikov lies in his habitat, in its weak character, in the ill-considered meanness that forms the social basis of that existence where individuals like Belikov succeed.

The whole story consists of Belikov’s almost failed wedding with Varenka Kovalenko. Ruddy, with kind hearted, deep or attentive, singing, arguing Varechka who brought joy, life, with the drooping Belikov. But the point is that one fine day, the head of the gymnasium thought of bringing Belikov together in marriage with the sister of a newly arrived geography and history teacher, Kovalenko, who, when he saw Belikov, hated him. Kovalenko did not understand how one could endure this official, “this vile face.” And this same “disgusting face” also criticized the recruit for sporting a beautiful embroidered shirt, always finding himself on the street with books, plus he had also acquired a bicycle. Belikov's intention to tell the director about this conversation greatly angered Mikhail Savich and completely drove him crazy. Kovalenko, with all his anger, took Belikov from behind, by the collar and shoved him down the steps. Just as Belikov was falling down the steps, he noticed how Varenka (the same sister) came in at the same moment, accompanied by two ladies, and they saw the whole picture. Then he became an object of ridicule for everyone - it would be better to “break your neck, both legs...”, he thought. Having identified Belikov, Varenka burst out laughing: “... with this rolling, pouring “ha-ha-ha” it all ended.” After falling down the steps and being ridiculed by those around him, Belikov fell ill, lost terribly weight, turned green and became even more drawn into his imaginary case.

The basic detail of the story “The Man in a Case” was the death of the main character. He died from shock, from unbearable horror, which was caused by that event, which for Belikov was something crazy and amazing. On the day he was buried, the weather was disgusting, cloudy, like his entire existence. And Belikov himself, as in life, was in a case, which for him had already become a coffin forever. Those who buried Belikov hid their joy in their minds, thinking how wonderful it was that they had escaped the constant control of our eccentric man.

Chekhov is a virtuoso in that he does not limit himself to saying something superfluous, does not allow himself to reprimand directly, as is such people as his hero, the man in the case, he tells us his concept of their fate, of what awaits them , if they also continue to constrain and crowd those around them in their limited and bitter case of fear. Anton Pavlovich artistically uses everyday details and invisible little things of Belikov’s life in order to most accurately, most expressively display his state of mind, which fetters the subconscious of the protagonist of his story.

At the conclusion of his story, Burkin revealed to his listener a wise conceptual thought: “Isn’t the fact that we live in a city in a stuffy, cramped environment, writing unnecessary papers, playing screw - isn’t this a case?” A case life is just an insignificant human life. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov in his works constantly advocates a full of action, open life. With the story “The Man in a Case,” Chekhov wanted to show that fear of reality can have such an impact on any person that he may well drive himself into a non-existent case invented by himself. One can, so to speak, deduce from this that the “case” expressly describes the socio-political coloring: here Chekhov briefly tells a true, satirical, at times grotesque, characterization of the existence of the entire Russian elite and, in general, all of Russia in the recently ended reign of Alexander III.

“The Man in the Case” is a very interesting and educational story for young people. It has many instructive, educational moments for young people. He teaches children not to withdraw into themselves, but to talk, share their experiences, fears, and insecurities in their actions with like-minded people who can give advice that will help them not to withdraw into themselves, but to become open to society, to know how to communicate with everyone others, to get to know this world, to be able to accept information that sometimes seems inconceivable, but still it is there, you need to get used to it and, in some moments, be able to make changes in what is happening

6th grade, 10th grade

The fate of a person is closely connected with the history of the time in which he lived. We find direct evidence of this in the works of many writers. The works of M.A. Sholokhov are no exception.

Chekhov's story "The Man in a Case" is included in the collection of his works "Little Trilogy". Summary The story is this: a man hid from life all his life, and only after dying did he find his worthy place, a “case” in which nothing could disturb him. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the literary analysis of the work “The Man in a Case” according to plan. This material can be used to prepare for a literature lesson in 10th grade.

Brief Analysis

Year of writing– 1898

History of creation– The story was the completion of the trilogy. While the author was working on this work, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which led to the withering of his creativity.

Subject– The main theme of the story is a person’s avoidance of the truth of life, his isolation into his own shell. As a fact, this brings up the theme of loneliness and apathy towards life. There is also a theme of love.

Composition– The story is written in an easy-to-understand language, it is divided into small fragments in which the main idea is clearly expressed.

Genre– A story that is one of a trilogy.

Direction- Satire.

History of creation

In the year the story was written, 1898, Anton Pavlovich was already seriously ill with tuberculosis, and sought to complete work on the “little trilogy,” so the story of creation was rushed, the writer wrote less and less. When creating his hero, the author did not have a specific person in mind; the image was collective, including the characteristics of many prototypes that have some similarities with Belikov. In the same year, the story was published in the magazine.

Subject

To analyze this work in “The Man in a Case,” it is necessary to identify issues story. One of the main problems described by the author is sociopathy. A person completely isolates himself from the surrounding society, trying to hide from possible attacks of life, various unforeseen situations that could harm the measured flow of his life.

One of main topics, is the isolation of man. Such a closed person from society is shown main character story. He hides from people not only his essence, but also all his things, each of which has its own cover and case, he hides his feelings, trying to hide himself entirely from human eyes. Belikov is afraid of any manifestation of anything extraordinary that, in his opinion, goes beyond the bounds of what is permitted.

Belikov's indifference to life is terrible. This is a person who has completely withdrawn into himself. He is deeply alien to people’s desire for something new and unusual. Belikov understands that a person surrounded by other people should not avoid communicating with his own kind, but his understanding is one-sided. The essence of his communication is that he visits his colleagues, sits silently for a while, and leaves.

When it comes to love, he behaves the same way. Varenka, a candidate for his wife, is constantly with her brother and dreams of her own personal life, trying to kindle at least some feelings in her potential chosen one. All her aspirations and attempts turn out to be in vain, Belikov is not capable of showing feelings, he runs away from communication with Varenka.

The last straw that put an end to this never-begun relationship was Varenka’s riding a bicycle. For Belikov, such behavior of a girl is the height of indecency. He went to Brother Varya to point out to him that such behavior was unacceptable. Kovalenko’s rude and straightforward rebuff led Belikov into a state of stupor. He took to his bed and died a month later.

Thus ended a worthless life, the meaning of which he never found or understood. Only in the coffin did his facial expression acquire features characteristic of a normal person. Only after death did the closed and tense muscles of the face relax, and a smile froze on it. But this only meant that, finally, he was able to achieve the ideal; it lies in that case that no one will ever dare to invade.

Composition

The text of the story is divided into small semantic episodes that express the very essence of what is happening.

The description of Belikov, his entire essence, is given clearly and accurately, from which the opinion of those around him is formed. With his worldview, his caution, “no matter what happens,” this small and insignificant man managed to keep all the residents of the city in suspense. They balance all their actions with his opinion, not allowing themselves anything unnecessary, that is, restraining their manifestations of real human feelings.

A new teacher, Mikhail Kovalenko, comes to the town; he is the complete opposite of Belikov. He immediately sees the essence of what is happening, and, unlike the resigned townspeople, he is not going to adapt to Belikov. Kovalenko gives a decisive rebuff to Belikov, and he cannot withstand such a stormy onslaught, his brain is not able to process such human behavior, and Belikov’s life comes to an end.

Main characters

Genre

“The Man in a Case” belongs to the short story genre, part of the “Little Trilogy”, which continues the general idea of ​​​​these works.

The satirical direction of the story, its very construction, caused an ambiguous attitude of critics towards Chekhov's creation. Literary scholars were embarrassed by the very fact of combining the seriousness of the problems of the existing society with a caricatured character, more intended for farce. In the person of Belikov, the writer reflects the life and everyday life of many “little people” vegetating in their own little world, useless to anyone.

Anton Pavlovich subtly and unobtrusively makes it clear the meaninglessness of a “case” life, calling for an active life position and the manifestation of initiative. Inaction and indifference are the most terrible scourge of generations, poisoning the life of not only an individual, but also the entire society as a whole.

A person’s full life is impossible without the manifestation of vivid emotions, expression of one’s individuality and communication with others, which the analysis of the work “The Man in a Case” makes clear.

Work test

Rating Analysis

Average rating: 4. Total ratings received: 596.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is the author of many innovative works, where the reader sees not only subtle satire, but also a detailed description human soul. When you get acquainted with his work, it begins to seem that he is not only a prose writer, but also a very gifted psychologist.

"The Man in the Case" is one of three stories in the "Little Trilogy" series, which the author worked on for about two months in 1898. It also includes the stories “Gooseberry” and “About Love”, which Anton Pavlovich wrote in Melikhovka, where he lived with his family. He barely managed to finish working on them, because he was already suffering from tuberculosis and wrote less and less.

It is impossible to be sure that Chekhov wrote about a specific person; most likely, the central image of “The Man in a Case” is a collective one. The writer's contemporaries put forward several candidates who could serve as prototypes for Belikov, but all of them had only a slight resemblance to the hero.

Genre, conflict and composition

It is quite easy for the reader to get acquainted with the work, because it is written in simple language, which, nevertheless, is capable of causing a huge number of impressions. Style is expressed in compositions: the text is divided into small semantic fragments, focusing attention on the most important thing.

In the story we see conflict between two heroes. The author contrasts Kovalenko (life-affirming, active position, positive thinking) and Belikov (passive and lifeless vegetation, internal slavery), which helps him to further reveal the problem posed. The case becomes an artistic detail that describes the entire essence and meaning of the work and shows the inner world of the hero.

Literary genre- a story that is part of a “small trilogy” of three separate stories, but combined with one idea. “The Man in the Case” is written with an obvious satirical overtones; with this technique the writer ridicules the very essence of “ little man", who is simply afraid to live.

Meaning of the name

In his story, Chekhov warns us that absolutely any person, without wanting to, can imprison himself in a “case,” which is where the name came from. A case is understood as a fixation on an unwritten set of rules and restrictions with which people constrain themselves. Dependence on conventions turns into a disease for them and prevents them from getting closer to society.

The secluded world of prohibitions and barriers seems much better to the inhabitants of the cases; they surround themselves with a kind of shell so that the influence of the outside world does not touch them in any way. However, living locked up with your own routines and attitudes is cramped; another person will not fit in there. It turns out that a resident of a stuffy, clogged corner is doomed to loneliness, so the title of the story is fundamentally given in the singular.

Main characters

1. The main character of the story is Belikov- Greek language teacher at the gymnasium. He sets certain rules in his life, and most of all he is afraid that something will not go as planned. Belikov, even in the clearest and warmest weather, is dressed in galoshes and a warm coat with a raised collar; he hides his face behind dark glasses and a hat in order to protect himself as best as possible from influence environment: not only natural, but also social. It scares him modern reality and is irritated by everything that happens around, which is why the teacher puts on a certain case both externally and internally.
2. Mikhail Kovalenko is a new history and geography teacher who comes to work at the gymnasium with his sister. Mikhail is a young, sociable and cheerful man of tall stature, a great lover of laughing and even laughing heartily.
3. His sister Varenka- a 30-year-old woman, very cheerful and happy, loves to have fun, sing and dance. The heroine shows interest in Belikov, who, in turn, devotes time to her and agrees to go for walks in order to discuss the fact that marriage is too serious a thing. The woman still does not lose hope of stirring up the gentleman, which reveals in her such qualities as perseverance and determination.

Topics

1. The main theme of Chekhov's story is closed and isolated human life who is shy of the surrounding world and shuns any manifestation of feeling. He hides his eyes from the people around him, constantly carries all his things in a case, be it a small knife designed for sharpening a pencil, or an ordinary umbrella, which is so convenient to hide his face. Many spiritual values ​​were strange to the main character, and emotions were incomprehensible. This expresses his limitations, which poison his existence.
2. Love theme in the story it is revealed in Varenka’s attitude towards Belikov. The girl is trying to interest the hero and return him to a full life. She believes to the last that he can still change for the better. But he also closes himself off from her, because the prospect of marriage and his colleagues’ obsessive conversations about their marriage begin to frighten him.
3. Chekhov explains to the reader that the worst thing that can happen to a person is indifference to life. Belikov became so withdrawn into himself that he stopped distinguishing the colors of the world, enjoying communication, and striving for something. He no longer cares what happens outside his case, as long as numerous decencies are observed.
4. The man in the case is a collective image of timid people who are afraid of their own feelings and emotions. They abstract themselves from the world around them and withdraw into themselves. That's why theme of loneliness is also important in the story of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.

Main problems

1. Conservative. The author realizes with horror and pity that some of his contemporaries create a shell for themselves in which they perish morally and spiritually. They exist in the world, but do not live. People go with the flow, moreover, they cannot even allow fate to intervene and change something for the better. This fear of new events and changes makes people passive, inconspicuous and unhappy. Due to the abundance of such conservatives in society, stagnation forms, through which it is difficult for young shoots capable of developing and developing the country to break through.
2. The problem of the meaninglessness of life. Why did Belikov live on earth? He never made anyone happy, not even himself. The hero trembles over his every action and constantly echoes: “No matter what happens.” Bypassing fictitious sorrows and suffering, he misses happiness itself, thus, its price of psychological comfort is too high, since it destroys the very essence of people’s existence.
3. It appears before the reader the problem of happiness, more precisely, the problem of its achievement, essence and price. The hero replaces him with peace, but, on the other hand, he himself has the right to determine what is the highest value for him.
4. The problem of fear of love. The people who surround him are just as unhappy, they find themselves on the other side of a fictional case, Belikov simply cannot open up and let someone closer. The hero was never able to develop his feelings for the girl he liked, he was simply afraid of them and was left with nothing.
5. The Problem of Sociopathy. The teacher is afraid of society, despises it, isolates himself, not allowing any of the people around him to help himself. They would be happy, but he himself does not allow this.

Main idea

Chekhov was not only a doctor by training, but also a healer of souls by vocation. He realized that spiritual illness is sometimes more dangerous than physical illness. The idea of ​​the story “The Man in a Case” is a protest against lonely, closed vegetation under a shell. The author puts into the work the idea that the case must be mercilessly burned in order to feel freedom and approach life with ease.
Otherwise, the fate of a closed person may be disastrous. So, in the finale, the main character dies alone, leaving no grateful descendants, no followers, no achievements. The writer shows us how the earthly path of a “case” person can end in vain. Colleagues and acquaintances who attend his funeral are mentally happy that they have finally said goodbye to Belikov and his importunity.

Anton Pavlovich puts socio-political implications into his work, emphasizing the importance of social activity and civic initiative. He advocates a rich and fulfilling life, endows the main character with repulsive character traits in order to prove to people how pathetic and pathetic the inhabitant of the “case” looks, wasting himself.

Thus, Chekhov describes the lot of many clerks who lived sadly in a stuffy city, sorting out pieces of paper that no one needed. He ironically plays with the type of “little man,” breaking the literary tradition of depicting him in idyllic tones. His author's position- not contemplative or sentimental, but active, not tolerating compromises. The inhabitants of the case should not savor their insignificance and wait for pity, they need to change and squeeze out a slave.

What does the author teach?

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov makes us think about our own life and ask an interesting question: “Aren’t we building ourselves the same case that the main character Belikov had?” The author literally teaches us to live, showing by example how a personality that grovels before conventions and stereotypes can fade and disappear. Chekhov was really able to instill in people a disgust for a gray, worthless life, to show that inaction and indifference are the worst things that can happen to us.

The fear of discoveries and accomplishments destroys a person’s personality; he becomes pitiful and helpless, unable to show even the simplest feelings. The writer believes that human nature is much richer and more capable than what fear and laziness turn it into. Happiness, according to Chekhov, lies in a fulfilling life, where there is a place for strong emotions, interesting communication and individuality.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

The first of the stories of the “little trilogy” (besides it, the trilogy includes the stories “Gooseberry” and “About Love”) became one of the most dramatic denunciations in Chekhov’s work and Russian literature in general of the “caseness” of the spiritual existence of most of the Russian intelligentsia at the turn of the century, its her inability to take responsibility for her destiny, her fear of living a full life and the desire to replace the real life with an invented one. The image of the main character of the story “The Man in a Case” became a household name - when it came to a person’s fear of living like a human being, however, one cannot perceive the image of Belikov in a simplified way, it has features that cannot be ignored before passing the final “sentence” on Belikov .

Thus, Chekhov emphasizes that his hero, who sought to surround himself with “cases”, “cases”, “cases”, experienced an “irresistible” desire for this, and “Reality irritated him, frightened him, kept him in constant anxiety.” As we see, this no longer depends on the hero, he cannot overcome the instinctive fear of life, and one can only sympathize with him: after all, this is, in essence, a nightmare life. And he is a teacher, he has to constantly deal not just with life, but with children who cannot behave decorously and nobly... Is it possible in this case to condemn Belikov for the fact that he is afraid of life, he hides from it? Hardly.

The rest of the teachers of the gymnasium are opposed to Belikov, they are “all-thinking people, deeply decent, brought up on Turgenev and Shchedrin.” However, they succumb to the influence of Belikov, who, paradoxically, does not demand to prohibit anything, he only says: “It is, of course, so and so, all this is wonderful, but no matter what happens.” And he does not demand that anyone be expelled from the gymnasium, but says that “it would be very good” if so-and-so were expelled - and for him it would indeed be very good! And these “thinking and decent” teachers themselves come to the conclusion that they should be excluded! Thus they betray their students, and not at all under the influence of Belikov, but because they themselves want to live in peace...

In the story of Belikov’s “marriage,” the teachers also don’t look very good. They decide to “get rid” of Belikov, want to marry him, and do it... “out of boredom”! They decide a person’s fate without understanding what such a drastic change in life means for a person like Belikov. “The machine started working,” writes Chekhov, and “thinking people” have a “goal in life,” they “spoke various vulgarities to important people, such as that marriage is a serious step” (for them, it turns out, this is “vulgarity.” "...). None of them even thought that “the first woman who treated him kindly, cordially...” appeared in Belikov’s life! The spiritual deafness of “thinking” people reaches its apogee when someone draws a caricature of Belikov, ridicules his feeling for Varenka, which for a person like him means more than just love - he enters into that sphere of life whose existence he didn't even suspect it.

It is not Belikov’s fault that he is afraid of life, and his “fall” (literally and figuratively) in front of the woman he loves is, indeed, the end of his life. The death of the hero frees all “thinking” teachers from his presence, which is why they rejoice: “I confess, burying people like Belikov is a great pleasure.” But then why did everyone “have modest, lean faces”? Why are they being hypocrites? After all, Belikov was never a hypocrite, he remained himself even in the grave: “Yes, he achieved his ideal!”? And how did the “long-awaited freedom” end for all of them? “But no more than a week passed, and life went on as before, the same harsh, tiresome, stupid life... it didn’t get any better,” says Burkin. So it turns out that the matter is not in Belikov, but in themselves.

It is easy to notice that in the story “The Man in the Case,” which we analyzed, main theme is the theme of a person’s personal responsibility for himself and his actions, and Chekhov proves that only the person himself is responsible for this, and attempts to shift his blame onto someone indicate moral irresponsibility.