Literary Analysis
Money changes everything; Anton Chekhov demonstrates that the mere thoughtof money can severely impact a personal relationship in his short story,"The Lottery Ticket." An older couple with a family holds what could be awinning lottery ticket, but resists checking the numbers while theydaydream about what they might do with the money. At first, their reactionto the possibility of wealth is joyful; but rather than share their dreamsand communicate their wishes, Ivan Dmitritch and his wife Masha recede intotheir own worlds. Because Ivan is the protagonist, the reader is more privyto his thoughts; however, both of them plan for an influx of money. Afteronly a brief and cold discussion about perhaps buying a villa, investing,or traveling, they immediately slip into paranoia and resentment. Ivanperceives his wife suddenly as being very old, as "stingy," and as one whowould thwart his happiness. However, the first line of the story shows thatIvan was "very well satisfied with his lot." The couple has obviously beenmarried long enough to have fallen into their respective routines: sheclears the table while he reads the paper on the sofa after supper.However, Ivan and Masha appear intimate and loving while t
However, as hedreams of a new life, Masha is noticeably excluded from his plans. Therefore,it was Masha who purchased the ticket. In fact, Masha did noteven protest when Ivan voiced his desires about spending the money in hisown way; she clearly intended the winnings to be shared between themequally. " However, suppressed resentmentstoward one another soon come to the fore, even before they know whether ornot they have won for sure. torment and tantalize oneself withhopes of possible fortune. The initial moments of anticipation areexperienced as pleasure, "tingling and terrible and sweet," Moreover, bothIvan and Masha relish the suspense. When they check theticket and come up empty, their perception of each other has indeliblychanged. In Chekhov's "TheLottery Ticket," money-even imaginary money--definitely does not buy love;in fact, it has the potential to destroy it. " Ivan has a totally different perception of himself, as being"young, fresh, and healthy, and might well have got married again. Ivan's daydreamingindicates deeper tensions in their marriage. Hishappiness subsumes hers; when he thinks about foreign travel, Ivan'sfeelings erupt in a swarm of resentment. Furthermore, because Masha is the one who bought and therefore controls theticket, Ivan's resentment of her grows. These tensions hinge on Ivan's perception of Masha as a wife. She simply asked if shecould accompany Ivan should he choose to go abroad.
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Acceptance Essays
