Misery

             Anton Chekhov's character Iona Potapov, in "Misery", is having difficulty coping with his loneliness. Through Iona's desolation, he is unable to express his grief, due to the death of his son, which continues to contribute to his misery. Chekhov emphasizes this quality through Iona's interactions with the officer, the three men, and his mare.
             In the beginning of the story, Iona escorts the officer, who is disinclined to listen to him. The cabman has difficulty expressing himself, at first, to the officer. He "looks at his fare and moves his lips," apparently meaning to say something, but nothing comes out. Iona desperately seeks someone to whom he can share his sorrow with. Once Iona begins telling the story of his son's death, the officer is somewhat attentive. The officer is disinterested, more concerned with his destination, then orders the cabman to keep driving. Iona is no longer able to reach the officer's attention. Iona accomplishes nothing and the pain intensifies. The fare is over, and poor Potapov is left alone.
             Not only does Iona encounter this uncaring and disinterested attitude with the officer, but he also does with another fare immediately after. The three men offer the cabman twenty kopecks which isn't reasonable enough, but Iona doesn't care as long as he has a fare. The money isn't as important to him; it's the company he gets from them that he cherishes. Although he has several fares, he is still unable to find that one person that will listen to him and to coincide with in his pain. The men abuse the cabman by making unnecessary remarks and by even physically assaulting him. However, Iona "hears the abuse addressed to him, he sees people, and the feeling of loneliness begins little by little to be less heavy on his heart." He begins to tell them about hi
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Misery . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 13:26, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/59427.html