The Brute--Smirnov vs. Mrs. Popov

In the drama The Brute, Anton Checkov displays how men feel that women treat men, and in the same respect how women feel that men treat women. The portrayal of characters in this drama is somewhat humorous because regardless of the outward expression of the main characters, love is in the air and the expectations of men and women concerning each other are forced aside in the end.

To begin, Smirnov enters the play as being someone with complete disrespect for anyone of the opposite sex. He has absolutely no shame in speaking vulgar words such as “idiot” and “damn” or saying inappropriate phrases like “God damn it to hell” in front of a woman; Mrs. Popov in particular. Smirnov acts as if he is desensitized to love, compassion, emotion, and tenderness. It is obvious that Smirnov’s actions are merely an “act” and not his true nature because even from the point of introduction to Mrs. Popov, Smirnov cannot help but make hidden compliments about her “schoolgirl dimples,” or speak of “how charmante [she] look[s]

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