
The story revolves around a wealthy landowner who invites a poor relative to live with him at his estate. The relative's presence disrupts the household and causes tension among the family members. The landowner's wife is particularly affected, feeling trapped by her husband's decision and struggling to cope with the changes in their lives. Meanwhile, the relative's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, causing further chaos. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the relative's presence serves as a catalyst for the family's underlying issues to surface. The landowner's wife is forced to confront her own feelings of resentment and frustration, while the landowner is faced with the consequences of his decision. Ultimately, the relative's departure brings a sense of relief to the household, but also highlights the deeper problems that still need to be addressed.
By Anton Chekhov · First published 1889 · Genre: Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary · 3,024 words
In the low-pitched, crooked little hut of Artyom, the forester, two men were sitting under the big dark icon -- Artyom himself, a short and lean peasant with a wrinkled, aged-looking face and a little beard that grew out of his neck, and a well-grown young man in a new crimson shirt and big wading boots, who had been out hunting and come in for the night. They were sitting on a bench at a little three-legged table on which a tallow candle stuck into a bottle was lazily burning.
A Troublesome Visitor is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1889 CE.
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Satire · Social Commentary · Comedy · Farce · Russian Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Short Story Collection · Marriage · Family Dynamics · Class Conflict · Morality · Ethics