Expensive Lessons by Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She struggles with the moral implications of her decision and the emptiness of her new life. The narrative explores themes of materialism, love, and personal growth through the protagonist's experiences.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1904 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Comedy · 2,780 words

First lines

For a cultivated man to be ignorant of foreign languages is a great inconvenience. Vorotov became acutely conscious of it when, after taking his degree, he began upon a piece of research work.

"It's awful," he said, breathing hard (although he was only twenty-six he was fat, heavy, and suffered from shortness of breath).

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What this Textopian page supports

Expensive Lessons is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1904 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Anton Chekhov
• Date: 1904 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Literary Fiction, Romance, Comedy, Drama, Social Commentary
• Length: 2,780 words
• Structure: 1 section, 51 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for Expensive Lessons by Anton Chekhov
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

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Genres

• Literary Fiction — The work explores complex characters and their emotional and intellectual struggles, focusing on personal growth and societal issues.
• Romance — The narrative centers around the protagonist's unrequited love and emotional turmoil regarding his teacher.
• Comedy — The interactions between the characters often contain humorous elements, particularly in the misunderstandings and social dynamics.
• Drama — The story presents serious themes of love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, creating a dramatic tension.

Tags

Russian Literature · Short Stories · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Marriage · Family Dynamics · Morality · Ethics · Philosophy · Psychology · Realism · Satire

More by Anton Chekhov

• The Horse-Stealers and Other Stories (1900)
• The Schoolmaster and Other Stories (1900)
• The Party and Other Stories (1900)
• The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories (1900)
• The Bishop and Other Stories (1900)
• The Duel and Other Stories (1900)
• The Schoolmistress and Other Stories (1900)
• The Wife and Other Stories (1900)
• All works by Anton Chekhov