The story follows a group of peasants who are preparing for the Orthodox Christian holiday of Shrove Tuesday. The narrator, a young man named Ivan, reflects on the meaninglessness of their celebrations and the oppression they face under the landowners. As the night progresses, Ivan becomes increasingly disillusioned with the state of affairs and feels trapped in his small village.
By Anton Chekhov · First published 1892 · Genre: Fiction, Short Stories, Realism