The Bear by Anton Chekhov (1888)

Name: The Bear
Author: Anton Chekhov

Elena Ivanovna Popova, a young widowed landowner, has shut herself indoors for seven months in strict mourning for her late husband Nicolai Mihailovitch, vowing never to leave the house or remove her black weeds and to remain true to his memory until her own death. Her aged footman Luka begs her to stop mourning so extremely, reminding her that life goes on around her — neighbors, officers, dances — but she insists her life ended with her husband's death and that she means to prove her fidelity to his ghost, even though she admits he was often unfair, cruel, and unfaithful to her while alive. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Grigory Stepanovitch Smirnov, a middle-aged landowner and retired lieutenant of artillery, who has come to collect a debt of one thousand two hundred roubles that Nicolai Mihailovitch owed him for oats. Popova explains she has no cash on hand and asks him to wait until the day after tomorrow, when her steward returns from town, but Smirnov says he must pay interest on a mortgage tomorrow and cannot wait. He refuses to leave until he is paid, declaring he will sit there for as long as it takes, even a year. The dispute escalates into a heated argument. Smirnov, tired and dusty from chasing other unpaying debtors, rails against women in general as insincere and incapable of real love, contrasting them unfavorably with men, whom he claims are the truly faithful sex. Popova indignantly defends her own devotion to her late husband's memory and grows increasingly offended by Smirnov's rudeness. When Luka tries to eject Smirnov, Smirnov intimidates him into collapsing in fright. Popova calls Smirnov a boor, a bear, a monster, and a Bourbon, and he demands satisfaction for the insult, declaring they must duel. Popova, undeterred by being a woman, agrees at once and fetches her late husband's pistols. Smirnov instructs her in how to hold and aim the revolver, secretly growing captivated by her spirited defiance. They prepare to go into the garden to fight, but Smirnov admits he intends to fire into the air, and when pressed on why, he confesses it is because he has fallen for her. Popova is outraged and orders him away, but as he turns to leave, she stops him, torn between anger and reluctance to let him go. Smirnov returns, declares his love more forcefully, kneels, and impulsively proposes marriage, listing his income and property. Popova refuses to answer plainly, alternately telling him to go and to stay, insisting she hates him even as she does not send him off. Smirnov embraces her, and they kiss. At that moment Luka bursts in with an axe, followed by the gardener with a rake, the coachman with a pitchfork, and workmen with poles, having armed themselves fearing violence — and they discover the pair locked in an embrace. Popova, without further explanation, calmly tells Luka that Toby is to have no oats at all that day, as the curtain falls.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1888 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance · 6,300 words

First lines

CHARACTERS / ELENA IVANOVNA POPOVA, a landowning little widow, with dimples / on her cheeks / GRIGORY STEPANOVITCH SMIRNOV, a middle-aged landowner / LUKA, Popova's aged footman

[A drawing-room in POPOVA'S house.]

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The Bear is listed on Textopian as a play by Anton Chekhov, dated 1888 CE.

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Work type: Play
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: 1888 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Farce
Length: 6,300 words
Structure: 1 section, 164 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genres

Drama — At it's core, The Bear by Anton Chekhov is a play that revolves around the intricacies of human relationships and emotions, hence it is primarily a drama.
Comedy — The Bear also contains elements of humor and absurdity, rendering it a comedy.
Romance — The unexpected romantic involvement between two main characters gives the play a touch of romance.
Farce — As the situation in the play involving a widow, a creditor, and a valet gets exceedingly ridiculous, it also can be considered a farce.