The Examining Magistrate by Anton Chekhov

This short story revolves around a young lawyer who is tasked with investigating the death of a peasant woman. The lawyer's inquiry reveals that the woman was murdered by her husband, but he is acquitted due to lack of evidence. The narrative explores themes of justice, morality, and the social hierarchy of rural Russia during the late 19th century. Through the lawyer's investigation, Chekhov critiques the flaws in the Russian judicial system and highlights the difficulties faced by those seeking justice in a society governed by tradition and class divisions. The story also delves into the psychological complexities of the characters involved, particularly the lawyer who is torn between his duty to uncover the truth and his own sense of morality.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1904 · Genre: Psychological Drama, Tragedy, Mystery · 2,324 words

First lines

A district doctor and an examining magistrate were driving one fine spring day to an inquest. The examining magistrate, a man of five and thirty, looked dreamily at the horses and said:

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Similar titles

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Genres

• Psychological Drama — The narrative explores the psychological complexities of the characters, particularly the examining magistrate's internal conflict and emotional turmoil.
• Tragedy — The story revolves around themes of death, despair, and the consequences of personal actions, culminating in a tragic outcome.
• Mystery — The unexplained circumstances surrounding the woman's death create a sense of mystery that drives the dialogue and character interactions.
• Realism — The portrayal of everyday life, social interactions, and the characters' realistic emotions reflects the principles of realism.

Tags

Satire · Social Commentary · Comedy · Courtroom Drama · Russian Literature · Realism · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Morality Play · Justice System Critique · Bureaucratic Red Tape · Corruption

What this Textopian page supports

The Examining Magistrate 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: Psychological Drama, Tragedy, Mystery, Realism, Philosophical Fiction
• Length: 2,324 words
• Structure: 1 section, 55 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Examining Magistrate by Anton Chekhov
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
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More by Anton Chekhov

• The Horse-Stealers 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)
• The Witch and Other Stories (1900)
• All works by Anton Chekhov