The Witch by Anton Chekhov (1907)

Name: The Witch
Author: Anton Chekhov

A young woman lives with her husband and son on a remote island. She is unhappy and feels isolated from the rest of society. Her husband is cold and distant, and she begins to suspect that he is having an affair. The woman's unhappiness deepens as she becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea of her husband's infidelity. She starts to see signs everywhere, including a mysterious stranger who appears on the island. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the woman's perceptions are distorted and unreliable. Her obsession with her husband's supposed affair is fueled by her own feelings of isolation and loneliness. The story explores themes of love, marriage, and the human psyche, raising questions about the nature of reality and the reliability of perception.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1907 · Genre: Drama, Realism, Psychological Fiction · 5,789 words

First lines

It was approaching nightfall. The sexton, Savely Gykin, was lying in his huge bed in the hut adjoining the church. He was not asleep, though it was his habit to go to sleep at the same time as the hens. His coarse red hair peeped from under one end of the greasy patchwork quilt, made up of coloured rags, while his big unwashed feet stuck out from the other. He was listening. His hut adjoined the wall that encircled the church and the solitary window in it looked out upon the open country. And out there a regular battle was going on. It was hard to say who was being wiped off the face of the earth, and for the sake of whose destruction nature was being churned up into such a ferment; but, judging from the unceasing malignant roar, someone was getting it very hot. A victorious force was in full chase over the fields, storming in the forest and on the church roof, battering spitefully with its fists upon the windows, raging and tearing, while something vanquished was howling and wailing. A plaintive lament sobbed at the window, on the roof, or in the stove. It sounded not like a call for help, but like a cry of misery, a consciousness that it was too late, that there was no salvation. The snowdrifts were covered with a thin coating of ice; tears quivered on them and on the trees; a dark slush of mud and melting snow flowed along the roads and paths. In short, it was thawing, but through the dark night the heavens failed to see it, and flung flakes of fresh snow upon the melting earth at a terrific rate. And the wind staggered like a drunkard. It would not let the snow settle on the ground, and whirled it round in the darkness at random.

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The Witch is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anton Chekhov, dated 1907 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: 1907 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Realism, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy, Folklore
Length: 5,789 words
Structure: 1 section, 123 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

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Genres

Drama — The work explores intense interpersonal conflicts and emotional struggles between the characters, particularly focusing on themes of jealousy, suspicion, and desire.
Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of rural life, social dynamics, and the psychological complexities of the characters, reflecting the everyday struggles of ordinary people.
Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters, particularly the sexton and his wife, revealing their psychological states and motivations.
Tragedy — The underlying themes of despair, unfulfilled desires, and the potential for personal ruin contribute to a tragic atmosphere throughout the narrative.