World Literature: Anton Chekhov “The Student”

Mingyu Kim 121015

World Literature: Anton Chekhov “The Student”

“The Student” is a short story that keeps getting better and better every time one reads it. At first glance, the story feels rather mundane and unremarkable—a student of the clerical academy preaches to two widows about Apostle Peter and is struck by a sudden epiphany that the past, the present, and the future are all intertwined in an “unbroken chain of events.” It is certainly not a story which a typical reader can feel a strong connection to on the first read. Yet, for some reason “The Student” is considered the epitome of short stories and is often deemed the “perfect short story” by many scholars. Why?

“The Student” is a work that requires further exploration in order to fully appreciate its sophisticated theme. Furthermore, it is a controversial story because its open ending allows for various interpretations. I personally found “The Student” to be rather uninteresting in regards to the story itself but I do admire it as a work of literature. The story is surely not purported for mere entertainment but rather serves to provide a perspective on a particular attitude held by the Russian society at the time or perhaps even on the philosophy that the past, present and future are related.

                  The first time I read this story, I didn’t know what I read. It was unlike any short story I had ever read before. There was no evident plot nor was there a clear conclusion. The story begins with the student, Ivan Velikopolski, preaching about Apostle Peter to the two widows he had just met and ends with the student in an intangible epiphany. Throughout the story, one of the most important scene open for interpretation is the meaning of the tears of the old woman, Vasilisa. If the tears were as the student had thought from the connection to Apostle Peter, his epiphany may have been considered valid. However, otherwise, Ivan's so-called epiphany would have been a false epiphany as he failed to understand that his perception of the world as an educated elite differ greatly from others.

Rereading helped me get a grip on the general flow of the story but it was the historical context of Russia at the time and also characteristics of Anton Chekhov that allowed me to get a greater understanding on the story. In the year 1894, in which the book was written, Russia was experiencing a transition from the reign of Alexander III to the reign of Nicholas II. The reign of Alexander III, during which I suppose the short story would have been written, was a period defined by three keywords: Russian Orthodoxy (religion), Autocracy, and Nationality. Russia in 1891-1892 also suffered from a terrible famine along with a cholera epidemic that swept across the nation. In other words, it was a time of oppression, a time of destitution, and a time of crisis. Anton Chekhov was an atheist during a period which everyone was forced to accept the Eastern Orthodox Church—it seems obvious that Chekhov was not an ardent supporter of the autocratic regime that was in place at the time. I took these factors into consideration to reach the conclusion that the ultimate message of the story leans towards cynicism rather than optimism. He wouldn't be appealing for optimism as it would become a propagand for the Russian regime-something Chekhov wouldn't want.

Through this story, I personally think Anton Chekhov intended to criticize the student, Ivan Velikopolski, for his limited view of the world. Though it seems that Ivan is not from an affluent family, he did receive education at the clerical academy which usually for the elite. It would seem that this type of upbringing influenced Ivan greatly as he is only able to view the world from his perspective—from the perspective of a student with an elite upbringing. The student preached his ideals and knowledge, believing that it applied to everyone. I think Chekhov wanted the readers to acknowledge and view the world from a broader perspective.