The Slander

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian physician, playwright, and prolific author. He is famous for his mastery of crafting short stories. Anton Chekhov published his earliest stories and sketches in various popular magazines under pseudonyms, the most often used being “Antosha Chekhonte.” As that pen name hints, he was at first an unassuming and relatively compliant “hack,” willing to dash off careless pieces fashioned for the popular reader. Most are light, topical studies of social types, often running less than a thousand words. Many are mere sketches or extended jokes, often banal or cynical. Some are farces, built on caricatures. Others are brief parodies of popular genres, including the romantic novel. In A Slander by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of class, conflict, gossip, paranoia, appearance, trust and responsibility. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of class. Each individual mentioned at the beginning of the story has a secure, well paid job which associates them with the middle classes. It is also noticeable that those of a lower class are standing outside looking through a window at proceedings... The most famous and inspirational works of Anton Pavlovich Chehov include The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull, Three Sisters, A Murder,  Uncle Vanya, A Dead Body, The Duel, A Doctor's visit, Ward No. 6, The Looking-Glass, The Black Monk, The Bishop and many more.