Anton Chekhov: "Chameleon" and his heroes

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

People don't always act with the truth. However, this applies to each of us. Anton Chekhov also noticed this fact. "Chameleon" is a story about just such opinion-changing individuals. People who adjust to circumstances don't act as wisely as they think. From the outside, this behavior looks ridiculous and absurd. The author ridicules the inability to defend his opinion and the desire to please high-ranking officials. Such a trait is inherent in every person, it’s just that some people manage to get rid of it, while others continue to live in fear of what others will think of them.

Chekhov's story "Chameleon" takes the reader to the market square. City guardian Ochumelov importantly walks between people and closely follows their every movement. The townspeople are bored about their business. Nothing interesting, if not for the sudden cries of a man who was allegedly bitten by a dog. MasterKhryukin proudly shows his wounded finger to the crowd, arguing and demanding justice. Police officer Ochumelov gladly enters into action and decides: to find the owner of the dog and write off the fine from him, and immediately exterminate the animal itself. Policeman Eldyrin fully agrees with him and begins to draw up a protocol.

It is not strange that such a creation was written by a lover of irony Chekhov. "Chameleon" is a humorous story that raises important social issues that are still relevant today. Policeman Ochumelov acts as a negative hero, funny and pathetic. He is the very chameleon that changes color depending on the situation. He loudly opposes the dog and its owner only until the moment when someone from the crowd reports that the puppy is a general's. Doubts begin to overcome the confidence of the peace officer. He instantly becomes hot from his own fear. The coat is a symbol of excitement and cowardice, the sycophancy of the hero.

As the brilliant writer Anton Chekhov intended, "Chameleon" aroused the interest of readers. This literary work is still considered a classic of the genre. They read the story, laugh at the main characters, draw conclusions for themselves. The climax, the most intense moment of the work, comes when another character enters the stage. General's cook Prokhor confirms that his master has never had such dogs.

I didn't forget to make Chekhov's denouement interesting. "Chameleon" is a boring story. The plot here is quite simple, but keeps the reader's attention until the very end. Policeman Ochumelov is pleased with himself and his big words. However, the denouement is extremely unexpected. According to the cook, the puppy belongs to General Zhigalov's brother. Seven sweats descended from the forehead of Ochumelov, who, with a sycophantic smile, gave the dog to Prokhor. Nobody mentioned the victim. He was told to keep quiet and hide such a minor wound away.

Wrote Anton Chekhov's "Chameleon", a summary of which was disclosed above, in the hope of conveying to the human mind the idea that sycophancy puts a person in a ridiculous position. It is unlikely that recognition will be achieved in this way, respect will be lost forever. Police officer Ochumelov wanted to show his power, as a result he became a real laughingstock for the whole city.