Which character is a chameleon? We analyze the story of A.P. Chekhov "Chameleon"

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

"Brevity is the sister of talent." This saying can be successfully applied to the work of its author, Anton Chekhov. Without going beyond a short story or short story, he could create capacious images, touch on a large number of different topics - social and eternal. Using telling names, details, sparingly commenting on the actions of the characters, Chekhov transformed everyday, domestic situations into something more - something that allows you to judge how good or angry a person is, how happy, etc. All this can be applied to the story "Chameleon". How does the writer feel about Khryukin and Ochumelov? Which character is a chameleon? This article is devoted to the answer to this question.

History of creation and genre features

"Chameleon" belongs to the genre of humorous story. As you know, during the early period of his work (the 80s of the century before last), Chekhov created dozens, if not hundreds, of various stories, short stories, "pictures", "small things" and skits. In themhe ridiculed various human failings. And "Chameleon", being written in 1884 and published in "Shards" under the pseudonym of Antosh Chekhonte, is no exception. Let's try to find out what shortcoming Chekhov is laughing at this time, and which of the heroes is a chameleon. But first, let's take a look at the content.

Storyline

A distinctive feature of Chekhov's prose is dynamism. There are no long reflections, references of the author to the past. On the contrary, the action takes place here and now, very rapidly. The story begins with a description of how a police officer named Ochumelov passes through the market square. The description of the details of the appearance of the main character, as well as the surrounding space, is given sparingly. However, it will not be difficult for a reader with a good imagination to imagine an overweight middle-aged man (well, what else can a police officer be) and a policeman walking next to him, who has an unbearable burden in his hands - a sieve with confiscated gooseberries. The square is very quiet and depressing (“there are not even beggars”). Undoubtedly, the depicted town is a stronghold of philistinism, to which Chekhov had a terrible disgust.

But back to the story. The measured procession of Ochumelov and the mayor is interrupted by noise. Another second - and the men see how a dog runs out of the barn, and then Khryukin, a goldsmith, chasing after her, with a bloodied finger. It draws a crowd. Ochumelov listens to the story of the victim (whom the dog bit because the drunkardpoked him in the face with a cigarette) and concludes: exterminate the dog. But then someone notices that the animal may belong to the general. Ochumelov immediately takes the side of the dog, until the policeman expresses doubts about the origin of the dog. So Ochumelov changes his mind several times, until Prokhor, the general's cook, passing by, testifies: the animal belongs to the general's brother, who came on a visit. This evokes a touching smile from the warden and a threat against Khryukin. End of story. One thing is unclear: who is the chameleon in Chekhov's story? And how to explain the title of the work? The usual retelling of the plot of the text will not answer these questions.

So which character is the chameleon?

In Chekhov's prose, the comparison of a character with an animal always denotes its negative evaluation. Whom you will not meet in the stories of the writer: and round, like a beetle, the protagonist, who has a herring wife. And even if you run into a ram in human form, it's a disaster! Very often in this bestiary you can also find chameleons who have the ability to change their minds in relation to the situation. So which character is the chameleon? The answer is simple: warder Ochumelov, whose change in behavior caused the crowd to be surprised, and the reader to have an ironic smile.

Comic Techniques

Besides comparisons with animals, Chekhov also refers to other comic techniques, such as speaking surnames. Chervyakov, Gryaznorukov, Gnilodushkin, Polzukhin … Ochumelov andKhryukin. To understand the image of the latter, the speaking surname is especially important. Despite the fact that the first reading of the goldsmiths, the master can be mistaken for a victim, an attentive reader will notice the spiritual dullness of the character, which will allow him to be compared to a pig.

You need to pay attention to the details. In Chekhov they are also speaking. So, the incessant change of decisions, which already looks rather comical in itself, is emphasized by the overseer's requests to put on and then take off his coat. The possibility of falling out of favor with the general directly affects Ochumelov physically, making him feel hot or cold.

Author's intent

So, the question of which of the characters is a chameleon in Chekhov's work is resolved. However, does this mean that the rest of the characters pass by the author's all-seeing eye? Of course not. We mentioned above that Chekhov indirectly ridicules Khryukin, but the author is not limited to these two characters only. He criticizes the entire city, which Anton Pavlovich needed a couple of lines to describe.

Chekhov's story is a very useful work that needs to be studied at school. Thanks to him, the younger generation will learn who is a chameleon (of those they meet on the path of life), and who, on the contrary, is a kind and honest person.