A brief analysis of the "Chameleon" by Chekhov A. P.

It turned out that many doctors who changed their doctor’s tools to a pen, do not like people too much. Rather, the writers-doctors (A.P. Chekhov and M.A. Bulgakov) have a complex attitude towards man, a twofold: on the one hand, they do not like a man for his shortcomings and cruelly scourge them in their works, and on the other - pity their fellow. The theme of our article is “Analysis of the Chekhov“ Chameleon ”. She talks about Russian classics as a talented exposer of human vices. The focus is on conformism and opportunism.

Noise on the market

Opens the story "Chameleon" scene in the market square. The attention of the police overseer (Ochumelov) was attracted by the noise: the wood merchant Pichugin cursed no one knew whom. When the policeman figured out, it turned out that the brawler was arguing with a dog. A crowd had already gathered at the scene, to which the overseer went, in order to clarify the details of what had happened.

Pichugin and puppy

Goremyku-Pichugin was bitten by a dog - a small puppy of a greyhound breed, as evidenced by the unfortunate bloodied finger raised up. The merchant insisted on compensation, because he had failed in the labor sense, perhaps for a whole week.

First, the policeman decides to strangle the puppy, thinking that he is a stray. Then one of the people says: “So this is from the general’s pack.” The policeman is changing before our eyes: the victim Pichugin turns into the culprit, then you hear: "Oh no, he is a roving one." Ochumelov’s mood changes pole again.

Chef Prokhor

So they would have stood all day in the market square, if it were not for the general’s cook - Prokhor, who resolved the situation in favor of the dog, saying that this was not a general’s puppy, but recently the owner’s brother came to visit them, this is his animal. As a result, it does not end in favor of the bitten one.

The analysis of Chekhov's “Chameleon” is preceded by the plot of the work; without it, the study does not have the necessary factual basis.

Conformism as a characteristic of a minor rank in Russia

Is it possible to blame the overseer for opportunism? It is possible to condemn, but this is pointless, because the less the rank of a person, the more dependent on other people. The only thing Ochumelov could do was not rush to conclusions and understand the situation in detail, and not make himself a public fool. The analysis of Chekhov's “Chameleon” moves on and goes beyond its own limits. The theme of conformism thematically closes the chameleon and the mask.

Chekhov's “mask” and the case of conformism in elite circles

It turns out, as Chekhov shows, a person adapts himself not only for fear of starvation, but, so to speak, out of habit to fool and obsess. To prove this sad fact will help us not only the analysis of Chekhov's “Chameleon”, but also the psychological study of “Masks” - works by the same author.

Case in the library

Place of event - public club, time 00:00. In the midst of a masquerade ball, but somehow people who didn’t dance were there, they retired to the library and read in it.

Suddenly a man appears in a lackey uniform and in a mask. He is followed by a waiter with a tray of wine and two ladies of easy virtue. The footman begins to give orders noisily where to put alcohol, where better to sit down and so on. Is it not true that the plot of this work of the Russian classic is slightly reminiscent of the events of the previous composition, even if you do not go deep into the analysis of Chekhov's story “The Chameleon”.

Then he is taken for library visitors. Tells them all sorts of nasty things, yells at them. In a word, it behaves extremely unpleasantly and defiantly.

This behavior is all the more outrageous, because respectable people gathered in a quiet corner of the public club, among them even the director of the bank was present, the police ran away to the noise from the library, and the dancing stopped.

Masks are ripped off, there are no more masks

A man in a lackey uniform, having waited for as many people as possible to gather, rips off the mask from his face, and underneath is a local brawler and millionaire. All the assembled stand as if struck by thunder, from their indignation there is not a trace left. On the contrary, everyone cleans the library room for three seconds, leaving the manufacturer alone with the mamsels. The narrative ends with the emblematic phrase of the police chief: "A scoundrel, a vile person, but a benefactor! .. It’s impossible! ..". This "impossible" sits thoroughly in the minds and souls of those who are forced to submit to their superiors all their lives. Indeed, the analysis of Chekhov's story “The Chameleon” leads us to the same conclusion.

Why is Russian man incapable of civilized rebellion against rudeness?

A.S. Pushkin also said: "The Russian revolt is senseless and merciless." Russia is a country of contrasts and contradictions. Usually a Russian person says about himself (or his brothers): "I can only do two things well: work and fight." It seems to us that he is not too fair to himself. In fact, the Russian feels great only in extreme conditions and situations, and the rest of the time he perfectly suffers all sorts of inconveniences. To this conclusion we are led by an analysis of Chekhov's work “The Chameleon,” and, of course, not only he suggests such thoughts. But if suddenly the Russian person gets tired of enduring, then save yourself, who can.

Usually, we Russians are very proud of both our patience and our firepower. But is there anything to be proud of? Perhaps the contradictions of our national character do not allow us to finally arrange our life as required by the laws of the mind?

We are very proud of our spirituality, as if it justifies the "Bulgakov devastation" prevailing everywhere. Perhaps the Russian man is also hinting that without ruin there would have been no spirituality? In any case, the Russian classic A.P. Chekhov does not believe in this. "Chameleon" (analysis of it also) confirms that for one of the most famous doctors in literature, spirituality is separate, and "devastation" is separate. There is nothing wrong with clean entrances and general order, and there is nothing wrong with putting boors in their place. One trouble - because of his character, the Russian people are not inclined to half measures.

Is there a way out?

In the early works of A.P. Chekhov does not give any recipes. In the composition “Gooseberry”, the writer in his usual manner draws a person without embellishment, but then the narrator unexpectedly concludes: “Do good while you can.”

Of course, the analysis of A.P. Chekhov's story “The Chameleon” does not have such a conclusion, but it is necessary to understand what kind of counterarguments we have against this “impossible” policeman from the Mask, so we resort to the help of a later adult Chekhov.

Youth is satisfied with what it exposes. Maturity still wants to find some way out of this situation, somehow overcome the evil that reigns in the world. Only good can resist evil. This was a brief analysis of Chekhov's “Chameleon”.