Chekhov's story "Kashtanka" as a child was read by everyone. However, many people confuse the plot of a literary work with the content of cartoons. The first was created in 1952. The second - not so long ago, in 2004. The interpretation in both the first and second cases is very free. What are the reviews about Kashtanka of those who see the undoubted difference between the literary source and adaptation?
History of creation
Judging by the readers' reviews, Chekhov's “ Kashtanka ” is perceived by many as a heart-rending story about a dog who once lost its owner. The story of the creation of the work says that the writer addressed this topic for a reason. He loved animals. Moreover, once even tamed a real crane. By the way, Anton Pavlovich also had a cat named Fedor Timofeevich: apparently, a prototype of a phlegmatic and despising everything around the artist from the story " Kashtanka ".
In reviews of those who are more deeply familiar with the work of Anton Chekhov, as a rule, the hidden meaning of the work is presented. Using animal behavior as an example, the author allegedly pointed to common human vices. One way or another, the prose writer was inspired by a story that once happened to Vladimir Durov. The trainer connected to his performances a dog that once belonged to a joiner. This story continues. Durov sued the joiner; as a result, the dog stayed with him.
" Chestnut ", reviews of which are presented below, was published in 1887. It is worth recalling the content of this work in order to understand whether it really has a philosophical subtext. But first, let's get acquainted with the reviews about the book " Kashtanka ", which were left by writers of the late XIX century.
Criticism
Reviews about " Kashtanka " in 1888 were mostly positive. In St. Petersburg, Chekhov's work was liked by everyone. One of the critics wrote to the author: " Your story is really pretty, if not for the crumpled end , it would become one of your greatest works." But there were not only laudatory reviews. A brief review of “ Kashtanka ” was left by A.R. Disterlo . The writer laconically reproached Chekhov with a superficial attitude to life.
Misconduct
That is what the first chapter of Chekhov's work is called. True, it is not clear who these words refer to. The author created a rather unpleasant portrait of the owner of Kashtanka . The joiner, perhaps, loves his pet. But in his own way. The life of Kashtanka in his workshop is ahead.
The carpenter has the habit of going into every tavern that comes in his way. Once, having gone to the customers, he gets drunk almost to unconsciousness. Suddenly, an orchestra appears out of nowhere. Loud music frightens the chestnut, and it screeches across the sidewalk. When the music ceases, it turns out that the owner is no longer there.
Reviews of the work " Chestnut " by Chekhov are often filled with emotions. In this book, there are really touching scenes, such as: the main character’s loss of his beloved master, wandering along the cold city streets and, finally, the despair and horror that gripped the creature, it would seem unreasonable.
A mysterious stranger
So, the worst character that happened to the dog happened to the main character. Kashtanka lost her master. Everyone knows that dogs are animal devotees. Over the course of several decades, the story “White Bim Black Ear” has caused a lot of emotions among readers. The same response from animal lovers could be caused by the story of Kashtanka . However, the story of Anton Chekhov refers to a slightly different devotion. And the owner of the lost dog is completely unsympathetic.
Chestnut froze, she is hungry. The dog could perish on this ill-fated evening. She was saved from death by a happy accident. Taking a nap against the wall of an unfamiliar staircase, she suddenly receives a strong blow. The door opened, and a mysterious stranger came out of it. This man acted affectionately with the cur, not at all what the porters and janitors did with the main character of Bulgakov’s novel “Dog Heart”. The stranger picked up Kashtanka , brought her home, fed him. On that day, she had dinner as never before in her life .
Chekhov tried to convey the inner world of the dog. That evening, when Kashtanka finds herself in a stranger's house, sad thoughts suddenly seize her. In the new house they feed her well, here they treat her kindly. Nevertheless Kashtanka misses the former owner. Here the author gives a more detailed description of the joiner.
This man treated the dog cruelly. The reader’s son, a boy with obvious sadistic tendencies, causes a particular unpleasant feeling in the reader. The lad did various manipulations with Kashtanka , which gave her unbearable flour. She remembers all this, but nevertheless yearns for the workshop, in which there is a pleasant smell of glue and chips.
Nice new acquaintance
In the house of a stranger lives an old indifferent cat, a talkative goose and a pig. The owner endowed each of his pets with a name and a patronymic. The day after Kashtanka found a new owner, she, it would seem, forgot about the joiner. She meets the inhabitants of the room with dirty wallpaper. New emotions supplant the longing for the drinking master and his cruel son.
Miracles in the Sieve
From the next chapter, the reader learns about the profession of the new owner of Kashtanka . He is a trainer. Every day, for several hours, he teaches Ivan Ivanovich, Fyodor Timofeyevich and Khavronya Ivanovna (this is what his pets call him) new tricks.
This chapter unobtrusively presents the characterization of a trainer. This is a very kind, caring person who treats his artists with awe and even respect. No wonder he addresses each of them by name and patronymic. This man has nothing to do with the previous owner of Kashtanka .
Restless night
Once an accident occurs. After the performance, the goose, which is proudly called Ivan Ivanovich, is injured. By evening dies. Thanks to this event, the characteristics of the trainer are supplemented. For him, animals are not just a source of income. They are friends for him. The death of one of them for the artist is a real loss.
In this chapter, Chekhov was also amazingly able to convey the experiences of the main character. Kashtanka as if feels the near death of his friend. It seems to her that something terrible, but invisible, has arisen nearby. And only the next day, when Ivan Ivanovich dies and the janitor takes his body away, an incomprehensible eerie creature disappears.
Talent
The chestnut in the artist’s house received a different name - Aunt. But she responds more often to the word talent. With her, the trainer is engaged in the same way as with other inhabitants of the house: every day, for three to four hours. Aunt shows amazing artistry, as they say, captures on the fly. And the owner, meanwhile, was delighted and shouted the word "talent" to the dog's ear.
Unsuccessful debut
Finally, Kashtanka is in the circus arena. Her debut could end in triumph. However, among the audience was a carpenter with his son. Aunt hears her former name, familiar native voices. She immediately forgets about the good trainer, about her friends. Fedor Timofeevich, delicious food, a circus - all this, after half an hour, it seems to her a strange, difficult dream.
Story for children and adults
Reviews about " Kashtanka " and today are extremely positive. True, readers perceive the work in different ways. For some, this is a story about a dog that has acquired a master. For others - a deep philosophical work in which the author resorted to the Aesopian language in order to talk about the servile human soul. One way or another, Chekhov's story is interesting to both adults and children.