Life and work of Chekhov. The best works of Chekhov

In this article we will present you the life and work of Chekhov, the great Russian writer and playwright. From it you will learn how the formation of him as an original author took place, about the creative heritage of Anton Pavlovich, about the personality and character of the creator of the immortal works. The life and work of Chekhov will begin to describe from his biography.

The young writer's years

Anton Pavlovich was born in Taganrog. His father, Chekhov Pavel Georgievich, was a merchant who was a member of the third guild. His mother's name was Yevgenia Yakovlevna. This is written in the metric book in the cathedral church of Taganrog.

According to the memoirs of the Chekhov brothers and himself, the upbringing in the family was strict. He studied a young writer in a classical gymnasium, helped with his sister and brothers in a grocery store to his father, and also sang in a church choir, which was organized by Pavel Georgievich. According to his father, the shop needed a master's eye, so Anton, being the most conscientious of all children, found himself more often than others in the role of clerk. A live gallery of various human types, conversations, characters passed before the future writer. He became an involuntary witness of various life situations, positions, conflicts. All this contributed to the fact that Anton Pavlovich developed knowledge of people early, he quickly grew up.

Moving to Moscow

His father went bankrupt in 1876, fled to Moscow from creditors, where he settled with his family. The elder sons, Nikolai and Alexander, went to study in the capital even earlier. Anton, however, stayed in Taganrog to graduate from high school. He himself earned his living, gave lessons, sent even money to Moscow for the family. So begins the independent life and creativity of Chekhov. In the years of training at the gymnasium, they created a drama "Fatherlessness", a work "What the Chicken Sang" (vaudeville), as well as many comic short works.

Studying at the University

Life and creativity of Chekhov over the years in the period from 1879 to 1884 is represented by the following events. At this time, the writer became a student at Moscow University, enrolling in the medical faculty.

At the same time, he publishes short skits, parodies, jokes in various comic magazines ("Alarm Clock", "Dragonfly", "Shards") under various pseudonyms (My Father's Brother, Spoonless Man, Antosh Chekhonte, Purselepetantov). The first works that were printed - a parody called "Letter to a learned neighbor," and "What often happens ..." Both works were published in 1880. After 4 years, the first book of the writer's stories appears, "Melpomene's Tales", followed by "Variegated Stories" in 1886, "At Twilight" in 1887, and "Gloomy People" in 1890.

The first recognition of readers and critics

Chekhov did not immediately recognize the Russian critics, but he gained success with readers much earlier. And these critics can be understood. It was not clear what Chekhov the narrator was talking about, to what purpose he was leading, what he was calling for. At that time, his refusal to preach, aspiring to solve "big" problems in literature ("What to do?", "Who is to blame?") Was very unusual, as it traditionally happened in the works of Russian classics. However, a few years after his debut as a writer, in 1887, Chekhov was awarded the prestigious Pushkin Prize for his collection of short stories titled "At Twilight". This was a recognition not only of him as a writer, but also of the genre in which Chekhov worked. Many of his contemporaries took the stories as a narrative about himself, his life. Chukovsky, for example, said that Tolstoy seemed omniscient, but his books were about someone else, but Chekhov's story "My Life" is written as if about him, reading it, as if reading your own diary.

Medical activity and its reflection in creativity

After receiving the post of district doctor, in 1884 Chekhov began to engage in medical work.

From April to December 1890, the writer was on the island of Sakhalin, which at that time became the place where Anton Pavlovich's contemporaries were serving hard labor. It was for Chekhov civil action, "walking to the people." Anton Pavlovich in a book called "The Island of Sakhalin" (the years of creation - 1893-1894) acted as a researcher of the life of the people, proceeding under conditions of exile and hard labor. Since the time Chekhov himself spoke, all his work was "slackened." For example, in the stories "Chamber No. 6", "In exile" (both written in 1892), impressions from visiting this island were reflected. Significantly worsened trip the state of health of the writer, he was exacerbated by the tuberculosis process.

Moving to Melikhovo

The life and work of Chekhov, whose brief biography we describe, continues in Melikhovo. Chekhov in 1892 acquired this estate near Moscow. In it, he not only created his works, but also treated the peasants, opened several schools for their children, a first-aid post, went to the provinces that were covered by hunger, and also participated in the population census. In this estate until 1898 Chekhov's life and creativity passed. Were written works of "Rothschild's Violin", "Jumping", "The Seagull," Teacher of Literature, "" Uncle Vanya "and others.

A. P. Chekhov: life, creativity and achievements in Yalta

In 1898 the writer moved to Yalta. Here he bought a plot of land on which he built a house. Anton Pavlovich was visited by such famous contemporaries as Maxim Gorky, Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, Ivan Alekseevich Bunin, Isaak Ilich Levitan.

Chekhov in the late 1880s created a lot of plays for the theater, such as "Leshy", "Ivanov", "Wedding", as well as vaudeville "Jubilee", "Bear".

In 1896, not understood by spectators and actors, one of the most famous plays of his day - "The Seagull" - failed. But two years later she had a resounding success in staging the Moscow Art Theater, becoming a symbol of the new theatrical art. Closely connected with the theater at this time is the life and work of Chekhov. The best works of the writer are also staged in the Moscow Art Theater: "Uncle Vanya" (in 1898), "Three Sisters" (in 1901) and "Cherry Orchard" (in 1904). Since then, they have not left the stage in the productions of theaters around the world.

Anton Pavlovich was elected academician of elegant literature in 1900, but he refused this title in 1902 (together with Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko), since Gorky's election to the Academy was declared invalid by the decree of the tsar.

Last years

Chekhov in 1901 married O. Knipper, an actress who played in the Moscow Art Theater. Three years later, the writer goes to the spa Badenweiler, to Germany, for treatment, as his health deteriorates sharply. Here he died on June 2 (according to a new style - June 15). Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was buried in Moscow, at the Novodevichy Cemetery.

What does Chekhov's biography teach us?

Chekhov's biography is instructive: this man has raised himself. His words: "You have to train yourself." In his youth, the writer was not the Chekhov who we know. When his wife reported that Anton Pavlovitch had a soft, compliant character, he told her that in fact his temper was quick-tempered and harsh, but he was used to restraining himself, since it was not proper for him to dismiss a decent person, as Chekhov believed.

Life and work of the writer are closely related. What he wrote in the works, the author tried to prove his own life. His biography is instructive, that the writer was able to suppress rudeness and quick temper, to develop softness and delicacy, which none of the writers of that time had. This is reflected in his work. The difference between the early Chekhov (the author of parodies and satirical articles) and Chekhov in the period of 1890 is striking: over time, his creations have acquired nobility, classical restraint, accuracy in the expression of feelings and thoughts, dignity. The life and work of Chekhov closely intertwined.

Favorite poetry, which he dedicated at the age of 23 to Ekaterina Yunosheva, her classmate ("The Last Forgive"), a year later, he cited in his story "Oh, women, women! .." as an example of incompetent rhymes.

Chekhov's transformation was manifested even in the external appearance of the writer, in which uncomplicated, typically Russian features combined with refinement and profound nobility combined.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, whose life and work we describe, was a very modest, tactful and industrious person. He was not the so-called "teacher of life" and avoided direct talk about aesthetics, ethics in his works. But the ennobling educational significance of his books was (and, in fact, continues to be) above the influence of any passionate sermons. The author irreconcilably relied on mediocrity, vulgarity, but he had special courage and this irreconcilability - subtle, tactful, Chekhov's.

LN Tolstoy called Anton Pavlovich "the artist of life." The definition of this has two meanings: "artist" means not only the "master of the word". Chekhov drew his own life, building it from the first to the last minute as a proof of the moral theorem.

Features of Chekhov's stories

As we have already said, the early stories of such a multifaceted writer as Chekhov, whose sketch of life and work we briefly represent in this article, are very different from others written after 1888. This milestone was mentioned not accidentally - it is considered a turning point in the creativity of the author of interest to us. In the early stories ("Thick and thin", "The death of an official", etc.), the comic element predominates above all. The fantasy of their author, who called himself Purselepetantov, Antosha Chehonte, etc., was inexhaustible and rich in bright and unexpected funny cases, pictures, plots. He was able to observe them in life.

The stories of the 1890's appear to be different in tone. They are dominated by skepticism, sadness, regret of the writer, they are largely philosophical. Another poetics in the late works of Chekhov, it is expressed in the genre definition of these creations as satirical stories.

In fact, outwardly simple works are complex, they have a feeling of inexhaustibility, inconsistency. The author's position is not emphasized in them. The tone of the narration is usually lyrical irony. With a sad grin, the writer peers at the person, recalls the beautiful, ideal life, such as it should be. The main thing for Chekhov is the awakening in the readers of moral consciousness, and not at all imposing their ideas about the world and man, literature, life.

Features of Chekhov's dramaturgy

Chekhov created his own theater, with his own special dramatic language. It was not immediately understood by Anton Pavlovich's contemporaries. Many of his plays seemed not to be scenic, ineptly made, with a lack of action, with disorderly extended dialogues, with indistinctness of the author's intention, etc. For example, M. Gorky wrote about the "Cherry Orchard" that he cast a green yearning for the audience on something, Something unknown. Chekhov created a theater of mood: half-tones, hints of "undercurrents" (Nemirovich-Danchenko) - largely anticipating dramatic quest in the 20th century.

Chronotope in the Chekhov drama

Anton Pavlovich expanded the concept of the chronotope (space and time), characteristic of the classical Russian literature of the 19th century. In the works of his predecessors in the center was mainly a nobleman's estate, peasant and noble Russia. And Chekhov introduced the image of an urban man with a corresponding urbanistic worldview. Khronotop Anton Pavlovich is a chronotope of the city. It is not a social situation, not geography, but a psychology, a sense of urban man.

Chekhov developed his own concept of depicting man and life - essentially unheroic, everyday. In works there are no acute conflicts, struggles, collisions. Sometimes it seems that nothing happens in them. Movement is not from one event to another, but from mood to mood.

The language of the plays is multi-valued, melodic, poetic, symbolic, which was required to create a common sense of subtext, a general mood.

The Importance of Chekhov's Work

• The book entitled "Sakhalin Island" was an artistic document of the modern author of the epoch.
• Chekhov became the source of the modern tragicomedy.
• His works showcase the best examples of Russian literature in all varieties of genre of small prose.
• Chekhov's drama became a kind of visiting card of Russian literature in the world.
• The call that Anton Pavlovich left us: "Take care of a man!" - it is eternal.
• This author was not only a writer and playwright, but also a poet. In the poems written during his studies at the gymnasium, his life is reflected.

• And the work of Chekhov, whose best poems can be found in the eighteenth volume of the Complete Works and Letters, and his biography are very noteworthy.
• The artistic discoveries of this writer greatly influenced the theater and literature of the 20th century. Translated into many languages dramatic works began to be included in the theatrical repertoire all over the world.
• This author succeeded in creating new moves in literature, significantly influencing the development of the genre of the story. Innovation is the use of the so-called stream of consciousness, a reception that was later adopted by James Joyce, as well as other modern writers.
• Chekhov was the first in the domestic literature, who vividly demonstrated to us the image of the philistine from the provinces, deprived of lust for activity, broad outlook, good aspirations. Like no one else, the writer clearly showed how dangerous the philistine is to society and the individual (stories "Teacher of Literature", "Ionich").

So, we were in general outlines the life and work of Chekhov. We selected the best and most interesting and instructive for you. We recommend, however, to use other sources. Life and creativity of Chekhov can be studied by dates if desired in more detail. There are a lot of books written about this author. It is interesting to get acquainted with the correspondence of Anton Pavlovich with his wife, published in 1972 by Shchatz V., Danilova S. and others, and also with the difficulty of Gitovich NI, created in 1986, which presents memoirs of contemporaries about this great writer. The chronology of Chekhov's life and creativity can be supplemented with reliance on these and other sources.