Anton Chekhov

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Chekhov practised as a medical doctor throughout most of his literary career: "Medicine is my lawful wife", he once said, "and literature is my mistress."

Early Life

Chekhov was born in Taganrog, a small port on the Sea of Azov in southern Russia. He was the third of six surviving children. His father, Pavel Yegorovich Chekhov, was a grocer, and his mother, Yevgeniya Morozova, was the daughter of a cloth merchant. The family was deeply religious and financially challenged, which influenced Chekhov's views on life and social justice.

Education

Chekhov attended a local school for Greek boys in Taganrog from 1868 to 1876 and then entered the Taganrog Gymnasium, where he remained until 1879. He then moved to Moscow to join his family, who had fled there to escape a debtors' prison. To support his family, Chekhov began to write short stories, and by the age of 20, he was financially independent. Despite his busy writing schedule, Chekhov enrolled at the Moscow University Medical School, graduating in 1884. He often said that medicine was his lawful wife, while literature was his mistress.

Literary Career

Chekhov's literary career began with the publication of his short stories in various magazines and newspapers. His early works were often humorous sketches and vignettes of contemporary Russian life. However, as his literary talent matured, Chekhov's themes became more serious, focusing on the complexities of human nature and the subtleties of social life in Russia.

His plays, including The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard, are considered masterpieces of modern drama. These works explore the lives of the Russian middle class and the conflicts between the need for change and the desire for stability.

Medical Career

Despite his literary success, Chekhov continued to work as a doctor throughout his life. He often provided free medical services to the poor. His medical experience deeply influenced his writing, giving him a unique perspective on the human condition and the suffering of the Russian peasantry.

Personal Life

Chekhov never married until late in his life. In 1901, he married Olga Knipper, an actress who had performed in his plays at the Moscow Art Theatre. Chekhov's health was poor, suffering from tuberculosis, which eventually led to his death in Badenweiler, Germany, in 1904.

Legacy

Chekhov's work has had a profound influence on the development of modern literature. His short stories and plays are characterized by their realism, complex characters, and psychological depth. He has been hailed as a master of the short story, and his plays continue to be performed worldwide.