An Inimitable Painting Of Russian Society

Chekhov is one of the famous novelists and dramatists of Russia in the 20^th century. During his productive life, he created many dramas and wrote series of articles. Among them, the 450 and more short stories are prominent achievement of his whole life. With vivid, touching images, Chekhov's short stories presented us colorful contents and broad social facts. As to creating skills, he asked for perfection. Thus, Chekhov's short stories were highly-praised by great writers like Gorky and Tolstoy.Russia of the end of the 20^th century was full of reforms. After the Serf System Revolution in 1861 and a series of bourgeois reforms hereafter, capitalism was developed further. However, Russia was still far behind comparing with the development in other western countries. The side effects from the incomplete revolution of 1861 badly affected the poor farmers. Social unrest arised out of the vulgar activities of some democratic personages. Chekhov's creative works were started in the eighties of such an uncertain era. Enthusiastically, honestly, he presented us a gigantic, delicate life picture with encyclopedic details of the Russian society.Chekhov's short stories are artificially conclusive. He described in his works, no matter earlier or later ones, all kinds of people and their status quo at that time.First of all, it's the evil on a rampage. Instead of exposing directly, Chekhov narrated the miserable life the lower-class lived so as to show the real face of the ruling class and the devil dictatorial system. At the time Chekhov lived, aristocrats already lost their foundations for life. What they had were only unreal social places for which they still struggled desperately.