The Crazy Writing In Chekhov's Novels

Since the publication of the Cases of Mania Grandioza in 1883,Chekhov had always focused on pathological personality which finally constituted the "Psychopathology Fiction" series.Madness in Chekhov were always presented with precise pathological characteristics which was mainly due to the attention to the natural sciences and medical practice throughout his life.In the early study of mental illness,Chekhov mainly relied on his knowledge of physiology,genetics,psychiatry which gave graphical quality of his description.The relationship between character temperament types and mental illness attracted him mostly.Illness or mental disorder was often a stimulating factor that highlighted the protagonist.This changed around 1886,especially after the trip to Sakhalin Island from April to October in 1890.Chekhov began his pathological analysis on multiple factors such as ethics,politics,and society that caused personal mental illness.In his late stage,Chekhov took doctors,families,society,and madmen themselves into consideration which resulted in the conclusion of incurable illness as insanity.This article mainly focuses on Chekhov’s madness writing,A Nervous breakdown(1888),Ward NO.6(1892)and The Black Monk(1894),tracing the evolution of Chekhov’s mental illness writing from pathological and social perspective.The aim of this paper is to explore Chekhov’s attitude towards contemporary psychiatry and his criticism on government rule,social morality,and human mental state.Through the madman,Chekhov revealed the irrational factors in social life and realized the deconstruction and enlightenment of vulgar life.With these novels,we can actually find how Chekhov combined pathology knowledge with humanitarian care,and transformed contemporary social trends and controversies into novels.Chekhov conducted a comprehensive discussion on the value,destiny and living conditions of people in the middle and late 19 th century through his writings on insanity.Inheriting the Russian tradition of mad writing,deepening its scientific implications,Chekhov expanded the distortion of his contemporary and finally succeed as the prominent heir of Russian literature.