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Ambiguity in Understanding Women Characters in Short Stories.

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Submitted By denisok2
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Denis Umansky

Ambiguity in understanding women characters in short stories.

The prowess of a good writer lies in an area of catching reader's attention. The way author can make us think about his work, carefully analyzing events and making images of his characters. However, a real master doesn't give us exact answers to our questions, but leaves a space for our own imagination to reply on them. In the text of this essay I would like to highlight the ambiguity, in which protagonists of short stories are presented. As an example I will use images of Olenka from “The Darling” by Chekhov, Mme. Loisel from “The Necklace” by Maupassant and Mrs. Mallard from “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. It would be reasonable to start with Anton Chekhov, because he is one of the founders of a short story genre. Speaking about “The Darling”, I would like to mention my own experience and attitude towards this narrative. I first read it several years ago as a part of literature program at school. My first attitude to Olenka wasn't the most pleasant one. I judged her intellectually and found all her actions irrational and even pathetic, because she couldn't live without being addicted to someone. This is a passage, where author describes her emotional state, when she is alone: “She hardly ever went out, except for the market … and led the life of a nun”(194). So without a man near her, Olenka has no goal in her life, no need in self-realization and this is not good. Nevertheless, three years have passed and I returned to “The Darling” once again. I studied it more attentively. My mind was broadened by the work of Tolstoy “Chekhov's intent in “The Darling”', and my opinion has changed. Now I think of Olenka as of a sincere woman. I am touched by the description of her complete devotion and love to Kukin, timber merchant and that little boy. I see that she is gifted with “ the

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