Anton Chekhov: Master of Modern Theatre
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright, short story writer, and physician. He is widely considered one of the greatest writers of all time, and along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre.
Early Life and Education
Chekhov was born on 29 January 1860 in Taganrog, a commercial port city on the Sea of Azov in southern Russia. He was the third of six surviving children born to Pavel Yegorovich Chekhov, a grocery store owner and choir director, and Yevgeniya Morozova, an accomplished storyteller. His father was physically abusive; Chekhov later described his childhood as marked by despotism and lying that “mutilated” his early years.
He attended the Greek School in Taganrog and The Taganrog Boys Gymnasium, where he was held back for a year at fifteen after failing an examination in Ancient Greek. As a teenager, he became enchanted with the Taganrog Theatre, attending regularly and drawing inspiration from vaudevilles, Italian operas, and popular comedies. During this period he read widely, including works by Cervantes, Turgenev, Goncharov, and Schopenhauer.
In 1876, Chekhov’s father was declared bankrupt and fled to Moscow to avoid debtor’s prison, leaving his youngest son behind in Taganrog to sell the family’s possessions and complete his schooling. Chekhov supported himself through private tutoring, catching and selling goldfinches, and selling short sketches to newspapers. He sent money and humorous letters to his family in Moscow. In 1879, he completed his schooling and moved to Moscow, gaining admission to the medical school at I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.
Career and Achievements
While studying medicine, Chekhov assumed responsibility for supporting his entire family. He wrote daily short, humorous sketches and vignettes of contemporary Russian life, often under pseudonyms such as “Antosha Chekhonte” and “Man Without Spleen.” His prolific output earned him a reputation as a satirical chronicler of Russian street life, and by 1882 he was writing for Oskolki (Fragments), a leading publication of the time.
In 1884, Chekhov qualified as a physician, a profession he considered central to his identity. He famously said, “Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.” As his artistic ambition grew beyond his early humorous sketches, he made formal innovations that influenced the evolution of the modern short story. He wrote that it is not the duty of writers to solve problems, but to correctly state them.
Chekhov’s career as a playwright produced four classics. After renouncing the theatre following the poor reception of The Seagull in 1896, the play was revived to acclaim in 1898 by Konstantin Stanislavski’s Moscow Art Theatre. This theatre subsequently produced Uncle Vanya and premiered his final two plays, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard. These four works challenged both acting ensembles and audiences by replacing conventional action with what Chekhov called a “theatre of mood” and a “submerged life in the text.”
Notable Events and Milestones
The Seagull premiered in 1896 but was poorly received, prompting Chekhov to renounce the theatre. The play’s revival in 1898 by Stanislavski’s Moscow Art Theatre marked a turning point, establishing it as a masterpiece and launching a productive collaboration between Chekhov and the company. Uncle Vanya followed, and the Moscow Art Theatre subsequently premiered Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard, his last two plays.
Throughout his career, Chekhov’s best short stories gained high esteem among writers and critics. His formal innovations in the short story form, developed as his artistic ambition matured beyond his early satirical work, left a lasting influence on the genre’s evolution into its modern form.
Additional Resources
Readers seeking more detailed information about Chekhov’s life, works, and influence on modern theatre and literature can consult comprehensive biographical sources and literary archives. Wikipedia and other biographical databases contain extensive documentation of his career, correspondence, and the critical reception of his plays and stories across different periods and cultures.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
