A new interpretation of A. Chekhov’s short story «Ionych»

Abstract

Aim The article deals with the analysis of the character and motive system of the short story «Ionych» by A. P. Chekhov. The purpose of this article is an attempt to depart from the sociological approach in the understanding of the main idea of the story. The author intends to get rid of bias in the perception of the well-known text.

Methods In the article there has been applied the system approach. The author uses the synthesis of the basic methods and principles of scientific research. The article relays on historical, comparative, intertextual, biographical, typological and other methods. The principles and methods used in the article are interrelated and completed each other.

Results In the article there has been applied the system approach. The author uses the synthesis of the basic methods and principles of scientific research. The article relays on historical, comparative, intertextual, biographical, typological and other methods. The principles and methods used in the article are interrelated and completed each other.

Scientific novelty The study achieved a new reading of the text of Anton Chekhov. The article offers an innovative understanding of the ideological and image system of the story. It deals with a new point of view of the imagery and compositional structure of the narrative. The author saw the new direction of philosophical orientation of the story «Ionych». She showed that the hero of the story was not negative everyman, but a normal ordinary man. The article shows that the hero of the story is not a weak man, but the author’s alter ego. The article suggested that the short story «Ionych» had two editions.