The Darling | Essays and Criticism

  • The Men in Olga's Life

    Brent has a Ph.D. in American culture, specializing in cinema studies, from the Univ. of Michigan. She is a freelance writer and teaches courses in American cinema. In the following essay, Brent discusses the characterization of the men in Olga's life.

  • The Darling: Femininity Scorned and Desired

    In the following essay, Evdokimova examines ‘‘The Darling’’ to discover why critics, including Leo Tolstoy and Maxim Gorky, have viewed "The Darling’’ as both positive and negative in terms of its portrayal of femininity.

  • Story telling in a Double Key

    In the following essay, Poggioli examines Chekhov's revision of the ‘‘merry widow’’ pattern in "The Darling.''

  • The Languages of Darling

    In the following essay excerpt, Peterson examines the ‘‘obsession with language and with the power that language can bring to its possessor’’ in "The Darling.''

  • The Submissive Wife Stereotype in Anton Chekhov's The Darling

    In the following essay, Bayuk defines Olenka within the stereotype of the "Submissive Wife,'' but praises Olenka's adaptability, maintaining she is a "True Survivor.''

  • The As If Personality and Chekov's The Darling

    In the following essay, Sperber considers Olenka as an ‘‘as if’’ personality, one with ‘‘a defective ability to invest emotional interest in others.''

  • Robert Lynd Looks at Chekhov as Story Teller

    In the following essay, Lynd mentions "The Darling’’ as an example of Chekhov's ability to portray unpleasant situations in sympathetic fashion.

  • Tolstoy's Criticism on The Darling

    In the following essay, Tolstoy asserts that while Chekhov created the character of the Darling as a negative example for modern women, he nonetheless composes a sympathetic portrait.