The Darling | Themes
The Role of Women in Society
Critics have interpreted the tone of the story as an indication that Chekhov was lampooning the limited role of women in nineteenth-century Russian society as nothing more than an appendage to men, with no thoughts or opinions of their own. Soon after the publication of ‘‘The Darling,’’ however, contemporary writer Tolstoy made the argument that while Chekhov set out to ‘‘sacrifice’’ the character of Olga as a typically vapid woman, he inadvertently blesses her in her ultimate role as mother. Tolstoy’s view was...
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