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Gooseberries | Introduction

Anton Chekhov is recognized as one of the great short-story writers of all time. His experimentation with the form led to innovations in theme and structure that have influenced generations of writers. The theme of isolation, a common one among Chekhov’s works, is found in ‘‘Gooseberries,’’ as is the use of an unusual structure.

In 1898 Chekhov published three stories that are generally considered a trilogy because of their similarities of form. The three stories are ‘‘The Man in a Shell,’’ ‘‘About Love,’’ and ‘‘Gooseberries.’’ Each story concerns a person who seeks to avoid contact with the world. Each story includes the same characters, and in each story one of them is telling a story about someone else. The complexity of this trilogy is typical of Chekhov’s writing during the last years of his life.

Gooseberries Summary

Shelter from the Storm
The story ‘‘Gooseberries’’ begins on a dreary, overcast day as Ivan Ivanich and Bourkin are walking through the countryside. When it starts to rain, Bourkin suggests they go to a nearby friend’s house where they can get shelter from the weather. Upon arriving at the mill owned by Aliokhin, they are greeted warmly and invited into the house.

Nikolai’s Dream
After the three men enjoy baths, warm clothes, and refreshments, Ivan begins to tell a story about his younger brother, Nicholai. He tells that he and his brother spent their youth in the country after their father died, leaving them only a small estate. As an adult, his brother longed to return to the countryside that he loved. Ivan explains that his brother worked for a government treasury office but became increasingly preoccupied with his dream of buying a modest farm beside a lake or river, where he could live peacefully for the rest of his life. Central to his vision of this farm was the presence of gooseberry bushes, from which he could pick and enjoy his own fruit. For years, he saved and planned, scouring real estate listings to fuel his dream.

Money Hungry
As Nicholai became more determined to realize his dream, he became ‘‘terribly stingy,’’ according to Ivan. When Ivan... » Complete Gooseberries Summary