Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is the greatest Russian playwright who has made a huge contribution to the development of world literature.
At one time he was recognized as an Honorary Academician in the category of elegant literature by the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Throughout his life, the author has created more than 900 works. For over a century, his plays have been staged in many theaters in the world. The public is also familiar with his short stories. In them, to the smallest detail, with irony and sarcasm, Chekhov paints images of ordinary people, ridiculing their vices. One of the author’s stories is the work “Ionych”. The plot focuses on the life story of the Zemstvo doctor Dmitry Ionych Startsev. This is a story about a man with good inclinations and noble dreams, who quietly turns into an ordinary layman indifferent to everyone and everything. So, a summary of Chekhov's "Ionych."
Acquaintance of the protagonist with the Turkins family
In one provincial city, called S., a young doctor, Dmyriy Ionych Startsev, conducted the practice. Life in this place was boring and monotonous. Despite the fact that there were a library, a theater, and a club in the city, these establishments were in little demand among the townsfolk. However, there were also smart educated people, for example, the Turkins family. The head of the family, Ivan Petrovich, often staged amateur performances in which he was the main character. He had a good sense of humor, so sometimes it was impossible to understand whether he was joking or speaking seriously. His wife Vera Iosifovna was engaged in writing novels and short stories, which she read eagerly in front of the public. Their daughter, Ekaterina Ivanovna, played the piano well and dreamed of entering the conservatory. Dmitry Ionych was often advised to visit the Turkins and get to know them. Once he decided to accept the invitation of the head of the family and visit them. Acquaintance took place. It made the most pleasant impression on Dmitry Ionovich. Even a brief summary by Chekhov “Ionych” is able to convey the special lightness of character and liveliness of the mind of the protagonist, who has not yet been mired in the everyday life of a small town.
Startsev’s marriage proposal and Katya’s refusal
A year passed before the zemstvo doctor again visited the Turkins family. This time he was called to Vera Josephovna, who had long suffered from migraine. Appearing in the house, the protagonist noted how prettier Ekaterina Ivanovna or Kotik was during this time, what her family called her. Unbeknownst to himself, Startsev falls in love with a girl. Now the Zemsky doctor is becoming a frequent guest in the Turkins family. One day he decides to make a proposal to Katya. Having dressed in someone else’s tailcoat, since he didn’t have his own, our hero goes to the Turkins' house and in private invites Kotik to get married. Suddenly he receives a sharp rejection. Ekaterina Ivanovna explains to her that her plans do not include marriage, that a conservatory and a brilliant musical career await her. Dmitry Ionych did not expect such a turn. He is stunned. His pride is wounded. Soon our hero finds out about Katya’s departure to Moscow. So pure and full of hope shows the protagonist at the beginning of the story of Chekhov. The story "Ionych", a brief summary of which is given here, is a story about true human values, about how important it is to not miss the most important thing in life - the love of loved ones.
Ionych's meeting with Katya in a few years
Four long years passed before Dmitry Ionych met again with Katya. During this time, the Zemstvo doctor acquired great practice. He grew stout, walked reluctantly, preferring riding a troika with bells to hiking. During this time, he almost did not visit the Turkins. But once our hero receives an invitation letter from Vera Iosifovna and Ekaterina Ivanovna. Startsev goes to visit them. His meeting with Kotik did not make a proper impression on him. But Catherine was clearly excited. Now it was no longer a romantic girl dreaming of music, but an adult woman who had time to become disappointed in life. She invites Ionitch to the garden to talk privately. There Katya tells our hero that she has lost faith in her pianist talent, that for her he is now a pure, exalted person who has a noble goal in life - to help the sick. For Startsev, this revelation does not find a response in his heart, and, leaving the Turkins' house, he is relieved to think about how good it is that he did not marry Ekaterina Ivanovna once. A summary of Chekhov's “Ionych” does not allow us to convey the fullness of the changes that are being made in Kat and Startsev only four years after their last meeting.
Mental degradation of the protagonist
After this meeting, there was another letter from Kotik Startsev. But he did not answer him and no longer visited them. Many years later. During this time, Ionych got rich, having acquired a huge practice. He felt unwell, terribly fat. But Ionych did not think about leaving work - greed prevailed. The life of our hero is boring and monotonous. He is indifferent to everything and everyone. He is alone, there is no soulmate nearby. Ekaterina Ivanovna, too, got old, often sick. The only joy for her is the daily playing of the piano. Chekhov's story “Ionych,” a summary of which is given here, is a story about what can happen to a person who is deprived of the opportunity to develop and move forward. Unfortunately, we often realize that we lost it only years later, when it was no longer possible to bring it back.
You read Chekhov's summary of Ionych. I advise you to devote time to this work in full.