In this article you will not read all of Chekhov’s work, but only a brief summary of it. A Chameleon is a witty short story, so you might want to read it in full. So, let's begin.
Anton Chekhov. "Chameleon". Summary
On the market square is Ochumelov - a police overseer. Following him paves the city officer, carrying the confiscated gooseberry in the sieve. There is not a soul in the square. Suddenly, Ochumelov hears a scream and a dog squeal, and after a few seconds he sees that a dog is running limping on one paw from the wood warehouse of a merchant by the name of Pichugin. Following her, a man rushes. He catches up with her and grabs her hind legs. It turns out that this is none other than Khryukin - a goldsmith. Having drunk a bit, he tries to catch the dog that bit him on the finger. A crowd of people is gathering. A white scared puppy is in the center. Ochumelov asks what happened, why everyone gathered here. Khryukin says that he was talking about firewood with Mitri Mitrich, and this vile dog for no reason at all bit his finger. The warden asks about whose dog it is, but no one knows. He says that he won’t leave it like this, that it needs to be exterminated, because it’s probably mad. The owner must be punished for not keeping his dog on the chain and thereby violating the established order. Suddenly, someone from the crowd suggests that this puppy is possibly General Zhigalov. Then Ochumelov asks Khryukin how the dog could bite him, since she is so small and does not reach his finger. He suspects the master of lies.
Summary. "Chameleon". Continuation
Gorodovoy says that this is not a general’s dog, and Ochumelov immediately changes his mind. He tells Khryukin not to leave this business so simple. But the city suggests that still the dog can be general. Then the overseer tells Eldyrin to take the puppy to the general and tell him not to let her out, since she is expensive. And if everyone she meets will poke a cigarette in the face, then you can spoil it.
Summary. "Chameleon". Conclusion
Prokhor, the general's cook, appears. He is asked if he knows whose dog it is. He replies that it is not theirs. Ochumelov claims that she needs to be exterminated, because she is a vagrant. But Prokhor says that this dog is not Zhigalov, but his brother - Vladimir Ivanovich, who came to visit them. The cook says that the owner does not like greyhounds. But the general’s brother likes them, so he came to visit with his puppy. Ochumelov was surprised that Vladimir Ivanovich was in the city, and that he did not know this. He asks Prokhor to pick up the dog and admires her nimbleness and how cleverly she grabbed Khryukin by the finger. Prokhor comes from a wood warehouse and calls for a puppy. The crowd laughs at Khryukin. But Ochumelov threatens to get to him, and leaves the market square.
The story "Chameleon", the summary of which you just read, has a deep meaning. It reflects a flattering person who does not have his own opinion. He is dependent on the behavior of others and fills in front of higher ranks. All this can convey even a brief summary. “Chameleon” is a story that is very useful to read in its entirety to see all the details described by Chekhov.