A.P. Chekhov "Overpowered" wrote in 1876. Like all stories of an early period, this one stands out with carefree humor and a deep hidden meaning. Anton Pavlovich despised all kinds of “shortcuts” and did not understand the contemporaries' commitment to any ideas. Therefore, the writer increasingly in his works turned to “simple” events, ordinary people, the life of a people without jewelry and speculation. The story “Overpowered” at first glance is nothing special, but if you look closely, you can see a huge number of problems taken from Russian reality.
Description of the poverty of Russian villages
Surveyor Gleb Smirnov arrives at Gnilushki station - this is what the summary is about. Chekhov “Overpowered” wrote with obvious sarcasm, the writer shows the poverty of the peasants, and even the name of the station speaks for itself - rot and ruin reign everywhere. The land surveyor summoned General Hohotov to his land surveying. The man has to drive about 40 more miles, but the station gendarme cannot find him the
horses of the post. Smirnov can only turn to local peasants, who for a moderate fee can bring him to his destination.
Gleb Gavrilovich really manages to negotiate with one of the peasants. A pockmarked, silent, hefty, dressed in castoffs - this is how the summary describes the driver. Chekhov “Overpowered” wrote in order to show not only the poverty of ordinary peasants, but their manner of behavior. The man’s horse, although young, was very thin, the cart started only with the fourth blow with a whip, which once again underlines Russian slowness and natural laziness.
Excessive cowardice of a surveyor
The cart hit the road in the evening, when it was already getting dark. Smirnov saw on one side some dark stacks, on the other a frozen plain, and Klim’s huge back covered everything in front. The surveyor became scared, because he was not familiar with the charioteer, night was falling on the ground, and they were only traveling together in an unknown direction. Gleb Gavrilovich tried to talk a peasant, began to question him about the robbers, but Klim was not laconic. Smirnova was wary of such behavior, and he began to deceive that he had a revolver, which he would immediately use in the event of an attack - this is what the summary is about.
Chekhov “Overpowered” wrote in order to show the slave mentality of the peasants, because Klim did not doubt for a second that his companion had weapons. When the cart entered the forest, Smirnov was very frightened, he began to be brave, saying that four more comrades were coming for him, that he really did not mind fighting with the robbers. The driver was impressed by the story of the meeting of the surveyor with three robbers. Chekhov “Overpowered” wrote to show how long the peasants would move away from serfdom.
Unexpected denouement
The dark forest thickets and the restless eyes of the driver intimidated the surveyor and he began to rummage through his pockets, pretending to be looking for a revolver. Then Klim could not stand it and jumped off the cart right on the go. The fact that the peasant from the bushes asked the master to pick up both the wagon and the horse, just not to kill him, tells the summary. Chekhov "Overpowered" wrote to talk about the blind submission of the villagers. Klim seems to be a healthy man, but it didn’t even occur to him to defend himself, he left his last property without hesitation and ran away.
Only two hours later, a hoarse surveyor shouted to the cabman and persuaded him to continue on his way. Klim only grumbled that if he knew that this would happen, he would not have gone for any money, because the master had scared him to death.