Analysis on themes of Enemies

【Abstract】Enemies， one of the most famous short stories by Anton Chekhov， tells a story between a doctor and a patients husband. They become enemies because of selfishness， lacking of understanding， cruelty and indifference towards each others sufferings. This essay has analyzed the theme of Enemies and the reason why two protagonists become enemies.

【Key words】Selfishness; Indifference; Enemies

【作者簡介】吳燕梅，貴州財經大學商務學院。

Anton Chekhov was one of the most productive short story writers in world history and his best stories had received great appreciation from writers and critics. In Life and Fate， Vasily Grossman said：“Chekhov is the bearer of the greatest banner that has been raised in the thousand years of Russian history—the banner of a true， humane， Russian democracy， of Russian freedom， of the dignity of the Russian man”. Chekhov worked as a doctor throughout most of his literary career. He once said： “Medicine is my lawful wife and literature is my mistress”. It was no wonder that many of his short stories were about doctors. The essay Enemies was such a story with its focus on the relationship between doctors and patients.

Enemies by Chekhov told a story between a patients husband， Abogin and a doctor， Kirilov. Kirilov was in depression for his son had just died because of diphtheria and his wife was in a magnified state of sadness and despair. At this very moment， however， a stranger， Abogin， who came to visit Kirilov and asked the doctor to treat his dying wife. Of course， Kirilov wasnt willing to leave his distressed wife and go with Abogin. After Abogins repeated begging， Kirilov finally agreed to go with Abogin. To his surprise， nevertheless， when they got to Abogins home only to find his wife had eloped away with his best friend. Abogins wife lied to him that she was ill and sent him for the doctor. She eloped with her lover when Abogin went to invite Kirilov. Abogin suddenly turned from a considerate man into an outrageous monster. He couldnt accept the fact and yielded desperately to let his feelings out. The doctor， however， realized the cruelty of mankind and showed indifference to Abogins suffering. Abogin begged Kirilov to come to his home only to listen to his utmost feelings regardless of his predicament.

The theme of this short story was alienation and isolation existed among people. In the story， Abogin and Kirilov became enemies because of lacking communication and understanding. They showed the indifference towards each others misfortunes and only focused on his own misery. Being a doctor， Kirilov faced the dilemma of performing his duty and staying with his depressed wife. On the one hand， his family needed him and he himself needed time to stay alone and grief; on the other hand， his patient needed him. It was his mission to offer help to the patient. That very moment when his son died， Kirilov was most fragile. Sympathy and understandings from his patients were most wanted.

The fact was not like what he expected， however. On patients part， no matter how much the doctor had offered to his patient， they just refused to show their sympathy sincerely. “I fully understand your state...” “I fully understand your condition， I sympathize with you”“You are in sorrow， I understand”Words apart， “Abogins voice trembled with agitation.”In some ways， His tone was much more touching than his words. Abogin tried his best to appeal to doctors feelings by sincerity of his tone， if not by his words. Sincere as these words and tone seemed， they came from soulless， selfish and cruel heart. These deep， beautiful and touching words only could affect the outsiders. Abogins words， tremor and tone were just to convince doctor to go with him instead of showing real sympathy and understanding towards his sufferings. In Abogins mind， he cared more about his wifes well being than the doctors feeling. When he found out his wife had deceived him and eloped with his best friend， he turned into mad. Here he became a patient who wanted doctors comfort， sympathy and support. At this moment， Kirilov realized how cruel， wicked， selfish and indifferent a person could be. It was no wander that the doctor kept cold-hearted and silent when Abogin was pouring out his feelings. For Kirilov， being a normal person， he was justifiably angry; while being a doctor， he was supposed to go beyond normal feelings.

Conclusion， The major problem between Kirilov and Abogin was that they both focused on their own issues instead of sparing some sympathy and understanding toward others. Alienation was clearly felt under the seemingly justified reasons： Kirilov needed to stay with his devastated wife and grief for his dead son while Abogin wanted to save his wife. If they both tried to understand others problem from others perceptive， they would not become enemies.

References：

[1]The Enemies： A Story atWar with Itself[J]. Robert Louis Jackson.