The artist’s story by anaton chekhov analysis and summary within 500 words
Answers
Answer:
The story concerns a young artist -- he paints landscapes -- who is out in the country (he spends a lot of his time contemplating truth and the meaning of life) where he encounters a family consisting of a mother and two beautiful young women.
One of the sisters, Lida, wants to help the peasants by building schools, hospitals, and libraries. She looks down on the artist because he only cares about creating art and not helping humanity. The other sister is Genya. Genya loves to read and she takes a liking to the artist. Genya and the artist fall in love and would have lived a good life if not for Lida and her politics. There is a lot of discussion about what is the best way to help the poor peasants.
The artist finally confronts Lida and explains that in his mind the best way to help the peasants is to lighten their work load so they have time to pursue the really important things in life -- which in the artist's mind are spiritual things -- and if the peasants had more time to think and enjoy some idle time they would be healthier and happier. But Lida dismisses these arguments.
After reading the story, I am torn between the artist and Lida. Since the story is told from the artist's point of view, one tends to have sympathy for him -- when he talks about searching for the meaning of life and his sensitivity to light and nature --you feel like you know this person -- you regret that he missed out on sharing his love with the beautiful Genya -- and you are angry at Lida for interfering -- but I also think about Lida.
Her low regard for the artist is not completely unwarranted. He seems a bit too self-satisfied and truly I don't think he really cares about the peasants. He only argues with Lida out of vanity. He wants to show her he is smart enough to think about what is best for the peasants. Mostly, he wants her to take him seriously. Lida does care. She could have easily led a life of comfort and ease but instead dedicates herself to helping those less fortunate. However, she seems a bit too extreme -- willing to sacrifice her sister's happiness for a perceived greater good.
I suppose both Lida and the artist are idealists and they expose the good, the bad, and the ugly of that position.