The Literaguru team has repeatedly come across the fact that Chekhov's prose helps students bring arguments on the most complex and confusing topics. This author talked about what others were silent about. Therefore, we do not tire of offering you to familiarize yourself with the works of this writer.
(355 words) The artist came to the countryside in order to paint nature. He stops at a friend - a nobleman who cohabits with a simple woman and leads an idle lifestyle. One day he saw two sisters who lived in the neighborhood. The owner of the house where the artist was staying said that he knows the mother of these girls - a widow who lives quietly and modestly. The painter became interested in beautiful neighbors and wanted to be introduced to them. They went to visit with a friend.
The Volchaninov family did not live poorly, but the eldest daughter of the mother of the family worked at school and, receiving a salary of 20 rubles, was proud that she provided herself. Lida was a strict and principled girl, and she devoted her whole life to helping people. She believed that peasant children needed education, and contributed to its formation. She was also interested in the politics of local authorities and wanted to remake it, fighting the Zemstvo head. But the younger sister - Zhenya - was very different from her. The girl was considered a little girl and was even called the child’s nickname “I’m messing around” (as she called the governess when she could not pronounce the word “Miss”). But she was kinder and more tender than Lida, willingly gave others the warmth of her heart. Mama, Ekaterina Pavlovna, was afraid of Lida and respected her very much, so all the questions in the family were decided by her older sister.
Communicating with the Volchaninovs, the hero gradually fell in love with Zhenya, but constantly quarreled with her sister. He himself believed that the guardianship of the peasantry would not solve his main problems, and excess education would only create among them discontent and disappointment in life. An educated person will be bored with physical labor, but there will not be enough intellectual for everyone. But Lida argued with the artist, considering him an infantile and idle talker who does not want to help the people, thinking only about herself. The hero, on the other hand, believed that Lida was too categorical and did not see anything but her idea.
Once, an explanation happened between Zhenya and the artist, and he kissed her, intending to make an offer. They fell in love with each other. But the next day, the bridegroom who arrived did not find the bride’s house: she and Mommy left. Lida dissuaded her mother from giving her consent and simply forbade her sister to marry a man she did not like.
Years later, the narrator found out that Lida still teaches at school and is fighting for her interests with the authorities, and Zhenya and mama have left this estate. He regretted that his love never came true.
