Lady With Lapdog

" Lady with Lapdog," by Anton Chekhov, is a story that may raise eyebrows and entice minds. In the particular setting, Russia, over a century ago, the actions between Gurov and Anna were unspeakable and looked down upon. They both had their own families waiting at home for them, but they chose to see each other instead. It is plainly mentioned that Gurov brought his daughter to school, while the real intention was to see Anna. Throughout this short story, self-pleasure rises above all else. That is, until Gurov finds true love, along with Anna. Love changes who they are, their motivations, and then they begin to realize things.

In the beginning of the story, Gurovs' wife is described to us in the worst of ways, almost as though we should feel sorry for him: she was " tall, black-browned, erect, dignified," etc. . He met his wife in their youth while attending college. She is still in love, so blindly in love, while at home raising their three children. She does not notice Gurovs actions, but that is no suprise, no one in town does. Sometimes Gurov does not even notice them. For example the constant cheating, running to hotels, and not to mention the gambling. Gurov could very well be considered selfish. Everything is all about Gurov and what makes him happy.

This leads me to Anna. "It was said that a new person had appeared on the sea-front..." This line is speaking of Anna and the mystery that she has brought into their small town. Anna was a mystery that Gurov felt enticed to solve. Gurov asks himself, along with the reader: who is she, why is she here, and most importantly is she single? Gurov notices that Anna is alone, "If she is here alone without a husband or friends, it wouldn't be amiss to make her acquaintance."Which Gurov does, but to Gurovs somewhat dismay, Anna is married and only in town to visit. Gurov did not mind though, he was happy with Anna. And in return Anna was happy with him. That is, until Anna needed to return home to her husband. This hurt Gurov, which is something that would not be expected.

He acted as though he did not feel for women, that they were there in company to him. Gurov enjoyed meeting new women, when he would "he was eager for life, and everything seemed simple and amusing." Then the relationships would always turn serious. Gurov was already married to a woman whom he was not in love with, why would he have a serious affair with one too? That was exactly why he moved from woman to woman, almost forming this womanizer who lost touch with reality.

One could believe that Anna opened Gurovs eyes. Everything