The Lady With The Pet Dog

In reading the short story The Lady With The Pet Dog by

Anton Chekhov and A Respectable Woman by Kate

Chopin one can see key similarities of the two works. The

short story by Anton Checkov deals with a man and a

woman who are both married but regardless of this fact they

fall in love with each other and have a secret affair. The short

story by Kate Chopin deals with a married woman who is

tempted to have an affair with one of her husbands friends,

but she resist unlike the characters in The Lady With The

Pet Dog. Both of the works deal with the fact that each of

the characters are involved in committed relationships, but

they are tempted to cheat in their relationships. The

characters in the short story The Lady With The Pet Dog fall

in love with each other and have an affair regardless of the

fact that both of the individuals are married. A lady arrives in

town with a little white dog, which would give her her name

initially since no one knew of her true identity. "She walked

along, always wearing the same beret and always with the

white dog no one knew who she was and everyone called

her simply 'the lady with the pet dog'"(194). The man that

has an acute interest in this young woman is named Dmitrich

Gurov who is married with a daughter twelve years old, and

two sons away at school. He is dissatisfied to say the least

with his present situation and his marriage to his wife.

"...while he privately considered her of limited intelligence,

narrow-minded, dowdy, was afraid of her, and did not like

to be at home"(294). This man would often cheat on his wife

because he is unhappy and thought very little of his wife. "He

had begun being unfai! thful to her long ago--had been

unfaithful to her often and, probably for that reason, almost

always spoke ill of women, and when they were talked of in

his presence used to call them 'the inferior race'"(194).

When this man seen a new woman in his town he decides to

introduce himself and find out about the lady with the pet

dog. As the two of them become closer and closer the

relationship becomes more serious. They often walked in the

park together which made their friendship grow stronger

each day. "...afterwards he meet her in the square several

times a day"(193). After many acquaintances and talks he

learns that this woman grew up in Petersburg and married

two years previously. "In the evening when the wind had

abated they went out on the pier to watch the steamer come

in"(195). He soon learns that her name is Anna Sergeyevna.

Also she will be staying in Yalta for about a month and she is

there to take a well needed rest away from her husband, as

he is in need of one too. He begins to make passes at her

that she didn't notice at first such as offering to buy her a

soft drink or some ice cream. "...Gurov often went into the

restaurant and offered Anna Sergeyvna a soft drink or ice

cream"(195). As they grow closer they finally go far beyond

the limits of a friendship. "Then he looked at her intently, and

suddenly embraced her and kissed her on the lips, and the

moist fragrance of her flowers enveloped him at once he

looked round him anxiously, wondering if anyone had seen

them"(196). This sudden move was truly unexpected from

the both of them and Gurov was afraid that someone would

see them together for he is married as she is too and this is

not tolerated in marriage. He is truly crossing the line and

realizes that it is dangerous to be with Anna in public,

because someone could see them. Anna felt tremendously

guilty after this kiss from another man besides her husband.

"'It's not right,' she said. 'You don't respect me now, you

first of! all....'God forgive me,' she said, and her eyes filled

with tears. 'It's terrible'"(196). Although she felt horrible she

felt just in her actions because of the way that her husband

has treated her. Events like these continue on for weeks, up

until the day it is time for Anna to go back home to her

husband. "...a letter came from him saying that he had eye-

trouble, and begging his wife to return home as soon as

possible. Anna Sergeyevna made haste to go"(198). She is

truly not ready to leave the companion that she has met and

fell