PRESENTATION ON GRIEF (ENGLISH ELECTIVE)

PRESENTATION WORK Submitted To: Mrs. Indira Sharma Submitted By: Ashwani Kumar B.A.-1st year 5737/13

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ANTON CHEKHOV He was born on 29 January 1860 in Taganrog, Russia and he was died on 15 July, 1904. Anton Chekhov was a Russian short-story writer, playwright and physician. He had a disease in which he could live only for a few years.

WHAT IS GRIEF? Grief is the emotion people feel when they experience a loss. Greif can make us feel guilty. Some people might blame themselves or think they could have done something to stop the death.

THEME OF GRIEF The theme of misery is the callousness of man, his unwillingness to share the grief of others. Man is very selfish and is not concerned towards the grief and sorrow of others. Thus the story depicts the apathy of man to man.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY It describes the plight of a Russian Cab driver who wants to share his grief with someone but does not find a sympathetic listener. Cab driver namely Iona has lost his Son. Iona was in search of some man before whom he can unburden his heart and thus find an outlet for his grief, so he was waiting for some passenger at the cab station.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY Iona’s first passenger was an Officer. When Iona tells him that he lost his only son a few days ago, the Officer simply asks him what he had died of. After this his interest flags and he curses and swears at Iona for his bad driving.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY Iona waits for another passenger. A little later three young men hire his carriage at a very low fare. Iona does not mind the fare. One of them gives Iona a blow on the neck. Iona wants to tell them the story of his grief, but as soon as he begins, they reach their destination.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY Iona says, “My Son– died this week”. -- The remark comes ‘Cabby Are you married?’ The listeners are so disconnected and disinterested that Iona is left alone.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY His Grief makes him feel that death had gone to the wrong door. As he was alive and his son was dead. Iona’s heart is full of grief, he wants to unburden his heart. So when he sees the hall porter, he decides to go to him and speak to him. In order to engage him in talk, he asks the hall porter what time it was. The porter tells the time and Iona is again left alone.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY After his bad experience with people, Iona decides to go to the stables. Finally, he decides to tell the complete story to his horse. The real purpose is that Iona must unburden his heart before someone.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY ‘Grief’, with its basic simplicity and minuteness of detail, is a typical example of Chekov’s craftsmanship. The author’s sense of sorrow at man’s inhumanity to man, and his compassion for the lonely and the downtrodden is reflected in this disturbing tale.