Anton Chekhov and The Bear
A myth is a story or part of a story that is based on tradition or legend, originating in the oral history of a preliterate society and incorporating its beliefs about the origins of the world, the causes of natural events, and the origins of the society's customs and practices. Considered a symbolic narrative, a myth is usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that supposedly relates actual events and that is especially associated with religious belief.
In another sense, myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman beings involved in the extraordinary. Many mythological stories, such as "Cupids Arrow" (Cupid), date back well beyond the time of Christ. Greek and Roman poets in early literature circles interpreted many stories, as many became authored by the end of second A.D. (Hamilton 18). Since then, these stories have survived the ages, and are often given credit for a particular path ones' life might take (24).
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. Oil on canvas. From the c...
Anton Chekhov's Birthhouse in Taganrog, Russia
Chekhov Statue in Taganrog, 1960Anton Chekhov was born on January 29, 1860 in Taganrog, Russia (Fen- intro). He was a short-story writer, dramatist, and physician. The son of a grocer and grandson of a serf, Chekhov earned enduring international acclaim for his stories and plays. His early works, broad humorous sketches and tales published under a pseudonym, were written to support himself and his family while he studied for his medical degree in Moscow. Under this strain he contracted tuberculosis, which ravaged him all his life (Anton).
Early in his career, he mastered the form of the one-act and produced several masterpieces to include The Bear. Chekhov's plays have become famous worldwide. Noted for his realistic dialogue and keen insights into human nature, he is considered the greatest Russian storyteller and dramatist of modern times (2).
The Bear, one of Chekhov's very short...