THE LAMENT (Woven Words)

ABOUT THE ATUHOR

Anton Chekhov (1810–1904) was born in a middle-class family in Russia. He studied medicine at Moscow University. His first short story appeared in 1880 and, in the next seven years, he produced more than six hundred stories. He also wrote plays— Seagull, Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchards are among the more famous ones. His work greatly influenced the modern short story and drama.

The main theme of Chekov’s short stories is life’s pathos, caused by the inability of human beings to respond to, or even to communicate with, one another. The present story illustrates this point beautifully. 

Synonyms
Lament- cry
Snuffle-sniff, inhale, breathe
Slough- lack of progress
Ginger beard horse-Ginger beard is a beard that doesn’t match the colour of the hair.
Twirling- turn around, rotate
Reins- wheels, harnesses, bridles.
Sleigh-sledge
Werewolf- in folklore werewolf is a person who changes to be a wolf for a period of time.
Popped-cracked
Tavern- a pub
Galoshes-rubbers, gumboots
Petulance-sulkiness, irritability
Twanging-vibrating
Cognac-cognac is a variety of brandy
Trot-gallop, hurry, run

1. Comment on the indifference that meets Iona’s attempts to share his grief with his fellow human beings.
Iona Potapov had lost his son, who died a week before. He wished to share his suffering and his emotions and grieve at his loss. However, the people he came across, whether passengers or others, were not interested in listening to his story. Either the people were in hurry or were tired or busy. Thus, none of them paid heed to his words as he began every time. Finally, he told his sad story to his horse.
2. What impression of the character of Iona do you get from this story?
Lona Potapov, an ageing man, a poor Russian cab driver lost his dear son earlier week. A load that he carries, weighing his heart, Iona wishes to speak and share his grief desperately with someone. Thus, on finding no companion or friend to mourn over his grief he tries to share it with every one he comes across.
3. How does the horse serve as a true friend and companion to Iona?

The horse serves as a true friend and companion to Iona because his fellow human beings were indifferent to his sufferings. After his alienation from the society, he began to confide in his horse who listened silently without judging him like a true friend. His desperate attempts at communication had failed so he discussed his whole story to the horse, feeding it hay, saying that he wishes that his son was still alive to support him in his old age.

4. The story begins with a description of the setting. How does this serve as a fitting prelude to the events described in the story?

The story of Iona Potapov is one of suffering. The setting described in the beginning sets the mood of the reader, the atmosphere is full of gloom and darkness as it is a day covered with snow

5. Comment on the graphic detail with which the various passengers who took Iona’s cab are described.

The passengers of Iona are described in graphic detail as they represent people from various

walks of life.

A policeman is an impatient man who is uninterested in listening to his story because he is in a hurry and the only conversation he has is criticising Iona for driving rashly and asking him to go faster. The three drunkards also offer no sympathy in Iona's sorrow because they hurl insults and swear at him and react indifferently when he mention's his son's death.

These details show how unconcerned and indifferent they are to Iona's grief, caring only about their own affairs.
6. This short story revolves around a single important event. Discuss how the narrative is woven around this central fact.

There is only one important event in the story, which is Iona's mission to share his grief and suffering with someone to ease his pain. The narrative is woven around this one objective of the narration. Iona is an old cab driver, who had low income and had recently lost his son to death. His heart was full of grief and he wished to turn to another soul to pour his sufferings out to, but he failed miserably. His passengers all reject his attempts at sharing his story and this overwhelms him. His agony and despair grow when he realizes that he is an alien in this society. His horse is the only one he can turn to, in order to share his grief as it listens patiently. The main event of the story is Iona's struggle and vain attempts to overcome his grief and the narrative revolves around it.

The story begins and ends with Iona and his horse. Comment on the significance of this to the plot of the story.

The story is a satire on how disengaged humans are that one has to find a true companion in an animal. Iona from the beginning of the story is portrayed with his horse. In the beginning, while Iona is struck with his loss and is melancholic, he tells his story to the horse the little horse munches, listens and breathe over his master’s hand and stood unmoved. It appeared that they both shared similar grief. His horse is his only companion by the end of the story.