At home (Chekhov)
In the homeland ( Russian В родном углу , W rodnom uglu) is a short story by the Russian writer Anton Chekhov , which was written in Nice in October 1897 and was published on November 16 of the same year in the Moscow magazine Russkije vedomosti . The first translation into German dates back to 1928.
action
The train travels through endless steppe . At most a barrow there or a windmill there loosen up the monotony a little. Coal is transported with a team of oxen. We are in the Donets area . Vera Ivanovna Kardina gets off the train and is picked up by the coachman with a troika . The last time Wera had visited her grandfather on his estate ten years ago as a little girl . Now the marriageable Wera is orphaned. The father, an engineer who worked in Siberia , died three months ago while passing through Kazan .
Wera - "young, healthy, educated" - only has grandfather and 42-year-old aunt Dasha. The latter is the sister of Wera's father. Aunt Dasha falls through the door: the property is pledged, but there is a way out. “Doctor Nestschapow from the factory, he's such a handsome, so interesting man!” The pale, slim, brunette doctor is wealthy, visits the family regularly, but is very reserved with Wera. Wera disgusts his manners and the face with the dark brows.
What should be? Wera could study medicine. She rejects the thought because of Latin, disease and corpses.
Aunt Dasha understands her niece's negative attitude towards Dr. Nestschapow does not: “He loves you, he adores you!” To which Wera: “... how should I know? He himself is silent. ”Aunt Dasha promptly has the appropriate explanation. Dr. Nestschapow doesn't want to get a basket from Wera.
Interest is due on the goods. Aunt Dasha asks Wera to be able to use the money left by her deceased father. Wera takes out her anger on the stupid maid Aljona and finally gives in. Opposite the aunt, Wera declares that he is marrying the silent Dr. Nestschapov ready on one condition. The aunt has to speak to the future groom. Wera can't. Anton Chekhov closes his short story with the sentence: "One month later, Wera was already living in the factory."
reception
- March 3, 2004, H.-Georg Lützenkirchen in literaturkritik.de: Truths of life : The social critic Anton Chekhov analyzes a situation. The serfdom is abolished, but far from over. For example, gentlemen mourn the abolished corporal punishment .
German-language editions
Used edition
- In the homeland. German by Gerhard Dick . P. 290-303 in Gerhard Dick (ed.), Wolf Düwel (ed.): Anton Chekhov: The lady with the dog . Master tales. in: Anton Chekhov: Collected works in individual volumes . 612 pages (also contains: The wife. Anna on the neck . White forehead . The murder . Ariadna. The house with the mezzanine . My life. The peasants . The Pechenege. On the wagon. With friends. The person in the case . The gooseberries . About love . Jonytsch . A case from practice . Hearts . The new country house. On the business trip. At Christmas time. In the gorge . The bishop. The bride ). Rütten & Loening, Berlin 1967 (1st edition), without ISBN
Web links
- The text
- В родном углу (Чехов) (Russian)
- online in FEB (Russian)
- online at litmir.co (Russian)
- online in the Komarow library (Russian)
- Chekhov Bibliography, Entry Stories No. 556 (Russian)