Introduction
The narrative “The Lady with a Pet Dog” is a classic example of the influence that cultural diversity can have on writers’ writing styles. Joyce Carol Oats gives the story a modern approach from the feminine point of view, using the United States as the setting. On the other hand, Anton Chekhov gives the story a relatively older approach from the masculine point of view, using Russia as the setting.
The narrative has been written by two different writers who are culturally different in various perspectives and the place setting can be said to be worlds apart. Furthermore, the two stories indicate cultural changes that have taken place over time especially with regard to gender because the two writers write in different time settings. The plot of the two narratives is the same, and the plot is also built in a similar fashion, but as one reads the two stories one after the other, differences in terms of perception, expression of events, feelings, and circumstances are significant. The two stories have differences with regard to culture, time, and place setting, but the similarities outweigh the differences, perhaps because of the similarity in the plot.
Similarities
The outstanding similarity of the narratives is the theme of love that is evident from the beginning to the end of the two stories. Chekhov’s narrative is told through Gurov who is an older married man who is currently bored by what he terms as illiteracy of his wife and lack of romance in their relationship. Gurov is described as a man who got married early in his youth without apparent knowledge of what marriage actually meant. Gurov, therefore, seeks romance from other women as we are told in the story that, “He had begun being faithful to her long ago.” (Chekhov 520) It is therefore evident that Gurov was looking for love elsewhere. Therefore, he never fails to spot a young classy woman who is also married walking in public alone and even gives her the nickname “The lady with a Pet Dog.” They later meet again in the public gardens and they begin a relationship that initially seems to be a harmless affair, but that emanates to passionate love filled with romance that each of them is unable to let go of. After the lady leaves Gurov is devastated and decides to pursue her in Moscow and after that, they begin their romantic escapades. Interestingly, Oats also names her main character Anna who in Chekhov’s story was the woman Gurov was having an affair with. In this case, it is Anna who in unusual circumstances meets a young man known to readers only as a stranger while she is on holiday; Gurov also met Anna while on Holiday. (Oats) Both narratives outline the way lust can often be confused with love. Both partners in Chekhov’s narrative and Oats’ narrative seem to complement each other providing the aspect that the other is lacking in their marriages. Gurov is in need of sexual satisfaction and being listened to by someone intelligent while Anna is in need of attention and affection and they conveniently complement one another.
The two narratives seem similar and as if they are providing outlining similar aspects but from different points of view. In Chekhov’s story, it is Anna who feels most guilty about the relationship and constantly blames herself for it. For instance, she says that “…I am a bad, low woman…” (Chekhov 670) When the circumstances are reversed by the recreation of Oats and Anna is the main character she still remains passive.
(Oats) Therefore the two stories bring out clearly the issues of femininity. Furthermore, both women in the two stories seem to find comfort in their pets. When they are not in the company of men the women in the two stories are described as being lonely. On the other hand, men seem to exude confidence and we are even told that Gurov had even cheated on his wife on several occasions while from the story we can conclude that Anna in the same story had not cheated on her husband.
Differences
The two stories perhaps have many similarities and differences perhaps because of the similarity in the plot. One major difference is the passiveness displayed by the main character in Oats’ story and the activeness displayed by the main character in Chekhov’s story. Anna in Oats’ story is passive and the stranger seems to be the one taking the active role in their relationship. (Oats) On the other hand, the main character in Chekhov’s story Gurov takes an active role in their relationship. Issues of feminism are brought out in the differences because in Chekhov’s narrative it is Gurov seems to take control of the affair in several circumstances. For instance, it is Gurov who suggests that they go to Anna’s hotel room and it is Gurov who decides to pursue Anna to Moscow. Anna on the other hand is passive and is being consumed by guilt constantly and even reprimands herself on several occasions.
Conclusion
The two stories bring out important aspects about issues pertaining to emotions, love, and culture. For instance, the partners in both stories found love due to the fact that they complemented each others’ needs. Furthermore, the two stories outline that cultural aspects such as femininity are mostly universal and it is because of this that both women respond in a similar manner although their circumstances are different in terms of time and space.
References
Chekhov, Anton. “The Lady with the Pet Dog.” 2010. University of Liverpool: Global Online Masters Degrees. Web.
Oats, Joyce. The lady with the Pet Dog. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Michael Meyer. Boston : Bedford, 2000.