In the story “Misery” by Anton Chekhov, I identified despair and misery as a theme. The surroundings amplify the sentiment of the main character, Iona Potapov. Cold and gray surrounds’ Iona Potapov and he is extremely miserable. Iona Potapov wants to speak to another human about his son’s death but no one will listen. Failing to speak with any humans, Iona is resigned to speak with his horse.
At the beginning of the story Anton Chekhov sets the environment for the story. “The twilight of evening.” (30) While reading this story, I envision the scenery by what Anton Chekhov wrote. “Big flakes of wet snow are whirling lazily about the street lamps, which have just been lighted, and lying in a thin soft layer on the roofs, horses’ backs, shoulders, caps.” (30) The picture portrayed is that of dull, gloomy, sludge and gray ash covering all of the surrounding areas. ” The familiar gray landscape.” (30)