Short Fiction · Chapter
The Dreams of Chang explained
Chang, an old dog, and his master, the captain, live in a bleak Odessa garret, their fortunes fallen from their seafaring days.
What happens
Chang, an old dog, and his master, the captain, live in a bleak Odessa garret, their fortunes fallen from their seafaring days. The captain, disillusioned, preaches a single grim truth of life's futility, echoing Ecclesiastes. Chang drifts between drunken stupor and memories of a beautiful past aboard a steamer in the Red Sea. The captain dies in his sleep; Chang, devastated, witnesses the funeral and is taken in by a new master, an artist. In the end, Chang dreams of a third truth beyond death, sensing the captain's enduring presence in a universe inaccessible to mortality.
Themes in this chapter
Mortality and the Futility of Wealth
The captain's death in poverty and his earlier belief in life's meaninglessness underscore the theme of mortality and the vanity of earthly pursuits.
Solitude and Longing
Chang's isolation and longing for the past, as well as the captain's solitary despair, permeate the chapter.
The Beauty and Harshness of Nature
The contrast between the beautiful memories of the Red Sea and the harsh Odessa winter illustrates nature's dual aspects.
Characters to notice
- Chang
The old, drunken dog who reflects on his past with the captain and experiences the captain's death.
- The Gentleman from San Francisco
Referred to as 'the captain' throughout; Chang's master who dies in the garret.
- Ivan Bunin
The artist who takes Chang in after the captain's death, showing compassion.
Key passages
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them!”
The captain often quotes Ecclesiastes, urging remembrance of God before old age brings despair.
This biblical quote encapsulates the captain's pessimistic worldview.
“Life is a dreary, winter day in a filthy tavern, no more.”
The captain declares that life is nothing but a bleak, dirty tavern on a winter day.
Reflects the captain's nihilistic philosophy.
“Ah, no, no—there is upon earth some third truth, that has not been made known to me!”
Chang's silent cry suggests there is a third truth beyond the two he knew, unknown to him.
This moment of love and connection hints at a transcendent truth.