Short Fiction · Chapter
A Play explained
Pavel Vassilyevitch is visited by Mme.
What happens
Pavel Vassilyevitch is visited by Mme. Murashkin, a would-be playwright who insists on reading her five-act play aloud. He reluctantly agrees but endures the reading with growing irritation and boredom, his mind wandering to trivial concerns. As the play reaches its climax, he suddenly strikes her with a paperweight, then surrenders to the authorities. The jury acquits him.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Compassion
Pavel Vassilyevitch's extreme suffering during the reading leads to a violent outburst, yet the jury's acquittal suggests a societal understanding of his torment.
Hypocrisy and Moral Failure
Mme. Murashkin's self-importance and Pavel Vassilyevitch's feigned attention highlight the hypocrisy in social and literary interactions.
Characters to notice
- Pavel Ivanitch
The reluctant listener who is forced to endure Mme. Murashkin's play reading; he becomes increasingly agitated and ultimately attacks her with a paperweight.
- Mme. Murashkin
The aspiring playwright who imposes her five-act play on Pavel Vassilyevitch, reading it aloud with great emotion.
Key passages
“Pavel Vassilyevitch liked no articles but his own. When threatened with the necessity of reading other people's, or listening to them, he felt as though he were facing the cannon's mouth.”
Pavel Vassilyevitch only enjoyed his own writing and dreaded being forced to read or hear others' work as if facing a deadly threat.
Highlights his self-absorption and aversion to others' creative efforts.
“Like a man condemned to be executed and convinced of the impossibility of a reprieve, Pavel Vassilyevitch gave up expecting the end, abandoned all hope, and simply tried to prevent his eyes from closing, and to retain an expression of attention on his face.”
Pavel Vassilyevitch felt like a prisoner awaiting execution, resigned to his fate and struggling only to stay awake and look attentive.
Emphasizes the unbearable tedium of the reading.
“Pavel Vassilyevitch started and with dim and smarting eyes stared at the reading lady; for a minute he gazed fixedly as though understanding nothing.”
Pavel Vassilyevitch, with tired and stinging eyes, stared blankly at the lady, comprehending nothing for a moment.
Captures his mental exhaustion and detachment.
“Looking round him wildly Pavel Vassilyevitch got up, yelled in a deep, unnatural voice, snatched from the table a heavy paperweight, and beside himself, brought it down with all his force on the authoress's head.”
In a frenzy, Pavel Vassilyevitch stood up, let out a strange yell, grabbed a heavy paperweight, and struck the author on the head with all his might.
The climax of his pent-up frustration and the violent act that ends the reading.