# The Album explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Anton Chekhov.

## What happens

Subordinates present their superior, Zhmyhov, with an album of portraits to celebrate his jubilee. He is deeply moved and delivers a tearful speech. However, after the celebration, his children treat the album carelessly: his daughter Olya takes it for her own use, discarding the clerks' portraits, and his son Kolya defaces and cuts up the portraits for play, ultimately showing the ruined album to his father, who laughs affectionately.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Moral Failure

Zhmyhov's tearful gratitude for the album contrasts sharply with his children's careless destruction of it, revealing the superficiality of the ceremony and the lack of genuine respect.

### Illusion vs. Reality

The grand illusion of the jubilee celebration and Zhmyhov's self-importance is shattered by the mundane reality of the album's fate as a child's toy.

## Character check-ins

### Zhmyhov

The actual civil councillor and jubilee recipient, deeply moved by the album presentation, later laughs at his son's destruction of it.

### Kraterov

The titular councillor who presents the album to Zhmyhov and is kissed by him.

### Zakusin

A subordinate who prompts Kraterov during the speech and adds his own remarks.

### Olya

Zhmyhov's daughter, who takes the album and replaces the clerks' portraits with her school friends.

### Kolya

Zhmyhov's little son, who defaces and cuts up the portraits, then shows the ruined album to his father.

## Key lines

> Your Excellency! Moved and touched to the bottom of our hearts by the way you have ruled us during long years, and by your fatherly care.

We are deeply moved by your long and fatherly leadership.

_Kraterov's opening words of the presentation speech._

> I did not expect, I had no idea that you were going to celebrate my modest jubilee. … I am touched indeed … very much so. … I shall not forget this moment to my dying day, and believe me … believe me, friends, that no one is so desirous of your welfare as I am … and if there has been anything … it was for your benefit.

I never expected this celebration; I am deeply touched and will always remember it, and I assure you I always acted for your good.

_Zhmyhov's tearful response to the album presentation._

> Papa, a monument, look!

Look, Papa, I made a monument!

_Kolya shows his father the mutilated portrait of Kraterov fixed on a matchbox._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters/the-album
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_5_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_5_se/chapters