# The Orator explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Anton Chekhov.

## What happens

The orator Zapoikin is hired to deliver a funeral speech for a deceased colleague, but he confuses the deceased with a living man, Prokofy Osipitch, leading to an awkward and insulting situation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Moral Failure

The orator's speech is full of praise for a man he privately calls a rascal, and the living Prokofy Osipitch is offended by the insincere flattery.

## Character check-ins

### The Stranger

Zapoikin, the orator, mistakenly delivers a eulogy for the wrong man.

### Ivan Ivanitch

Poplavsky, the colleague who fetches Zapoikin for the funeral.

## Key lines

> Can I believe my eyes and ears? Is it not a terrible dream this grave, these tear-stained faces, these moans and lamentations?

The orator dramatically questions the reality of the funeral scene.

_Zapoikin begins his eulogy with rhetorical flourish._

> Prokofy Osipitch was our secretary before, that's true, but two years ago he was transferred to the second division as head clerk.

Poplavsky corrects Zapoikin's mistake about who died.

_The confusion between the deceased and the living man is revealed._

## Links

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