The Brute

Personality Profile: Mrs. Popov in The Brute by Anton Chekhov In The Brute, Anton Chekhov scripts a relatively short, one-act play which features two prominent and distinct main characters. Chekhov himself was born in 1860 in Russia to a lower-middle class family. At age sixteen, he was literally abandoned by his family, an event which would shape the course of his life and writings in the years to come.

Chekhov’s outlandish stories are generally classified as farces, which are defined as light, dramatic works in which highly improbable plot situations, exaggerated characters, and often slapstick elements are used for humorous effect (Dictionary. com/Farce). The Brute is thus typical of Chekhov’s work. Written in 1888, it was originally entitled The Bear and was based on a French play about a man who cannot refrain from swearing. The two primary characters in the story are Mrs. Popov and Mr. Smirnov. Both characters are exaggerated forms of the stereotypes of man and woman.

For that reason, Mrs. Popov’s character is interesting to analyze. Although one might think that her character would be portrayed unrealistically when read in light of today’s modern society, it shows the similarities of women in Chekhov’s dramatically different time period and those of today. The Brute opens with Mrs. Popov holding a picture of her husband, mourning his death. Her butler, Luka, attempts to reconcile her by stating that it is time to move on. From his speech, the reader can deduce that Mr. Popov’s death did not happen yesterday, but also did not happen years ago.

Luka tries to convince Mrs. Popov to date again, but she firmly states that she died with her husband and that she will continue to be faithful to him despite his absence. She openly states during this conversation that Mr. Popov cheated on her, yet she seems to take his unfaithfulness in stride. From the opening remarks, it seems as if Mrs. Popov is a woman committed never to date men again. She masks the fact that she does not want her heart broken again by pretending to still mourn for her lost husband. Up until when Mr. Smirnov enters the story, Mrs.

Popov portrays herself as an introvert who masks her true feelings. Although Luka’s intentions to change Mrs. Popov’s mind are good, the way she responds to his remarks shows that they have known each other for a long time and simply will brush off whatever comments he makes regarding the subject. It seems as if they have had this conversation before with the same results. Mrs. Popov’s initial state reveals much about her character. Her husband was wealthy enough to allow her to live comfortably after his death. She retained the services of the faithful butler Luka.

After her husband’s death, Mrs. Popov has been a woman struggling to determine what she wants in life. She has to convince herself to carry on mourning by continuing to look at her departed husband’s photograph. It can be implied that she has not gotten out much since the death and most likely locked herself inside the house. In a sense, she feels liberated from the control of men, but she knows in order to maintain that freedom she must remain without male intervention. To accomplish this safely, she knows she must not allow herself to be friendly with any male.

This is the reason for the attitude she adopts when Mr. Smirnov walks in the room. Mr. Smirnov enters and introduces himself to Luka, who then goes to fetch Mrs. Popov. She refuses to see the guest, stating “I see no one! ” (1064). This is a perfect example of Mrs. Popov’s attempt to keep herself isolated from the outside world. When Luka explains that their guest will not leave, he enters and explains his situation. Mr. Smirnov was Mr. Popov’s source of oats, and when he died he was left owing Mr. Smirnov twelve hundred rubles.

He had come to collect on the money, for debtors were coming for him tomorrow and he needed it to survive. After repeatedly forgetting his name, Mrs. Popov explains that has every intention to pay on her husband’s debts, but she cannot due so until two days from now, when her steward comes back from town. Here, Mrs. Popov’s isolation is further confirmed, as we learn that she does not even venture out on the town for trivial matters. Mr. Smirnov is puzzled as to why he cannot have his money today if Mrs. Popov has it. After launching into a long, articulated speech concerning his hatred for women, Mrs.

Popov’s demeanor begins to change. Her forced hatred of men propels her to go head to head with Mr. Smirnov, matching his intensity for disgust of the opposite sex. Both exemplify many stereotypes regarding men and women, respectively. Mr. Smirnov is loud, argumentative, and unwilling to compromise. He is easy to raise his voice and refuses to try and understand Mrs. Popov’s situation. Mrs. Popov refuses to fully acknowledge Mr. Popov, as she is still trying to isolate herself and put up an aloof front. Things begin to change when Mr. Smirnov gets Mrs.

Popov to start opening up to him and talking of her previous experiences with men. After Mr. Smirnov finishes his speech regarding his loves and loves lost, he is able to get Mrs. Popov to open up to him and talk about her experiences with her husband. By sharing this information with a relative stranger, Mrs. Popov begins to break down some of the walls that she has built up around herself. She talks of how poorly her husband treated her openly, but again tries to reinforce her standing as an introvert by exclaiming the fact that she will remain faithful to him until her death.

Mr. Smirnov immediately announces that Mrs. Popov is a fool for thinking that way and that it is unrealistic to lock herself away. Another fight ensues and Mrs. Popov calls for a duel. Mr. Smirnov is able to see through Mrs. Popov’s false front and announces that he is in love. Although Mrs. Popov continues to verbally state that she is not interested, it is clear from her tone and actions that she is beginning to open up. At the end of the story, the two share a long kiss and it is clear that the two will be spending more time together in the future. Mrs.

Popov’s character in The Brute shows a few aspects of human nature that we have to control over. It is impossible to defy your true wants and needs as a human being, as Mrs. Popov unrealistically tried to do. It is also impossible to choose who you will fall in love with, as that is controlled by a higher force. Mrs. Popov would not accept the old phrase “It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all,” which holds true for virtually everyone. At the end of the story, we see Mrs. Popov opening up and enjoying life rather than relishing in the problems of the past.