Anna On The Neck

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Submitted by freefortermpapers on 06/24/2008 03:00 PM

  • Category: English
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Anna On The Neck

Anna on the Neck

Anton Chekhov's Anna on the Neck is based on Anna, a young girl of eighteen who marries Alexseich, a much older civil servant in hopes of improving her financial situation. Typically, the women in this short story are economically disadvantaged, of lower social class and/or in financial trouble as depicted by Anna. On the other hand, her husband, the much older, financially stable, boorish, oppressive and higher-class Alexseich, is seen as the ‘hero' who carries her away from her misery.

Although Anna was previously ‘condemned' by the men around her, the story takes a turn as Anna is guided by her mother. During the Christmas ball, Anna comes into her own when she ‘creates' her dress for the ball, and mimic's her behavior. When Anna proves to be elegant, mesmerizing, and desirable, her husband ceases to look down on her as simply a medal on his neck. Anna's ‘salability' has brought her to a position higher that of her husband's when she is sought by other men, reaps much for chari
, and especially when His Excellency introduces him and his wife to Anna. As Anna receives increasing bids from many admirers, so does her status in society increase.

Although there is a sense that Alexseich is left feeling rather insecure and indebted to Anna after the ball, he is quietly content as he benefits from these ‘transactions' as well. Anna's inevitable marriage to Alekseich is leveled economically with her gaining independence and proving her worth to her husband. Now his respect for her is evident, and he wears the same sugary smile he reserves for those of whom he wants to gain favor. In the morning after the ball, her response is delightfully brusque. Having found her voice and identity, she retorts, "Be off, you blockhead!" and from that point, Alekseich is merely her banker. It is fitting that the lack of voice precedes the lack of rights or identity, and how this scenario changes after the...

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