Reading is like training your mind. If you don't do it often, your mind won't desire more. If you do it often, your mind would want more and it would (like your chest and forearms) broaden. Thats kinda like the story of my life right now. I haven't been reading enough, hence the desire to read more has evaporated. Kinda like gone with the wind. One thing is for sure though, if everything goes, short stories would always be around to nudge me back into the literary world.
Anton Chekhov is like the demi-god of the short story genre. I know I have said that a zillion times, but seriously, this time its for real. A lot of people consider him to be the founder of modern short story. He published over four hundred short story by twenty six. Thats a crazy number. One of my favourite, and one which I had earlier reviewed is Vanka.
- Author - Anton Chekhov
- Title - Fat and Thin
- Originally Published - October 1883
- Genre - Fiction, Short Stories
PLOT
The story is about two friends of contrasting social status. One fat, one thin. They both meet up by accident at a rail station and immediately begin to catch up on their old friendship. The thin man introduces his family to the Fat man and they continue exchange pleasanteries. The whole conversation changed when the Fat man mentioned his social status. The thin man realising his friends his higher than him begins to treat him like a god. Completely worshipping him to his friends disgust.
SETTING
In a train station really. That is where it all happened.
CHARACTER(S)
- Porfiry - the thin man
- Misha - the fat man
- Louisa - the thin man's wife
- Nathaniel - the thin man's son
PURPOSE
Its really sad how social status can completely ruin a genuine and beautiful relationship.
A poignant and lucid story with a relatable plot. Just to be clear; the reference towards fat and thing is just a metaphor. The story really goes deep into this societal anomaly. I feel like I gave out a lot of information but I can't write about the story without telling it all. We've all been there; meeting that one friend who just goes wonkers because of a disimilarity in social status or in another way. Immediately a friend hears or feels the other is higher in anyway, the whole thing becomes formal and this ruins relationships. Or it could be either the friend is jealous of the other or only wants favour from him. Its really how it goes. It is a predominant issue in the society, and also the main theme of the story. It was a decent read. I'd rate it a 3.5/5 and would recommend for a leisure read too.