The story was written in 1989, was first published in the journal Russian Thought. The idea of the work is the idea of the author to convey to the readers the image of a little man. This type in Chekhov's work is significantly different from similar images from other writers.
Summary (338 words). The event is developing in Russia of the 19th century. Veterinarian Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Himalayan and teacher Burkin stop for the night at the headman after a long hunt. Razomlev and warming up, Burkin begins his story about the teacher Belikov, with whom they worked in the same gymnasium.
Belikov was "famous" for the fact that he seemed to be trying to drive him into his "case" all his life, constantly trying to protect and protect himself from the external environment. All the teacher’s belongings were put into covers, and even in good weather he dressed warmly, you never know. However, an incredible story happened to him once.
It was like this: a new teacher of history and geography, Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko, was appointed to the gymnasium, with whom a pretty girl of about thirty arrived, who fervently sang and danced. The girl turned out to be Mikhail’s sister and immediately fell in love with everyone, even Belikov, it seemed, began to stare at Varenka. The entire teaching staff suddenly came up with a brilliant idea: to marry Belikov, and they immediately began to execute it. After long convictions about the need for marriage, Belikov began to walk with Varenka, the girl showed him "clear favor."
However, one case violated the idyll. Someone decided to play a trick on Belikov and drew his caricature, under the pen with Varenka, and sent the drawing to all the gymnasium teachers. Belikov was very upset by what had happened, and at one point, meeting Kovalenko with his sister, riding bicycles, he made a remark to them that it was not appropriate for a gymnasium teacher and a woman to have fun in this way. The next day, Belikov went to visit Kovalenko to “lighten his soul”, the beloved teacher was not at home, but her brother Belikov disliked from the very meeting. From the next portion of moralizing, Mikhail became angry and lowered Belikov from the stairs. By an absurd accident, Varenka came into the staircase at that moment. Seeing Belikov, she laughed out loud. The teacher could not endure such humiliation, as soon as he thought about what had happened, he immediately felt ill. In horror, Belikov came home, and died a month later.
At Belikov’s funeral, everyone arrived in a pleasant sense of freedom, and the hero himself lay in a coffin with a happy expression on his face. As if he had reached his ideal, "they put him in a case from which he will never come out."
This is where Burkin ends his story.
Feedback on the story (154 words). Of course, the work of A. Chekhov left an indelible mark in Russian literature. I liked the story “The Man in the Case” from the series “Little Trilogy”, it also included such stories as: “Gooseberry”, “About Love”.
In my opinion, the work makes you think about your own life and pay attention to your actions in order to avoid the mistakes of the main character. Chekhov’s favorite hero is a “little man”, it was his life that the author constantly sought to show. The ordinary, unremarkable, incomprehensible and not accepted by society, but at the same time dependent on him hero is doomed to a bleak life, driven into a framework.
The main idea of the story is that life in a case, within, does not make sense. Only full-fledged, full of emotions and impressions, it can make us happy. Through his works, Anton Pavlovich urges readers to enjoy every moment, not waste time and not give tremendous importance to trifles.
Chekhov’s little man is an ordinary citizen whose life is subject to constant clashes with the cruelty of reality. The author shows that the life of ordinary people is not easy, but often their difficulties are ephemeral and easily solved.
