A Problem (Chekhov)
Short summary
A family council was held at the Uskovs' home to decide the fate of Sasha Uskov, who had cashed a forged promissory note at a bank. The family debated whether to pay the money and save the family honor or let the case go to trial.
While the Colonel, Sasha's paternal uncle, argued that family honor falsely understood was a prejudice, Ivan Markovitch, Sasha's maternal uncle, defended him, citing youth's rights and temptations. Sasha sat in the hall, indifferent to his fate, feeling neither shame nor fear, only weariness and emptiness.
After much debate, the family decided to pay the money on condition that Sasha go to the country with Ivan Markovitch and work. As they left the house, Sasha felt a rush of joy at his freedom and remembered that his friend Von Burst was celebrating his name-day at the "Bear." Desperate to attend but without money, he confronted his uncle.
"Uncle, lend me a hundred roubles," he said to Ivan Markovitch... "Uncle, I entreat you, give me a hundred roubles... If you don't, I'll give myself up tomorrow! I won't let you pay the I.O.U.! I'll present another false note tomorrow!"
Horrified, Ivan Markovitch gave him the money. Taking a sledge, Sasha headed to the party, feeling joyful about asserting his "rights of youth." Among the thoughts of drinking, women, and friends, he suddenly realized: "Now I see that I am a criminal; yes, I am a criminal."
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The family council gathers to discuss Sashas crime
The Uskov family took extraordinary precautions to keep their family secret from becoming public knowledge. Half of the servants were sent to entertainment venues while the others were confined to the kitchen. No visitors were allowed, and female family members remained in the dining room, pretending to know nothing about the situation.
Sasha Uskov had cashed at one of the banks a false promissory note, and it had become due for payment three days before, and now his two paternal uncles and Ivan Markovitch were deciding the question...
While the family council deliberated in the study, Sasha Uskov sat in the hall by the door. Following his maternal uncle Ivan Markovitch's advice, he waited meekly, prepared to offer an explanation for his actions.
Conflicting views on family honor and forgiveness
Inside the study, the three uncles debated whether to pay the forged note to protect the family honor or allow the case to go to trial. The Colonel, Sasha's paternal uncle, argued passionately against misinterpreting family honor, insisting that screening a guilty person was contrary to law and unworthy of a gentleman.
The other paternal uncle, a Treasury official, remained mostly silent, concerned primarily that the Uskov name would appear in newspapers if the case went to trial.
Ivan Markovitch, Sasha's maternal uncle, spoke eloquently in the young man's defense. He argued that youth has its rights and temptations, that even great men made mistakes in their youth, and that Sasha deserved sympathy due to his lack of education and guidance after losing his parents at an early age.
"Shall we be false to civic duty," Ivan Markovitch exclaimed passionately, "if instead of punishing an erring boy we hold out to him a helping hand?" Ivan Markovitch talked further of family honour.
Sashas indifference and self-justification while awaiting judgment
As the debate continued, Sasha sat outside the door listening. He felt neither terror, shame, nor depression—only weariness and emptiness. His future seemed bleak regardless of the outcome. He was deeply in debt with no money, his family had become detestable to him, and he would eventually lose his friends and female companions who had grown contemptuous of his financial dependence on them.
"No, it doesn't mean that I am a criminal..." thought Sasha. "And it's not in my character to bring myself to commit a crime. I am soft, emotional.... When I have the money I help the poor...."
Sasha was disturbed only by being called a scoundrel and criminal. He considered his actions commonplace—many young men he knew, like Handrikov and Von Burst, also forged IOUs when their allowances were late. The difference was that they redeemed them before they became due, while Sasha couldn't because Handrikov had failed to lend him the promised money.
Resolution and Sashas unchanged character
Eventually, Ivan Markovitch emerged from the study and invited Sasha to speak frankly. Inside, Sasha felt suddenly ashamed and uncomfortable. He mumbled that he would pay back the money, explaining that Handrikov had promised to lend it to him. Unable to say more, he returned to his seat in the hall.
While waiting, the Colonel's wife approached Sasha, weeping and wringing her hands. She begged him to defend himself and entreat his uncles for forgiveness. Sasha was surprised by the family's intense reaction over what he considered a trivial sum of fifteen hundred roubles.
After an hour, Sasha heard that the Colonel was prevailing and the uncles were inclined to let the case go to trial. However, Ivan Markovitch then spoke emotionally about Sasha's mother, suggesting her spirit was present, weeping and begging for her son. This appeal led to a change of heart, and the family decided to pay the forged note on condition that Sasha repent and go to the country with Ivan Markovitch to work.
As they left the house, Sasha felt a weight lifting from his shoulders. He was free, and joy surged within him. Immediately, he thought of Von Burst's name-day celebration at the "Bear" that evening and decided to attend. Realizing he had no money, he demanded a hundred roubles from his shocked uncle, threatening to turn himself in or forge another note if refused. Ivan Markovitch reluctantly complied.
Sasha pictured the drinking-party before him, and, among the bottles, the women, and his friends, the thought flashed through his mind: "Now I see that I am a criminal; yes, I am a criminal."