An Actor’s End (Chekhov)
Short summary
Russia, late 19th century. After a heated argument with the theater manager during a performance, Shtchiptsov felt something snap in his chest and hurried back to his hotel room.
He sat motionless until the next afternoon when his colleague Sigaev visited him. Finding Shtchiptsov pale and trembling, Sigaev gave him castor oil. Later, other theater colleagues visited: Brama-Glinsky tried to cheer him up with memories of past drinking exploits, Rigoletto the hairdresser applied suction cups to his chest, and the manager Zhukov expressed affection despite their quarrel.
Throughout his illness, Shtchiptsov repeatedly expressed his desire to return to his hometown of Vyazma. His condition worsened, and when Sigaev visited again, he found Shtchiptsov in a terrible state, gasping for breath.
"No wife nor children," muttered Shtchiptsov. "I ought not to have gone for an actor, but have stayed at Vyazma. My life has been wasted, Semyon! Oh, to be in Vyazma!"
Sigaev tried to comfort the dying actor by speaking fondly of Vyazma and its famous cakes. Despite all the attention from his colleagues and their various remedies, Shtchiptsov died that evening, never returning to his beloved hometown.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Shtchiptsovs quarrel and mysterious chest pain
During a performance, Shtchiptsov had a fierce quarrel with Zhukov, the theatre manager. At the height of their heated exchange, Shtchiptsov felt something snap in his chest. Unlike previous arguments where the manager would end up laughing hysterically and fainting, this time Shtchiptsov left before witnessing this familiar conclusion.
The argument and the strange sensation in his chest so disturbed him that he forgot to remove his stage makeup, only taking off his fake beard before returning to his hotel room. There, he paced back and forth before sitting on his bed, head in hands, lost in thought. He remained in this position, motionless and silent, until two o'clock the following afternoon.
The comic mans concern and unsuccessful remedies
Sigaev, the comic actor, entered Shtchiptsov's room and questioned why he had missed rehearsal. Receiving no response, he noticed the actor's concerning appearance - the stage makeup still on his face, his striking pallor, sweat on his forehead, and trembling lips, hands, and feet. The entire imposing figure of the "good-natured simpleton" appeared crushed and flattened.
Alarmed by his friend's condition, Sigaev looked around the room for any sign of alcohol but found none. When he finally got Shtchiptsov to speak, the actor only expressed his desire to return to his hometown of Vyazma. Concerned, Sigaev went to purchase castor oil as a remedy and administered it to his sick friend, who took it mechanically, without awareness.
Like an automaton he sat afterwards at the table, and drank tea and brandy; mechanically he emptied the whole bottle... The night came on; Shtchiptsov had drunk a great deal of brandy, but he did not sleep.
The jeune premiers visit and reminiscences of better days
Later that evening, Brama-Glinsky, the jeune premier actor, visited Shtchiptsov. Despite his attempts at elegance with prunella boots, a glove, and the scent of heliotrope, he still resembled a traveler stranded in a land without proper amenities. Finding Shtchiptsov still unresponsive, he gazed out the window at the dreary scene of waste ground, a deserted factory, and a solitary jackdaw circling a chimney.
Shtchiptsov again expressed his desire to return to Vyazma to die there. Brama-Glinsky tried to reassure him, suggesting his illness stemmed from excessive health and surplus energy. To cheer his colleague, he reminded Shtchiptsov of his past feats of strength and wild adventures.
"At Kherson I killed a horse with my fists. And at Taganrog some roughs fell upon me at night, fifteen of them... That's how I used to go on." "What are you crying for, then?" "But now it's all over..."
These reminiscences briefly brightened Shtchiptsov's face. He recalled beating thirty-three theatre managers, two celebrated authors, and one painter. However, his momentary animation quickly faded as he returned to his fixation on Vyazma. When Shtchiptsov suddenly stood up, declaring his intention to walk to Vyazma, both men silently contemplated the impossibility of such a journey across boundless plains and endless forests.
The managers theatrical affection
The following morning, Zhukov, the manager, visited Shtchiptsov. He expressed exaggerated concern, wondering if their argument had caused the actor's illness. The manager declared his fondness for Shtchiptsov despite their frequent conflicts, including verbal abuse and physical altercations.
After a lengthy declaration of affection, Zhukov kissed the invalid and became so overcome with emotion that he began laughing hysterically. He seemed ready to fall into one of his characteristic swooning fits but, perhaps realizing he was neither at home nor at the theatre, postponed the display and departed.
The tragic actors unhelpful intervention
Soon after the manager left, Adabashev, the tragic actor, arrived. He was a dingy, shortsighted individual who spoke through his nose, pronouncing "f" instead of "sh." After studying Shtchiptsov for a long while with a mysterious expression, he made what he considered an important discovery.
With great solemnity, Adabashev announced that Shtchiptsov needed a dose of castor oil - the same remedy Sigaev had already administered. Shtchiptsov remained silent as the tragic actor poured another dose of the unpleasant medicine into his mouth.
Rigoletto the hairdresser and his medical treatments
Two hours later, Yevlampy, known to the actors as Rigoletto, the company's hairdresser, entered Shtchiptsov's room. Like the tragic actor before him, he stared at the sick man for a long time before sighing deeply and unpacking a parcel containing twenty cups and several small flasks.
Rigoletto tenderly bared Shtchiptsov's chest and covered it with suction cups. After completing this procedure, he packed up his equipment, now crimson with Shtchiptsov's blood. Before leaving, he administered yet more drops and another dose of castor oil, expressing sympathy and assuring Shtchiptsov not to worry about payment.
Shtchiptsovs final conversation and death
The next morning, Sigaev returned to find Shtchiptsov in a terrible condition. The actor was lying under his coat, breathing in gasps, his eyes wandering over the ceiling as he clutched the quilt convulsively. He whispered again about his desire to go to Vyazma.
"A giant as tall as a watchtower, and crying. Is it the thing for actors to cry?" "No wife nor children... I ought not to have gone for an actor, but have stayed at Vyazma. My life has been wasted..."
Distressed by his friend's condition, Sigaev tried to comfort him, falsely claiming that their colleagues had decided to send him to the Crimea at their expense. When Shtchiptsov continued to fixate on Vyazma, the comic actor began speaking about the town to soothe him, describing its famous but somewhat questionable cakes and its impressive merchants who were exceptionally generous hosts.
As Sigaev spoke, Shtchiptsov listened silently, nodding his head in approval. By evening, he had died.