Excellent People (Chekhov)
Short summary
Moscow, late 19th century. Vladimir Semyonitch Liadovsky considered himself a literary man despite working for a railway management board. His sister Vera, a doctor, came to live with him after her husband died of typhus and she attempted suicide.
Initially, Vera admired her brother and his literary work, but gradually developed an interest in the concept of nonresistance to evil. This led to philosophical disagreements between them. Vladimir dismissed her ideas as nonsensical, while Vera questioned traditional approaches to resisting evil.
Their relationship deteriorated as Vladimir grew irritated by Vera's rejection of his literary values. Eventually, Vera decided to leave Moscow to do vaccination work in a province. When she departed, Vladimir made no genuine effort to feel regret.
Her brother gazed after her, watched her rusty-looking waterproof, the swaying of her figure as she slouched along, forced himself to sigh, but did not succeed in rousing a feeling of regret. His sister had become a stranger to him.
Vladimir continued his literary career until he died of pneumonia. He was buried in the Vagankovsky Cemetery, but quickly forgotten by his literary colleagues, who showed no interest in maintaining his grave when asked years later.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Vladimir Semyonitch: the literary man
Vladimir Semyonitch Liadovsky was a Moscow resident who graduated from university with a law degree and worked for a railway management board. However, when asked about his profession, he would answer through his gold pince-nez in a soft, velvety voice that his work was literature. He began his literary career with a paragraph of theatrical criticism, then advanced to reviewing, and eventually wrote weekly articles on literary matters.
He was one of those writers to whom phrases like, “We are but few,” or “What would life be without strife? Forward!” were preeminently becoming, though he never strove with anyone and never did go forward.
Vladimir Semyonitch had complete faith in his literary vocation and was very pleased with himself. His only concern was that the newspaper he worked for had limited circulation and influence. Nevertheless, he believed that eventually he would succeed in getting a position at a more prestigious magazine.
Introduction to Vera Semyonovna and her tragic past
Through Vladimir, the narrator met his sister, Vera Semyonovna, a woman doctor. At first glance, she appeared exhausted and extremely ill. Though young with a good figure and regular features, she seemed listless, slovenly, and sullen compared to her animated brother. People thought her proud and not very intelligent.
In reality, I fancy, she was resting... “My sister is like that book. Lift the cover and peep into her soul, and you will be horror-stricken. Vera passed in some three months through experiences that would have been ample for a whole lifetime!”
Vladimir explained that shortly after graduating, Vera had married an architect for love. Tragically, her husband died of typhus after only a month of marriage. Vera herself caught typhus from him and, upon recovery and learning of her husband's death, attempted suicide with morphia. She was saved only by the vigorous intervention of friends.
After these traumatic events, Vera came to live with her brother. She had given up medical practice, which exhausted her and did not satisfy her. She spent her days in colorless apathy, showing interest only in her brother's literary work.
The siblings first discussions on nonresistance to evil
One evening, Vladimir Semyonitch was writing a critical article about a story of peasant life. He was enthusiastic about the author's handling of the subject and predicted a brilliant future for him. As he expressed his pleasure with the story, Vera suddenly asked him about the meaning of nonresistance to evil.
Vladimir defined it as "an attitude of noninterference with regard to all that in the sphere of mortality is called evil." He then returned to reviewing a novel about a society lady living with her lover and illegitimate child. Vera interrupted again, wondering where humanity would be if life were ordered on the basis of nonresistance to evil.
Her brother replied that civilization would collapse, leaving only "Bashi-Bazouke and brothels." He promised to address the topic in his next article. This conversation took place during the 1880s, when people were beginning to discuss nonresistance, the right to judge, to punish, and to make war.
After reading her brother's article, Vera questioned whether the gardener in Leskov's story who sowed for the benefit of all, including thieves, behaved sensibly. Vladimir irritably replied that theft is immoral and to sow for thieves is to recognize their right to existence.
Veras growing conviction and changing lifestyle
Vera did not argue but suggested that perhaps humans are mistaken in thinking they are obliged to resist evil. She proposed that instead of using force, one should use its opposite—for example, giving away a picture rather than locking it up to prevent theft. Vladimir mockingly replied that by her logic, if he wanted to marry a rich, vulgar woman, she should prevent this by proposing to him herself.
“I am firmly convinced that I have no grounds for resisting evil directed against me personally. If they want to kill me, let them. My defending myself will not make the murderer better.”
Gradually, Vera's manner of life changed. She began to refuse the services of servants, cleaning her own room, boots, and clothes. Vladimir watched with irritation and hatred as she performed these menial tasks, seeing something strained and false in her actions. He teased her about the inconsistency of not resisting evil but resisting his having servants.
The deterioration of the siblings relationship
Vladimir suffered and was ashamed when his sister did odd things in front of strangers. He complained to the narrator that she had become morbid and that it choked him to hear her distort the Gospel to suit her doctrines. He blamed her half-educated, undeveloped state and her medical studies, which provided no general culture.
An author’s vanity is vindictive, implacable, incapable of forgiveness, and his sister was the first and only person who had laid bare and disturbed that uneasy feeling, which is like a big box of crockery...
One day, Vladimir found his sister crying. He felt compassion and wanted to restore their former relationship. He joyfully grabbed a magazine to read together, but Vera pushed it away, saying she had already read it. Vladimir called her a fanatic, and she retorted that he was the fanatic. As she cried again, he thought not of her suffering but of the outrage to his literary program and author's vanity.
From this point, Vladimir treated his sister with cold irony, while she met his arguments with a condescending silence that irritated him even more. The siblings had become strangers to each other.
Veras departure for vaccination work
One summer morning, Vera, dressed for traveling with a satchel over her shoulder, entered her brother's room and coldly kissed him on the forehead. When Vladimir asked where she was going, she replied that she was heading to the province of N to do vaccination work. He offered her money, which she declined.
As she left, Vladimir called after her, asking why she didn't take a cab. She did not answer. He watched her go, noting her rusty waterproof coat and the swaying of her figure. He tried to feel regret but could not. She never looked back.
Vladimirs illness and death
After Vera's departure, Vladimir immediately returned to his work. The narrator never saw Vera again and did not know her whereabouts. Vladimir continued writing articles, laying wreaths on coffins, singing "Gaudeamus," and working with the Mutual Aid Society of Moscow Journalists.
Eventually, Vladimir fell ill with inflammation of the lungs. He was bedridden for three months, first at home and then in the Golitsyn Hospital. He developed an abscess in his knee. People suggested sending him to the Crimea and began collecting money for him, but he died before this could happen.
Vladimir was buried in the Vagankovsky Cemetery, on the left side where artists and literary men were laid to rest.
Vladimir quickly forgotten by his peers
Some time later, the narrator was sitting with other writers in the Tatars' restaurant. He mentioned that he had recently visited Vladimir's grave and found it utterly neglected, with the cross fallen. He suggested collecting money to put it in order.
One day we writers were sitting in the Tatars' restaurant... But they listened to what I said unconcernedly, made no answer, and I could not collect a farthing. No one remembered Vladimir Semyonitch. He was utterly forgotten.