Gusev (Chekhov)
Short summary
A ship sailed across the ocean carrying sick soldiers and sailors back to Russia. In the ship's hospital, Gusev, a discharged soldier, conversed with Pavel Ivanitch, a fellow patient.
Suffering from seasickness and consumption, Gusev often drifted into delirious dreams about his home village, imagining his brother Alexey with his children in the snow. Meanwhile, Pavel Ivanitch ranted bitterly about the military authorities who had placed dying men on the ship to get rid of them.
One of the soldiers in the ward died suddenly while playing cards. Later, Pavel Ivanitch also died. Gusev's condition worsened, and the sailors told him he would never reach Russia. As the ship reached warmer waters, Gusev became increasingly delirious, alternating between dreams of home and awareness of his deteriorating health.
Eventually, Gusev died too. The sailors prepared his body for burial at sea, sewing him into sailcloth with iron weights.
Was it possible that such a thing might happen to anyone? The priest strewed earth upon Gusev and bowed down. They sang 'Eternal Memory.' The man on watch duty tilted up the end of the plank, Gusev slid off and flew head foremost.
Gusev's body sank into the ocean depths, where it was discovered by curious fish and a shark that tore open the sailcloth. Above the water, the sky transformed into beautiful colors, and even the ocean, which had been scowling, took on tender, joyous hues.
Detailed summary by chapters
Chapter titles are editorial.
Chapter 1. In the Ships Hospital: Gusevs Feverish Dreams
On a ship sailing through tropical waters, Gusev, a discharged soldier, lay in his hammock in the ship's hospital. He spoke to Pavel Ivanitch about a soldier's tale of a fish colliding with a ship. Pavel Ivanitch responded irritably, dismissing the story as nonsense.
Despite the ship's rocking and the constant noise, Gusev's thoughts drifted to his native village. In his feverish state, he imagined a winter scene with a frozen pond, the brick building of potteries, and his brother's family in a sledge. His delirious mind conjured images of his brother Alexey, nephew Vanka, and niece Akulka in their felt boots.
Chapter 2. Pavel Ivanitchs Criticism and a Soldiers Death
As dawn broke, Gusev observed Pavel Ivanitch, a thin, grey-faced man with sunken temples and a sharp nose. Pavel Ivanitch explained his theory that the military authorities had deliberately put sick men on the steamer to get rid of them, showing no conscience or humanity.
Gusev defended his military service, saying it wasn't hard work and that the officers were educated gentlemen who understood their men. He mentioned that in five years of service, he was only struck once, for fighting with four Chinese men who had entered their yard.
Life is not given twice, it must be treated mercifully... Foolish, pitiful man... You don't understand anything... You are in darkness, you are blind, crushed; you see nothing and what you do see you don't understand.
In the hospital ward, two soldiers and a sailor played cards. One of the soldiers had his right arm in a sling, forcing him to hold his cards awkwardly. As they played, one soldier named Stephan suddenly became confused, called hearts diamonds, and collapsed to the floor.
The others offered him water, but Gusev realized the man was dead. The sailor and the soldier with the sling tried to help, but there was nothing to be done.
Chapter 3. Harbor Views and Pavel Ivanitchs Boasts
The ship arrived at a harbor, and Pavel Ivanitch was in better spirits. Through the small round window, Gusev could see boats with naked Chinamen selling canaries and a fat Chinaman eating rice with little sticks. A soft breeze blew into the hospital ward.
Pavel Ivanitch boasted about how he had tricked the steamer authorities by disguising himself as a workman to get a third-class ticket, as he couldn't afford the first-class fare required for educated people. He proudly declared himself a living protest against injustice and hypocrisy.
I am a living protest. I see irresponsible tyranny—I protest. I see cant and hypocrisy—I protest. I see swine triumphant—I protest. And I cannot be suppressed, no Spanish Inquisition can make me hold my tongue.
While Pavel Ivanitch continued his passionate speech, Gusev was distracted by the view outside. He gazed at the water heaving languidly and the white seagulls floating over it. Time passed imperceptibly as the steamer moved on.
Chapter 4. Pavel Ivanitchs Death and Gusevs Deterioration
Two days later, Pavel Ivanitch lay down instead of sitting up. His eyes were closed and his nose seemed sharper. When Gusev asked if he was feeling bad, Pavel Ivanitch claimed he was actually better, saying his lungs were fine and it was only a stomach cough.
The ship was calm but stifling hot. Gusev thought of his home, imagining the relief of snow and cold in the heat. He pictured himself driving a sledge through his village, the runners ringing on the snow, and the exhilaration of being thrown into a drift.
The ship was not rocking, it was calm, but as hot and stifling as a bathhouse; it was not only hard to speak but even hard to listen. Gusev hugged his knees, laid his head on them and thought of his home.
Later, the soldier with his arm in a sling informed Gusev that Pavel Ivanitch had died and been carried away. They discussed whether Pavel Ivanitch would reach the Kingdom of Heaven, with Gusev suggesting his clerical background and the prayers of his many relatives would save him.
The soldier then told Gusev that he too would not live to reach Russia. Gusev sighed, realizing he would die without having written home. The sailor assured him that when he died, it would be reported to his parish.
Feeling stifled, Gusev asked to be taken on deck. The soldier with the sling carried him up. The deck was crowded with sleeping sailors and soldiers. They made their way to the ship's rail and looked out at the sea.
The sea has no sense and no pity. If the steamer had been smaller and not made of thick iron, the waves would have crushed it to pieces without the slightest compunction, and would have devoured all the people in it.
Gusev told the soldier he wasn't afraid to die but was sorry for his family. His brother wasn't steady, drank, and beat his wife. Without Gusev, everything would go to ruin, and his parents might end up begging. Exhausted, they returned to the ward where Gusev fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 5. Gusevs Burial at Sea
After sleeping for two days, Gusev was carried out by two sailors. They had sewn him in sailcloth with two iron weights to make him heavier. The bundle resembled a carrot or radish, broad at the head and narrow at the feet.
Sewn up in the sailcloth he looked like a carrot or a radish: broad at the head and narrow at the feet.... Before sunset they brought him up to the deck and put him on a plank; one end of the plank lay on the side of the ship.
The officers and soldiers stood around with their caps off as the priest performed the funeral service. The man on watch duty tilted the plank, and Gusev slid into the sea, momentarily wrapped in foam before disappearing beneath the waves.
Gusev sank rapidly at first, then more slowly. A shoal of harbor pilot fish approached, followed by a shark that cautiously opened Gusev's shroud with its teeth. One of the weights fell out, frightening the fish. Above, the sunset painted the sky in gorgeous colors, and the ocean, initially scowling, soon took on the same tender, joyous hues.