The Duel (Chekhov)
Short summary
In a small town on the Black Sea coast, Ivan Andreitch Laevsky lived with Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, another man's wife. Disillusioned with their relationship, Laevsky confided to his friend Dr. Samoylenko his desire to abandon her and return to Petersburg.
Nikolay Vassilitch Von Koren, a zoologist staying in the town, despised Laevsky, considering him a harmful parasite who should be eliminated for society's good. He openly expressed his contempt for Laevsky's idle lifestyle and moral weakness.
Laevsky's situation worsened when he received news that Nadyezhda's husband had died, which would obligate him to marry her. Meanwhile, Nadyezhda, feeling neglected, had brief affairs with Kirilin, a police officer, and Atchmianov, a young merchant. When Laevsky discovered her infidelity, he was devastated.
Tensions escalated at a picnic when Laevsky, drunk and hysterical, insulted Von Koren, leading to a challenge for a duel. The night before the duel, Laevsky experienced profound remorse about his wasted life and treatment of Nadyezhda.
At the duel, Laevsky stood trembling as Von Koren took aim.
"The barrel of the pistol aimed straight at his face, the expression of hatred and contempt in Von Koren's attitude and whole figure, and the murder just about to be committed by a decent man in broad daylight..."
The deacon's sudden shout distracted Von Koren, causing him to miss. After the duel, both men returned to town changed. Laevsky reformed his life completely, working diligently to pay off his debts and living simply with Nadyezhda, whom he now treated with kindness. When Von Koren departed months later, he visited Laevsky to express admiration for his transformation and to make peace before leaving.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Laevsky confesses his desire to leave Nadyezhda Fyodorovna
In a small seaside town on the Black Sea coast, Ivan Andreitch Laevsky and his friend Dr. Samoylenko went for their morning swim. After bathing, Laevsky confided in the doctor about his troubled relationship with Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, the married woman with whom he had been living for two years. He confessed that he no longer loved her and wished to escape from their situation.
Laevsky explained that he had no money to leave and couldn't simply abandon Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, who had no friends, relations, or means to support herself. He asked Samoylenko for advice and financial help to escape to St. Petersburg. The doctor, a kind-hearted man who believed in the sanctity of relationships, suggested that Laevsky should marry Nadyezhda Fyodorovna instead of leaving her.
Reflections on a failed relationship and societal judgment
Laevsky rejected the idea of marriage, claiming that to marry without love would be as base as performing a religious service without faith. He reflected on how their relationship had deteriorated. They had initially fled to the Caucasus with dreams of a life of hard work and a vineyard, but these ideals had quickly faded. Laevsky had grown disillusioned with their life together, finding Nadyezhda Fyodorovna's habits irritating and their relationship stifling.
Samoylenko, despite his disapproval of Laevsky's lifestyle, remained sympathetic to his friend's plight. He viewed Laevsky as educated and intelligent, though flawed. The doctor was torn between his moral principles and his desire to help his friend. Meanwhile, Laevsky had received news that Nadyezhda Fyodorovna's husband had died from softening of the brain, but he had kept this information from her, fearing she would expect marriage.
Von Korens harsh criticism of Laevskys character
The next day, at Samoylenko's house, the zoologist Nikolay Vassilitch Von Koren expressed his contempt for Laevsky. During dinner with Samoylenko and the deacon, Von Koren launched into a scathing critique of Laevsky's character and lifestyle. He described Laevsky as pernicious to society, comparing him to a cholera microbe that needed to be eliminated.
Von Koren criticized Laevsky for teaching the townspeople to play cards, drink beer, and live immorally. He accused him of being lazy, dishonest, and corrupting to those around him. The zoologist, with his belief in natural selection and the elimination of the weak, argued that men like Laevsky should be destroyed or isolated for the good of humanity.
"To be arrested and lose my time on Laevsky's account—the game's not worth the candle. By the way, what is the punishment for duelling? ... Though this fine gentleman ought to have a lesson!"
Growing tensions between the intellectual rivals
The hostility between Laevsky and Von Koren continued to grow. Von Koren viewed Laevsky as a parasite who contributed nothing to society and lived off others. He considered Laevsky's relationship with Nadyezhda Fyodorovna immoral and believed that such behavior threatened the moral fabric of society. Laevsky, aware of Von Koren's disdain, avoided him when possible but felt increasingly uncomfortable in his presence.
Meanwhile, Laevsky's financial situation worsened. He was in debt to local shopkeepers and had borrowed money from Samoylenko. His desire to escape grew stronger as he felt trapped in his circumstances. He continued to hide from Nadyezhda Fyodorovna the news of her husband's death, fearing the implications it would have for their relationship.
The intellectual divide between the two men represented opposing worldviews: Laevsky's romantic idealism versus Von Koren's scientific materialism. Their mutual antipathy was evident to everyone in their small social circle, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere whenever they were together.
Nadyezhda Fyodorovnas guilt and secret infidelities
Nadyezhda Fyodorovna harbored her own secrets and guilt. She had been unfaithful to Laevsky, having affairs with Kirilin, the police captain, and flirting with Atchmianov, the son of a local shopkeeper to whom she owed money. She was aware of Laevsky's growing coldness toward her but attributed it to her own failings rather than his desire to leave her.
One morning, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna went to bathe in the sea. While bathing, she reflected on her situation. She felt guilty about her infidelity but rationalized it by thinking that her soul had no part in it and that she still loved Laevsky. After bathing, she visited Marya Konstantinovna, who despite her outward friendliness, disapproved of Nadyezhda Fyodorovna's lifestyle and worried about her influence on her children.
A social picnic reveals deepening conflicts
A picnic was arranged for the town's social circle. The party traveled in carriages to a spot near the junction of the Black River and Yellow River. The group included Laevsky, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, Samoylenko, Von Koren, the deacon, Marya Konstantinovna and her family, Kirilin, Atchmianov, and Nikodim Alexandritch Bityugov.
During the picnic, tensions between Laevsky and Von Koren became more apparent. When Laevsky made disparaging remarks about nature and literature, Von Koren responded with thinly veiled contempt. The conversation turned to the value of human life and the morality of relationships, with each man representing opposing viewpoints.
Meanwhile, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna found herself drawn to both Kirilin and Atchmianov. Kirilin had been pursuing her aggressively, while Atchmianov's youthful admiration appealed to her vanity. She felt trapped in her deteriorating relationship with Laevsky and sought validation from these other men, despite knowing the potential consequences of her actions.
Tensions rise during the outdoor gathering
As the picnic progressed, the group prepared fish soup over a campfire. The deacon, tasked with fetching the fish, became distracted by the beauty of nature and the sight of mysterious mountaineers gathered near a drying-shed across the river. He contemplated his future as a priest and bishop, imagining himself leading church processions and being revered by the faithful.
During dinner, the conversation grew increasingly tense. Laevsky felt alienated and uncomfortable, especially under Von Koren's critical gaze. He drank wine to ease his discomfort but became more agitated. Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, meanwhile, flirted with both Kirilin and Atchmianov, her behavior becoming more reckless as she drank.
After dinner, Kirilin approached Nadyezhda Fyodorovna and demanded she meet him privately, threatening to create a scandal if she refused. Feeling trapped and guilty, she reluctantly agreed to his demands. Later that evening, as the party was breaking up, Laevsky noticed Nadyezhda Fyodorovna's flirtatious behavior with Atchmianov and harshly called her a "cocotte." The evening ended with both Laevsky and Nadyezhda Fyodorovna feeling miserable and estranged from each other.
Laevskys desperate plea for money to escape
Following the picnic, Laevsky's desperation to leave grew stronger. He visited Samoylenko late at night, climbing through a window to beg for money. He needed three hundred roubles—one hundred for Nadyezhda Fyodorovna and two hundred for his journey. He promised to send the money back from Petersburg, along with the four hundred he already owed Samoylenko.
Samoylenko, though hesitant, agreed to help but said he would need to borrow the money from someone else. They shared wine, and Laevsky, becoming emotional, spoke candidly about his failings and his admiration for Von Koren's strength of character, despite their mutual dislike. In this vulnerable moment, Laevsky revealed a self-awareness that he usually kept hidden.
"I'm a foolish, worthless, depraved man. The air I breathe, this wine, love, life itself—for all that, I have given nothing in exchange so far but lying, idleness, and cowardice."
Von Korens refusal and contempt
The next day, Samoylenko approached Von Koren to borrow money for Laevsky. Von Koren immediately suspected the purpose of the loan and refused to provide it if it was intended for Laevsky. He viewed helping Laevsky as enabling his harmful behavior and compared it to watering weeds or feeding locusts.
Von Koren argued that Laevsky was planning to abandon Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, leaving her as a burden on Samoylenko. He insisted that if Samoylenko did give Laevsky money, he should make it conditional on Laevsky taking Nadyezhda Fyodorovna with him or sending her ahead. Von Koren threatened to end his friendship with Samoylenko and physically confront Laevsky if these conditions were not met.
Despite his initial resistance, Samoylenko eventually gave in to Von Koren's arguments and agreed to make the loan conditional. Von Koren reluctantly provided the hundred roubles, but his contempt for Laevsky remained undiminished. He viewed Laevsky as a moral weakling who needed to be either reformed or removed from society.
Pressure on Nadyezhda to legitimize her relationship
Marya Konstantinovna visited Nadyezhda Fyodorovna with news that she had heard about the death of Nadyezhda's husband. She enthusiastically suggested that now Nadyezhda and Laevsky could marry and legitimize their relationship. Marya Konstantinovna, despite her judgmental nature, seemed genuinely pleased at the prospect of the couple's potential respectability.
Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, however, surprised her by dismissing the idea of marriage. She claimed to see no necessity for it and preferred to continue their current arrangement. Shocked and disappointed, Marya Konstantinovna declared that their friendship was over, though she quickly softened and attempted to counsel Nadyezhda as a mother would.
During their conversation, Marya Konstantinovna criticized Nadyezhda Fyodorovna's lifestyle, appearance, and housekeeping. She warned of the loneliness and judgment that awaited Nadyezhda if she continued on her current path. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna nearly confessed her infidelities but stopped herself. She promised to pay her debt to Atchmianov, though she had no means to do so.
Compromises of honor and dignity
That evening, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna met with Kirilin as promised. She felt degraded by the encounter but saw no way to escape his demands. Later, she returned home feeling physically ill and emotionally devastated. When Laevsky came home and found her feverish, he showed unexpected tenderness, unaware of her activities that evening.
The next day, Laevsky visited Samoylenko to finalize arrangements for his departure. Samoylenko, following Von Koren's conditions, insisted that Laevsky either take Nadyezhda Fyodorovna with him or send her ahead. Caught off guard, Laevsky reluctantly agreed but privately planned to leave alone and send for her later, though he had no intention of doing so.
Meanwhile, Nadyezhda Fyodorovna's situation grew more complicated. Kirilin demanded another meeting, and Atchmianov continued his pursuit of her. She felt trapped in a web of lies and compromises, her dignity and self-respect eroding with each concession. Her physical illness mirrored her moral deterioration, and she began to consider leaving Laevsky herself, though she had nowhere to go.
Laevsky discovers betrayal and challenges Von Koren
The situation came to a head when Laevsky attended a birthday celebration at the Bityugovs' home. During the evening, he was called aside by Samoylenko, who reminded him of the conditions for the loan. Laevsky, feeling cornered, agreed but had no intention of keeping his word. The gathering was tense, with Von Koren's contempt for Laevsky palpable to everyone present.
Later that night, Atchmianov led Laevsky to Muridov's house, where he discovered Nadyezhda Fyodorovna with Kirilin. The shock of her betrayal, combined with his own guilt and the stress of his situation, caused Laevsky to experience a profound emotional breakdown. The next morning, he confronted Samoylenko, accusing him of gossiping about his private affairs.
The confrontation escalated when Von Koren entered the conversation. Laevsky, already emotionally volatile, perceived insults in Von Koren's remarks and challenged him to a duel. Von Koren, who had long despised Laevsky, readily accepted the challenge. The situation had spiraled beyond anyone's control, with the two men's mutual hatred now leading them toward potential violence.
"Whether they killed him next morning, or mocked at him—that is, left him his life—he was ruined, anyway. Whether this disgraced woman killed herself in her shame and despair, or dragged on her pitiful existence, she was ruined anyway."
Mental preparation for the confrontation
The night before the duel, Laevsky experienced a profound moral crisis. Alone in his room, he reflected on his life and recognized the emptiness and falsity of his existence. He acknowledged that he had lived selfishly, contributing nothing of value to society or to those around him. His relationship with Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, which had begun with romantic idealism, had degenerated into mutual deception and unhappiness.
"He had not said one good word, not written one line that was not useless and vulgar; he had not done his fellows one ha'p'orth of service, but had eaten their bread, drunk their wine, seduced their wives, lived on their thoughts..."
Laevsky wished he could undo his past and start anew, but recognized the impossibility of this desire. He felt that whether he lived or died in the duel, his life as he had known it was over. Before dawn, his seconds arrived to take him to the dueling site. In a moment of tenderness, he looked at the sleeping Nadyezhda Fyodorovna and silently asked for her forgiveness.
The duel and its immediate aftermath
Early the next morning, the duel took place near a drying-shed by the river. Present were Laevsky, Von Koren, their seconds, and a doctor named Ustimovitch. The deacon, curious about the event, secretly observed from nearby bushes. Attempts by the seconds to reconcile the opponents failed, as Von Koren remained determined to proceed with the duel.
When the time came, Laevsky, trembling and pale, fired his pistol into the air. Von Koren then took aim at Laevsky, fully intending to kill him. At the critical moment, the deacon, unable to contain himself, shouted in alarm. Startled by the cry, Von Koren missed his shot. The duel ended without bloodshed, though the tension between the two men remained unresolved.
After the duel, the deacon was both relieved and ashamed of his intervention. Von Koren, though disappointed at not having taught Laevsky a lesson, acknowledged to himself that the deacon's shout had perhaps prevented him from committing a grave error. Laevsky, meanwhile, returned home with a profound sense that his life had fundamentally changed.
Transformation and reconciliation in the wake of violence
In the months following the duel, a remarkable transformation took place in Laevsky. He married Nadyezhda Fyodorovna and began working diligently to pay off his debts. He lived simply and frugally, focusing on honest labor rather than idle pleasures. The near-death experience of the duel had catalyzed a profound moral awakening in him.
"His marriage, the way he works all day long for his daily bread, a new expression in his face, and even in his walk—it's all so extraordinary that I don't know what to call it."
Three months after the duel, as Von Koren prepared to leave town, he visited Laevsky to say goodbye. The meeting was awkward but civil, with Von Koren acknowledging that he had misjudged Laevsky. Though they could not be friends, there was a mutual respect that had not existed before. Von Koren recognized the genuine change in Laevsky and regretted that they had not understood each other better.
As Von Koren departed by boat, Laevsky watched from the shore, reflecting on the journey that had brought him to this point. He contemplated the difficult path of moral growth, with its advances and setbacks, and the possibility of eventually finding truth and meaning.
"In the search for truth man makes two steps forward and one step back. Suffering, mistakes, and weariness of life thrust them back, but the thirst for truth and stubborn will drive them on and on. And who knows? Perhaps they will reach the real truth at last."