Title: Excellent People
Date Read: 21st February 2012
Briefly: The relationship between a ‘literary man’ and his sister becomes strained, when the sister begins to form views and beliefs that the brother doesn’t agree with.
Afterthoughts: I’ve got to be honest with you here and admit that this story made my brain hurt. It’s completely philosophical, playing on the theme of nonresistance to evil; a concept promoted by Tolstoy and one which Chekhov was interested in exploring. He does so to some degree in this story – with a brother and sister forming either side of the argument – but I can’t say that I left it feeling any the wiser. In fact my mind drifted several times while reading Excellent People (even on the second reading), but perhaps this is down to the fact that I prefer to be entertained by my short fiction rather than have it encourage me to ruminate over deep philosophical matters. For once dear Chekhov, you’ve almost bored me to death.
Notable Quote: “Volodya,” Vera Semyonovna interrupted his critical effusions, “I’ve been haunted by a strange idea since yesterday. I keep wondering where we should all be if human life were ordered on the basis of non-resistance to evil?
Rating: 
*Story read as part of my Checkin’ Off The Chekhov Shorts reading challenge.
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