From "dependent" to "independent": an analysis of female images in Chekhov's writings

Wu Yuting

The creative heritage of A.P. Chekhov reveals numerous outstanding works. His works affected all aspects of public life and the fate of representatives of people of various social status and position, and the female images shown in Chekhov's works are diverse. Within the framework of this article, the author classifies and analyzes various female characters. The paper analyzes female images in the context of feminist ideas. As a result of this analysis, it is found that in the work of A.P. Chekhov there are three broad categories of women that can be designated by the definitions "dependent", "awakened" and "independent". On the examples of typical female images in the works of the Russian realist writer, the article examines the social status of women, reveals their progressive significance, and determines the balance between the rights of the sexes in the interactions of text and theory. The article concludes that some of Chekhov's heroines are liberated, which demonstrates the special consequences for modern women in their pursuit of gender equality.

Keywords:Chekhov; Beauvoir; feminism; female images