The Wife, and Other Stories

"The Wife and Other Stories" by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is a compilation of short stories from late 19th-century Russia that focuses on the difficult parts of being married, what people feel obligated to do, and how a character named Pavel Andreitch struggles with his relationships and the poverty around him. "The Wife," which is one of the stories, begins when Pavel gets a worrying message about peasants dealing with famine and sickness near Pestrovo. Even though he's disconnected from others, including his wife, Natalya Gavrilovna, he feels he needs to act. Over time, their relationship has grown cold, filled with anger and confusion. When Pavel decides to assist the peasants, his interactions with Natalya highlight their unhappiness, leading to reflections on affection, duty, and what it means to be happy when there’s so much pain in the world.