THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF DMITRY GUROV
AS INFLUENCED BY ANNA SERGEYEVNA IN CHEKHOV’S
“LADY WITH LAPDOG”
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
THERESIA PUSPA OKTAVIA EFFENDI Student Number: 134214004
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
ii
THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF DMITRY GUROV
AS INFLUENCED BY ANNA SERGEYEVNA IN CHEKHOV’S
“LADY WITH LAPDOG”
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
THERESIA PUSPA OKTAVIA EFFENDI Student Number: 134214004
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA
vii
God has
a purpose for your pain,
a reason for your
struggle, and
a reward for your
faithfulness.
Trust Him
and
Don’t
Give Up!
viii
I dedicate this undergraduate
thesis to
My Lord, Jesus Christ,
Mother Mary,
My Beloved Mother
and Father,
My Sister,
ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Praise to the Lord. First of all, I am truly grateful to My Lord, Jesus Christ for all His blessings, love, and guidance on me during the process to finish this thesis and finally, I could accomplish this thesis. I am grateful to always have Mother Mary’s intercessions and prayers. She always hears my prayers when I am giving up and feeling down. Thank you for strengthening me and taking care of me with the existence of loved ones who are always there for me and support me in completing my thesis.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my academic advisor Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum. for his time, support, advice, and ideas. I thank him so much for his encouragement and guidance in finishing my undergraduate thesis writing. I would like sincerely thank to my co-advisor Harris Hermansyah S.S., M.Hum., who has given me encouragement by giving correction, suggestion, and advice on this thesis.
x
keep motivating and accompanying me when I feel desperate. I really appreciate your help, support, pray, and advice.
The last but not least, I would like to thank Ibu Yuliana Eka who is being my un-official reader for my thesis. Thank you so much for her time, help, and support for my thesis. I am very thankful for all my best friends, Vania, Nana, and Dea, thank you for being my best friends. You all keep encouraging me even though I am feeling down and giving up. Thank you, Isna, Daniel, Michael, Lia, Jessica, and Ajeng, for always reminding and support me in finishing this thesis.
Finally, I would like to say thank to everyone and whose name are not mentioned personally here. I really appreciate your help, support and advice so that I could finish my thesis.
xi
CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ... 5
A. Review of Related Studies ... 5
B. Review of Related Theories ... 8
1. Theory of Character and Characterization ... 8
2. Theory of Character Development ... 12
3. Theory of Plot ... 13
A. The Characterization of Characters ... 22
1. Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov ... 22
2. Anna Sergeyevna ... 29
B. The Character Development of Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov as Influenced by Anna Sergeyvna ... 34
1. Gurov’s Perspective on His Life ... 35
2. Gurov’s Attitude towards Woman ... 38
xii
REFERENCES ... 53
xiii
ABSTRACT
EFFENDI, THERESIA PUSPA OKTAVIA. (2019). The Character Development of Dmitry Gurov as Influenced by Anna Sergeyevna in
Chekhov’s "Lady with Lapdog". Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
This thesis discusses the development of Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov's character as influenced by Anna Sergeyevna in the short story "Lady with Lapdog" by Anton
Chekhov. Referring to Gurov’s character as the main character discussed in this
thesis, the story tells about the life of a man that is full of pressure and bitterness since he has been married. This factor has made him unfaithful to his wife by choosing to enjoy other women because he lives without love. Consequently, Gurov and Anna have undergone an affair since they first meet. Anna has influenced
Gurov’s character to become more loyal to her.
In this thesis, two main problems are examined by the researcher. The first problem is about how characters are being described. Meanwhile, the second
problem discusses how Anna Sergeyevna influences Dmitry Gurov’s character
development.
This thesis is an analytical study that applies the library research methods. This method is then used to collect primary and secondary data from books and journals related to this thesis. The primary data is taken from a short story by Anton Chekhov translated into English by David Magarshack in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. The other secondary data are obtained from books and sources related to this research.
The analysis of this thesis: firstly, we analyze Gurov and Anna’s characters.
At the beginning of the story, Gurov’s character is depicted as a lonely man who loves to admire women, but he feels depressed and hopeless. This bitter life experience has encouraged him to escape from a monotonous life and have an affair with a stranger. On the other hand, Anna's character is portrayed as an innocent, naïve, and religious girl. She has good social status as seen from the way she dressed and gestured. Second, we can find the influence of Anna's character on Gurov's
character. Gurov has experienced a character change due to Anna’s presence.
xiv ABSTRAK
EFFENDI, THERESIA PUSPA OKTAVIA. (2019). The Character Development of Dmitry Gurov as Influenced by Anna Sergeyevna in
Chekhov’s “Lady with Lapdog”. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Skripsi ini membahas mengenai perkembangan karakter Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov yang dipengaruhi oleh karakter lain dalam cerita pendek “Lady with Lapdog” karya Anton Chekhov. Mengacu pada karakter Gurov yang menjadi karakter utama yang dibahas dalam skripsi ini, cerita pendek ini mengisahkan seorang pria yang telah beristri namun hidupnya penuh dengan tekanan dan kepahitan. Sehingga membuatnya tidak setia dengan istrinya dan memilih menikmati wanita-wanita lain karena ia hidup tanpa cinta. Pertemuan antara Gurov dan Anna, membuat mereka menjalani perselingkuhan dari pasangan mereka. Anna telah membuat perubahan mendalam dalam diri Gurov dan lebih setia kepadanya. Pada skripsi ini, terdapat dua pokok permasalahan yang akan diteliti oleh penulis. Permasalahan pertama adalah bagaimana karakter-karakter digambarkan. Kedua, bagaimana pengaruh karakter lain, Anna Sergeyevna terhadap perubahan karakter yang dialami Dmitry Gurov. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam skripsi ini adalah pendekatan kritik sastra baru.
Metode ini digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data primer dan sekunder dari buku dan jurnal yang berkaitan dengan skripsi ini. Data primer diambil dari cerita pendek karya Anton Chekhov yang diterjemahkan oleh David Magarshack yang terdapat dalam buku Fiction:An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Data sekunder lainnya diperoleh dari buku-buku dan sumber-sumber yang berhubungan dengan penelitian ini.
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Anton Chekhov is one of the Russian best authors whose works such as short fiction, novels, and play scripts are well-known. His career as a dramatist has turned into the creation of some well-known short stories. His literary works are often related to what happen in his era, particularly about the livelihood of Soviets at that time. Anton Chekhov’s “Lady with Lapdog” which was written at the end of the nineteenth century is a popular short story. “Lady with Lapdog” is chosen as the object of the study for this undergraduate thesis. The researcher is interested in discussing Chekhov’s short story “Lady with Lapdog” because the story is open-ended story that telling about the life problem of Dmitry Gurov, his loveless marriage, and his affair with a young married lady.
The discussion above can also be related to the chosen topic of this undergraduate thesis. The influence of another character makes the main character develops. Forster says that character development is the changing of the character from the beginning until the end of the story. Characters are developing if they experience a change in themselves, from personality, disposition, or outlook. (Forster,1980, p.54). The development of character can come from other characters through their behavior toward the main character and the way they treat the main character. The main character’s development in “Lady with Lapdog” is affected by internal conflicts and another character that are continuously occurring throughout the story. The main character’s development in the story is influenced by the author’s psychology, experiences and issues about love life in the past. The main character faces dilemma, loneliness, and situation which force him to develop in certain ways.
As the object of study, “Lady with Lapdog” also allows the reader to examine extensively about the development of the main character. The author has narrated the story to portray the viewpoint of Gurov’s past experience. The problem is caused by one character, Anna Sergeyevna who makes Gurov change.
In the context of this thesis, we can see how the main character develops himself as a result of his past experiences, his love life, and an affair with another woman. The bad life experience of Gurov, makes Gurov’s character develop and change. It indirectly forces him to have an affair with a young married woman who is unhappy with her marriage. The character in “Lady with Lapdog,” Anna
Sergeyevna is the one who makes Gurov change his mind, his life, and his love life. The chosen topic for this thesis is the main character development based on the influence of Anna Sergeyevna. The understanding of character development in the story allows us to understand that some factors are influenced by our surroundings.
B. Problem Formulation
There are two problems formulated based on the background of the study: 1. How are the characters, Dmitry Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna portrayed? 2. How do Anna Seregyevna influence Dmitry Gurov’s character development?
C. Objectives of the Study
the characters, Dmitry Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna. Secondly, the last objective is to analyze the role of Anna Seregyevna as the one who influences Dmitry Gurov’ character development.
D. Definition of Terms
In this part, the researcher explains the key terms such as a character and character development to make the readers understand their definitions. The researcher’s purpose is to avoid the readers’ misunderstanding and to clarify the
definition of the terms. A character is a person who does action and the feature that make her different from other. Character in literature, especially in fiction, is a depiction of one's true nature who is developed by the author, "through dialogue, action, and commentary", as well as character interactions and a series of conditions (Roberts & Jacob, 1987, p.119).
5 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
A. Review of Related Studies
There are some studies that discuss the topics of character development.
This study is about the character development of Dmitry Gurov as influenced by
another character. In order to support this claim, other undergraduates’ thesis is
chosen because they have similarities and related backgrounds in terms of character
development of the main character.
First related study is an undergraduate thesis entitled “The Psychological
Influences of Mother’s Behaviour on Paul’s Character Development as seen in D.H.
Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers by Almira Wanodya Padmasari (2011) from Sanata Dharma University. She has chosen Sons and Lovers as the object of her study because the novel written by D.H. Lawrence tells a story about a family, and the
parents who have an important role in developing their children. In her studies,
Padmasari analyzes the influence of his mother’s behavior Paul’s life, and that he
has to obey his mother. Her mother has become a single parent for four children,
and she is the one who takes care of Paul after their parents’ separation. According to Padmasari
Based on the problems that she writes on her thesis, she finds out that Paul’s
mother’s roles have influenced the development of Paul. She uses a psychological
approach to apply in her topic because it is relevant to how Paul’s mother is shaping
his early childhood until his adulthood. Based on his childhood memory, he only
receives loves from his mother, and he assumes that there is no bigger love than his
mother’s love. It makes Paul always obey his mother requests and commands
although his heart desires to choose a girl that he loves.
Second related study is also an undergraduate thesis entitled “Personality
Change of the Main Character, Tom Leyton, as influenced by the Minor Character,
Joseph Davidson, in Michael Gerard Bauer’s The Running Man” by Bertha Palupi
(2011) from Sanata Dharma University. In the background of her study she says,
The Running Man by Michael Gerard Bauer (2004) is a great novel with intricate personalities of the main character in the story. Combined with its complexity of plot, interesting characters, and great description of the detail, The Running Man has become a favorable psychological novel (2011, p.1,2).
Palupi explains the Leyton’s character and how Leyton’s personality
changes as the outcomes from their experiences in life and the people surrounding
him. Palupi analyzes the personality changes of the main character of Tom Leyton
and some minor characters toward the changes. She uses a psychological approach
to analyze the personality changes of the main character with his internal conflict.
The theory of literature is used to identify the characteristics of both characters that
is followed by psychological theory to analyze the behaviour of the characters.
Third related study is from website academia entitled “The
Nicholaus Krauss (2010). The researcher chooses this review by Krauss because
we have the same object of study that discusses Dmitri Gurov’s character in
Chekhov’s “Lady with Lapdog.” Krauss’ research paper discusses Gurov’s
characterization that is linked to the generalization of men. The researcher and
Krauss have the same material or literary work that is used this thesis and observe
the same character about Gurov. In this quotation below, Krauss describes that the
influence of Anna on Gurov’s character.
Through Gurov’s thoughts of Anna, Chekhov writes “He was moved, sad, and conscious of a slight remorse… All the time she had called him kind, exceptional, lofty; obviously he had seemed to her different from what he really was, so he had unintentionally deceived her.” This quote explains Gurov’s awareness of the image he gives to women, and how he does not show women his true emotions. Furthermore, Chekhov writes “[women] loved in him not himself, but the man created by their imagination, whom they had been eagerly seeking all their lives. And afterwards, when they noticed their mistake, they loved him all the same.” Clearly, Gurov uses his emotional dis-attachments as a tool of attraction, a fitting trait of the womanizer. It is clear that the characterization of Gurov effectively matches that of the womanizer (Krauss, 2010, p.4).
Krauss states that Gurov’s character experiences change because another
character’s presence that influences his thought. The first person who makes Gurov become a disloyal man is his wife. He leaves his wife because he does not love his wife anymore. In Krauss’ review, Gurov is the kind of man who thinks that any women are the lower race, but he still appreciates their presence. Gurov’s life becomes different after he meets Anna Sergeyevna. He falls in love with her and makes him keep struggle to get affection from her.
is posted in Independent website. In her post, she tells about her experiences in reading this story. She has read this story twenty times to get to know the characters in the story. She explains the characteristics of the characters in “Lady with Lapdog” in the following quote,
It's about a jaded married man, something of a serial seducer, who finds himself alone during the season at Yalta. He picks up Anna, a very young also-married woman – her husband is back at home – who has a small Pomeranian dog. They start the usual affair – but this time something out of the ordinary happens. He falls in love.
Every good story should involve the characters changing in some way – and in "Lady with a Lapdog," Gurov, the hero, changes completely. And Chekhov doesn't make it a happily-ever-after story. He leaves the whole thing open-ended and yet, and here's the odd thing, it doesn't feel unsatisfactory at all, like so many books that end on a question. Gurov's complete change is the story (Ironside, 2009, p. 1).
As explained above, she defines the characteristic of Gurov and his wife. Ironside also tells about Chekhov’s style of writing inspires her to write in a similar style so that the readers can imagine and expect what happen in the story as they wish to end.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
A character is a person who appears in the literary work that represents the human being verbal’s representation that determines the behavior, speech, and
Character are the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the person say and their distinctive way of saying it- the dialogue, and from what they do-the actions (1981, p. 20).
Another understanding of character is based on Boyton and Mack’s finding. They
define
to be acceptable, a character also has to behave in a consistent manner. One is the obvious fact that the short-story writer can deal with only a few facets of a character’s personality and only a few events of his life. Another truth about most short stories is that the focus is on one, central character. It is not impossible that there be more than one principal character, but it is unusual (Boynton and Mack, 1972, pp. 26-27).
Boyton and Mack also have six ways to analyze a character, based on
a. What a character does. The reader can see the character by what he or she has done. “Stories show characters in action. The most obvious method for
revealing character is through what a person does” (Boyton and Mack,
1972, p.27).
b. What a character says. “Another way of revealing what people are like is to show what they say.” Based on what the character says, the reader can identify what kind of character is he or she (Boyton and Mack, 1972, p.28). c. What a character thinks. Looking at the character’s mind, the reader can predict what would the character do. It also shows how the character thinks in the story. “A writer may also reveal the character of people by showing
what they think” (Boyton and Mack, 1972, p.28).
character. “Much can be shown about a character by the way others react
to him, or by what they say about him” (Boyton and Mack, 1972, p.29).
e. How a character reacts to his surroundings. Based on the character’s reaction with his environment, the reader can recognize the character, how the character interacts and merge their self with surroundings. “One of the
commonest ways to reveal character is to show how a person reacts to his surroundings – to things and places” (Boyton and Mack, 1972, p.29). f. Direct description or explanation. Some of the authors write short snippet
a character’s description in the story or the author can use another character
to explain the principal character or others. “A final method of character revelation is through direct description or explanation by the author”
(Boyton and Mack, 1972, p.29).
The developing or dynamic character undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of character, personality, or outlook. The change may be a large or a small one; it may be for better or for worse; but it is something important and basic: it is more than a change in condition or a minor change in opinion (Perrine 1985, p. 69).
Another theory from Holman and Harmon. The type of character can be static and dynamic character. A flat (static) character is one who has a little change. “A static character gives the appearance of changing simply because our picture of
him is revealed bit by bit” (Holman, 1972, p.92). The action’s pattern discloses the character rather than showing how the character changes in response to the actions. Besides that, a round (dynamic) character is a character who is improved by actions and experiences, and one objectives of the work in which the character appears is to reveal the consequences of these actions (Holman and Harmon, 1986, p.83).
A dynamic character, on the other hand, is one who is modified by the actions upon him. Most great drama and novels have dynamic characters as protagonists. Short stories are more likely to reveal static characters through action than to show changes in characters resulting from actions (Holman, 1972, p.92).
Robert and Jacobs have stated types of character in fiction that is divided into two, flat and round. A minor character is usually flat, but not all minor characters are flat. Minor characters are usually static and not developed, generally they stay the same. Because they are not the main character in the plot of the story, thus they are not significantly growing and changing. Round character is the opposite of a flat character because in round character, the author is fully developed the character. Round character is considered as a dynamic character because they group some individual and unpredictable human traits. The character reveals their capacity to grow or change (Robert and Jacob, 1989, p.145).
discussing types of characters, they are two types: flat character and round character.
Flat characters usually have only one or two predominant traits; they can be summed up in a sentence or two. By contrast, round characters are complex and many-sided; they have the three-dimensional quality of real people (Arp and Johnson, 2012, p.105).
2. Theory of Character Development
Theory of character development is the process of character’s changing
because of some internal or external factors that can be influenced by the character. The characters are able to change their life because they can do something and they allow something to be done with them. The definition of character development by E.M. Foster is
character development is the changing of the character from the beginning until the end of the story. Characters are developing if they experience a change in themselves, for from personality, disposition, or outlook. They will change into a better character but of course, the changing depends on the situation in the story (Forster,1980, p. 54).
Character development has relation with the plot. The plot shows the sequence of events that describes the important part of the story in character’s action, character’s progression, character’s conflict, character’s problems, and
character’s way to solve them. Forster stated that character and plot are inseparable.
The plot is simply series of events that come out of character that reveals character and that influences character. The plot drives the character to face their development (Forster,1974, p. 65). A well-plotted story connects all its elements, it has twist and turn of events. The development of the plot is unexpected, and plot has sequences of the events that is stated in exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.
Rohrberger and Wood show their theories about the relationship between plot, setting, conflict, and characters in their book.
It is difficult to separate single elements to talk, for example, about character without talking about at the same time about plot or setting or conflict, because characters often determine plot, setting helps to define characters, and conflict result from placing characters in situation (Rohrberger and Wood, 1971, p.20).
It explains the plot which is inseparable with the character development. The plot shows how the characters take their problems, and how they solve the problem.
3. Theory of Plot
narrative, of course is a story, and stories involve persons, called characters, who act out in a particular time and place (setting) some kind of conflict in a pattern of events is called plot” (1971, p.20). According to Stanton, he says “the plot is the backbone of a story. Because it is more self-evident than some of the story’s other elements, its links of cause-and-effect” (1965, p.15).
Supporting Stanton’s definition, Murphy states that,
Plot is a carefully thought-out plan in which all the events, all the actions and reactions of the characters, contribute towards the forward movement of the story. The story then moves on, carrying the reader with it up and over a series of crests until the climax of the story is reached, and everything is resolved, generally to the reader’s satisfaction (Murphy, 1972, p.134).
The quotation means that the author has well thought-out about the way a story can move forward by connecting the actions and reactions of the characters, along with the events that occur in the story. The story directs the reader to follow the acts and sequence of events from the beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and ending.
According to Stanton (1965, p.16), there are two necessary parts of the plot, conflict and climax. In every fiction works, we can find internal and external conflict. Internal conflict happens in a character’s life against what he or she wants.
External conflict happens between two characters or more, and also between a character and his or her surroundings. The climax of the story is the point or action when the conflict of the plot becomes more intense and its outcome is unavoidable.
as in real life, the outcome is a complex equilibrium in which neither side completely triumphs or completely loses (Stanton, 1965, pp. 16-17). Boynton and Mack have own understandings about the plot. They say that a skilled writer does not only focus on the characters’ movements in the storyline,
but he or she also chooses the significant events which have a direct influence on the story. Definition a plot according to Boynton and Mack is,
plot is the technical terms that applies to these connected events in a story. To build a plot the experienced writer carefully selects certain details and just as carefully rejects many more; he is interested not in compiling a precise record of a character’s actions but in choosing only those details that have a direct bearing on the story (1972, p.12).
Perrine emphasizes that the author has directed the story and its action to a definite end of the story. Therefore a plot is not only about the action itself. The author’s main purpose is to make the reader follow the plot and keep them interested
in reading till the end of the story. Skillful writers are very attentive to put on the sequence in significant order. According to Perrine, in a plot, there are some events happen beyond expectation because the plot of a story is not always a straight line. It is caused by some incidents that make the story twist and turn from the beginning until the end of a story. Therefore, the climax point can surprise the reader and also this part is uneasy to be guessed.
A plot is one of the important elements that can be found in every story. It describes the sequence of events that occur in the story through what is done by the character. A reader also can understand the qualities of character when a plot moves forward, especially in the climactic incidents, when it is a high point of a character's action and emotion happen.
C. Theoretical Framework
In this study, it discusses the character development as reflected in the main character in Anton Chekhov’s short story, “Lady with Lapdog.” Further, as this study mainly talks about the character development, the researcher needs to analyze the two problems that are stated in problem formulation. In order to support the analysis of the problems, the researcher uses some related studies and related theories. The first theory is used theory of character and characterization by M.H. Abrams. The first question describes the character of Dmitry Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna. The researcher also uses the theory of Boyton and Mack to analyze the characterization of Gurov and Anna. Both theories will be used to understand each character especially the personal description, manner, thought, and speech of the characters. The researcher uses the theory of character development to find the cause in developing in Dmitry Gurov that is influenced by Anna Sergeyevna.
17 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
“Lady with Lapdog” is one of many popular short story that is written by
a Russian author, named Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This short story was first
published in Russian in December 1899. The first publication was in English, and
was mass-produced in 1903. The researcher uses a short story translated by David
Magarshack from his book called Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, published in 1987 by Pretince Hall, Inc. This short story is from a book called Dama s sobachkoy that contains other short stories. The short story used to be adapted into a film version in 1960 by Josef Heifitz that received an appreciation in the 1960
Cannes Film Festival. In 1987, this inspiring film by Chekhov’s “Lady with
Lapdog” was also adapted in Russian and Italian films, which were called
entitled The Lady with the Dog.
“Lady with Lapdog” is a story about Dmitry Gurov, a Russian banker who
is married and has one daughter and two sons. The internal problems about his
marriage life force him to undergo the burden of life himself. As a result, he cannot
stand against his wife anymore, and he has become unfaithful to his wife. He
changes his perspective about women, as he thinks and judges all women in general
as the lower race. One day, Gurov decides to go on a holiday in Yalta, and then he
meets a young lady who always takes a stroll with her white pomeranian. He is
because nobody knows who she is. In their first meeting in a restaurant, Gurov is
always staring at her, she introduces herself. She is Anna Sergeyevna who is
married to a man who works in the office of provincial governor or the rural council.
Since that day, Gurov is feeling comfortable to talk to her and to ask some casual
questions. Eventually Gurov wants to know what happens with Anna’s life. After
they have spent the day together, and they both feel pleasant and confident with
each other. Gurov suddenly feels sad when she plans to leave him alone. He feels
lonely because Anna says that they will be parted forever. He is still trying to find
her in S--- town although he does not know where she lives. One day when Gurov
arrives in S--- town, he knows that she lives there and he meets Anna again at a
theater. Anna is surprised with Gurov’s presence and feels worried if somebody
will know their relationship. At the end of the story, Anna comes to Moscow to
meet Gurov every two or three months. The story reveals Gurov’s life experiences
and love affairs with Anna. The changing of Gurov’s life because of Anna
Sergeyevna can fulfill and complete what he needs. In the end, they both regret their
past. They decide to have a secret relationship even though they cannot marry each
other. They can meet each other anytime. The short story of “Lady with Lapdog” is
really about family, love affair and loyalty.
B. Approach of the Study
The approach is appropriate to this study is the New Criticism approach. New Criticism approach applies a close reading analysis of literary works. Bressler says,
Using New Criticism’s clearly articulated methodology, any intelligent reader, say its adherents (called New Critics), can uncover a text’s hitherto so-called hidden meaning. New Criticism’s theoretical ideas, terminology, and critical methods are, more than not, disparaged by many present-day critics who themselves are introducing new ideas concerning literary theory. Despite its current unpopularity, New Criticism stands as one of the most important English-based contributions to literary critical analysis (Bressler, 2003, p.53).
New criticism is a powerful tool for those that have problems understanding a work of literature. New criticism formulates a method of reading, a simple formula that will help us unlock the meaning of a text. New criticism says the text itself should really stand-alone therefore new critics really have a textual focus. They are interested in the work itself, they do not care about what the author intends to care anymore, they do not really care what the reader thinks about it and they care what the text says.
C. Method of the Study
The method of data collection for this study uses the library research, in
which all books, theories, thesis and some information from the internet are taken.
The data have been gathered to elaborate and to support the analysis in this study.
The primary source is a literary work and a short story written by Anton Chekhov
entitled “Lady with Lapdog” that has been translated by David Magarshack as part
of the book Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing by Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs. The secondary source to be used is related to the theory for
this study. There are a theory of character and characterization, theory of character
development, and theory of plot from a book called Glossary Literary Term Seventh Edition by M. H. Abrams, Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students by M.J. Murphy, Aspects of
the Novel by Forster, E.M, Introduction To The Short Story by Robert W. Boynton
and Maynard Mack, Reading and Writing About Literature by Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods, An Introduction to Fiction by Robert Stanton, Perrine’s Literature Structure, Sound, and Sense by Laurence Perrine.
22 CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
This chapter consists of the answers to the questions that are previously stated in the problem formulation. The analysis of my study is concerned with how Dmitry Gurov, as the main character changes, develops, and how he is influenced by Anna Sergeyevna. This chapter is divided into two parts. The first part reveals the characters, they are Dmitry Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna. The second part analyzes the influence of Anna Sergeyevna on the character development of Dmitry Gurov.
A. The Characterization of Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna
In the story of “Lady with Lapdog,” there is two characters who are highlighted. These characters are Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov and Anna Sergeyevna. Anton Chekhov as the author focuses on this one character because they predominantly influence the character development of Gurov.
The researcher is attempting to describe all of the important characters one by one in order to make the reader understand the dominant characters in this short story.
1. Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov
The “Lady with Lapdog” story emphasizes Gurov as the main character
plot of the story. Based on the theory of flat and round character by Roberts and Jacob (1989), Gurov can be categorized as a round or dynamic character because he has the ability to change and develop. The researcher gives a detailed description of Gurov’s character developments in the next chapter.
Boyton and Mack have six ways to characterize a character in fictional works. The theory explains about what a character does, what a character says, what a character thinks, how other react to character, how a character reacts to his surroundings, and direct description or explanation (1972, pp. 27-29). The purpose of characterization is to depict a character life-like to the reader. In this short story, Chekhov often uses direct description or explanation, what a character thinks, what a character does, and how others react to a character.
Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov holds the most important role since the beginning of the story that discusses his life and love affairs. In revealing the characteristics of Gurov, the researcher has applied some of the previously mentioned methods.
The author portrays Gurov as a married man who is unfaithful to his wife. He is under forty years old, he marries an older woman when he is still in the second-year in a university.
He was not yet forty, but he had a twelve-year-old daughter and two schoolboy sons. He had been married off when he was still in his second year at the university (p.368).
Gurov has a love problem after marriage because he does not receive affection from his wife. This factor has made him change and become disloyal to his wife. As a husband, he does not feel like being at home because he cannot stand his wife’s attitude and behavior. From the quotation below, it appears that Gurov is
utters all the vices about his wife because he simply does not love his wife anymore and since then he becomes an unfaithful man. He always talks about bad things about women such as underestimating them as the lower race and he also equates all the women.
and though he secretly considered her not particularly intelligent, narrow-minded, and inelegant, he was afraid of her and disliked being at home. (p. 368) He had been unfaithful to her for a long time, he was often unfaithful to her, and that was why, perhaps, he almost always spoke ill of women, and men discussed women in his presence, he describe them as the lower breed (p. 368).
Gurov is characterized as a charismatic man. His appearance has attracted women, even many women admire him. His character and personality have made all women crazy about him. Therefore, Gurov feels confident and comfortable when many women surround him. Gurov is more sensitive when he is with women because he is accustomed to and knows to speak and to behave towards women.
There was something attractive, something elusive in his appearance, in his character and his whole person that women found interesting and irresistible; he was aware of it, and was himself drawn to them by some irresistible force (p.368).
Long and indeed bitter experience had taught him that every new affair, which at first relieved the monotony of life so pleasantly and appeared to be such a charming and light adventure, among decent people and especially among Muscovites, who are so irresolute and so hard to rouse, inevitably developed into an extremely complicated problem and finally the whole situation became rather cumbersome. But at every new meeting with an attractive woman he forgot all about this experience, he wanted to enjoy life so badly and it all seemed so simple and amusing (p.368). He dislikes his wife's personalities because she is cold-hearted. Gurov’s relationship with his wife is no longer harmonious. He is disloyal to his wife and he does not want to feel the bitter life experience in his loveless marriage.
He dislikes his wife and assumes that all women are the lower race. It does not make him change his outlook on women whenever he meets a woman, yet he still interested in them. Because he does not get the love and affection of his wife, makes Gurov becomes a lonely man who does not get a woman's caress. He becomes a man who is lack of love. He cannot either convey his love or get love back from a woman. Finally, he meets a girl named Anna Sergeyevna.
Gurov enjoys being outside the house because he can meet many women. He initially believes that his life is full of unexpected and strange meetings, such as when he meets Anna Sergeyevna in Yalta. Gurov becomes a man who is easily attracted to women, and he is highly curious to get to know her farther. He always struggles for what he deserves, especially love and affection. When Gurov meets Anna, he ponderes more often and thinks of Anna. He can see the purity of Anna's heart from her behavior and nature.
love without sincerity, with unnecessary talk, affectedly, hysterically, with such an expression, as though it were not love or passion , but something much more significant, ; and of two or three very beautiful, frigid women, whose snatch from life more than it could give; these were women no longer in their first youth, capricious, unreasoning, despotic, unintelligent women, and when Gurov lost interest in them, their beauty merely aroused hatred in him and the lace trimmings on their négligés looked to him the like the scales of a snake (p.370).
Gurov is a type of brave man who is not half-hearted in doing something he wants. In fact, he looks for opportunities in every meeting with the woman he has just met. He noticed Anna when he knows that Anna is alone, he immediately tries to get near her in any way. He tries to seek an opportunity to make him get closer to her. Until he successfully gets acquainted with her and even spends time together.
“If she’s here without her husband and without any friend,” thought Gurov, “it wouldn’t be a bad idea to strike up an acquaintance with her” (p. 368).
He tried to attract the attention of the dog by calling softly to it, and when the Pomeranian came up to him he shook a finger at it. The Pomeranian growled. Gurov again shook a finger at it. The woman looked up at him and immediately lowered her eyes (p.369).
Day by day, he becomes more curious. He is a brave man, who always tries and struggles to get closer and to attract the attention of a woman. He is a man with full of self-confidence in trying to attract a woman's attention. He is a person who is persistent in pursuing matters of love. He always fights for love because if it is true love, then he'd be fighting for that person.
Gurov could not help feeling bored as he listened to her; he was irritated by her naïve tone of voice and her repentance, which was so unexpected and so unexpected and so out of place; but for the tears in her eyes, he might have thought that she was joking or play-acting.
“Please, please believe me,” she said. “I love a pure, honest life. I hate immorality. I don’t know myself what I am doing. The common people say “the devil led her astray,” I too can now say about myself that the devil has led me astray.”
“There, there. . . “ he murmured.
He gazed into her staring, frightened eyes, kissed her, spoke gently and affectionally to her, and gradually she calmed down and her cheerfulness returned; both of them were soon laughing (p.371).
In that dialogue both characters, portray that Gurov does not consider their affair is a mistake. Gurov is less sensitive to situations and conditions, which he focuses on what he wants. He is happy and satisfied, and he enjoys it. He thinks that it is a usual thing, but Anna thinks differently in responding to the problem. Gurov is insoluble in Anna's emotions, and he just shows his love and affection. It can be seen that Gurov’s character is a loving person who is caring and
understanding about a person's feeling. He is able to calm Anna's emotions and to make her cheerful again. He gives a warm touch to Anna and tries to calm her. He decides to give his full attention to her, makes her calm and returns cheerfully.
He told himself that this had been just one more affair in his life, just one more adventure, and that it too was over, leaving nothing but a memory. He was moved and sad, and felt a little penitent that the young woman, whom he would never see again, had not been happy with him; he had been amiable and affectionate with her, but all the same in his behavior to her (p.373).
He was moved and sad, and felt a little penitent that the young woman, whom he would never see again, had not been happy with him; he had been amiable and affectionate with her, but all the same in his behavior to her, in the tone of his voice and in his caresses, there was a suspicion of light irony, the somewhat coarse arrogance of the successful male, who was, moreover, almost twice her age (p.373).
separation. That is the first time Gurov feels the love in his heart because Anna is different from most women he has met before. After some time, he realizes he cannot forget her, then decides to pursue Anna. Gurov is a man who does not give up easily, he is a man who has a full persistence, and his desire motivates him to get her back. He does not remain silent and lamented his fate because he is always overshadowed by Anna. Finally, he fights his love for Anna.
“But, please, try to understand, Anna,” he murmured hurriedly. “I beg you, please, try to understand….”
“I’ve suffered so much,” she went on, without listening to him. “I’ve been thinking of you all the time. The thought of you kept me alive. And yet I tried so hard to forget you—why, oh why did you come?” (p.376).
Gurov is a man who is quite aggressive because sometimes he cannot control his behavior, and Gurov does not care about his surroundings. “He drew
Anna Sergeyevna towards him and began kissing her face, her lips, her hands”
(p.377). All he thinks is that he can express his passion and love through his actions. Since Gurov finds his love, he becomes a loyal man. Anna's presence in his life encourages Gurov to survive. He no longer regrets his past, but he rises to become a better man. He becomes a loving and sincere man. He also becomes a loyal man, not playing round with women anymore. He becomes more positive and has goals in his life. That's all because he has got Anna back into his life.
had been ashamed of in the past, and forgave each other everything in their present, and felt that this love of theirs had changed them both (p.378).
In Gurov's thought, it is the first time he falls in love with a woman after he is nearly forty years old, living without hope and love. Finally, he finds someone who can love and complete him with Anna, he feels the sincerity of love. The evidence of Gurov's struggle to pursue Anna proves that he is a man of high enthusiasm to get what he hopes for. He never gives up, and his motivation is powerful. In the end, he can be loyal and sincere to love a woman. He becomes a faithful man after finding his true love.
2. Anna Sergeyevna
The character of Anna Sergeyevna is dynamic because her character changes through her action and experience. Based on Holman and Harmon’s theory (1986, p.83), she develops because there is another character who makes her action improves. To analyze the character of Anna Sergeyevna, the researcher uses theory characterization from Boyton and Mack (1972, pp.26-27).
In this case, Anton Chekhov describes Anna Sergeyevna by using direct description or explanation, what a character does, what a character thinks, and how others react to a character. (Boyton and Mack, 1972, pp. 27-29). To depict Anna’s character, the author gives the personal description how Anna dresses up
Anna Sergeyevna is the young lady who takes Dmitry Gurov’s love and attention. Anna Sergeyena is a married woman. In the beginning of the story, Anna Sergeyevna is described as a young lady who has an attractive and elegant appearance. She is alone but always accompanied by a white Pomeranian. She is a beautiful, and good-looking woman. It can be proved that in the beginning of her arrival at Yalta, Gurov has been interested in her.
a young woman walking along the promenade, she was fair, not very tall, and wore toque, behind her trotted a white Pomeranian (p.367-368). she was always alone, always wearing the same toque, followed by the white Pomeranian. No one knew who she was, and she became known simply as the lady with the lapdog (p.368).
Here we see that Anna is a lonely woman who needs refreshing and breaking out from her daily habits and boredom. This is the first time she visits Yalta. There is no one accompanying her, only her pet. Because nobody knows who she is, then she is known as “the lady with the lapdog” (p.368).
The way she looked, walked, and dressed, wore her hair, told him that she was of good social standing, that she was married, that she was in Yalta for the first time, that she was alone and bored (p.368).
The quotation above depicts the appearance of Anna Sergeyevna by the narrator. She is a married woman who has an average height. She always wears a woman’s small hat. She is a good looking and an attractive woman. How she dresses
From her he learnt that she had grown up in Petersburg, but he had got married in the town of S---, where she had been living for the past two years, that she would stay another month in Yalta, and that her husband, who also needed a rest, might join her. She was quite unable to tell him what her husband’s job was, whether he served in the offices of the provincial governor or the rural council, and she found this rather amusing herself (p.369).
During her meeting with a stranger, she looks awkward and embarrassed. She is not open and does not want to tell her problem that she faces to others she has just known. She does not easily fall in love, but when she meets Gurov, she falls into the atmosphere.
As he went to bed he remembered that she had only recently left her boarding school, that she had been a schoolgirl like his own daughter; he recalled how much diffidence and angularity there was in her laughter and her conversation with a stranger – it was probably the first time in her life she had found herself alone, in a situation when men followed her, looked at her, and spoke to her with only one secret intention, an intention she could hardly fail to guess. He remembered her slender, weak neck, her beautiful grey eyes (p.369).
“There’s something pathetic about her, all the same,” he thought as he fell asleep (p.369).
She looks like a “schoolgirl” who is still young. She is a simple woman
who is pure-heart. Unfortunately, she could not enjoy her adolescence when she was young. Possibly because she has to get married at a very young age. Apparently, she still seems shy and innocent.
Anna sergeyevna was very touching; there was an air of a pure, decent, naïve woman about her, a woman who had very little experience of life; the solitary candle burning on the table scarcely lighted up her face, but it was obvious that she was unhappy (p.371).
what they have done. Anna feels that Gurov does not respect her. She feels Gurov has damaged her pride. Anna is a modest woman who is naive and innocence because she does not have much experience. She only thinks that their deeds are wrong and inappropriate. She feels that Gurov takes advantage of her. She is short-minded because she has never experienced anything like it before. She is an honest girl, who loves the purity of life and love. She does not like betrayal and having an affair with another man. She is a girl who is loyal and obedient to her husband. Since Gurov came into in her life, she has changed.
In the dialogue below, Anna cannot accept what Gurov has done to her, because she feels that Gurov does not respect her. Anna’s character is a religious
woman, she feels so scared and regretful over her love affair. She does not accept Gurov’s deeds to her, she feels sinful because she has betrayed her love and her
husband.
“It’s wrong,” she said. “You’ll be the first not to respect me now” (p.370). “May God forgive me,” she said, and her eyes filled with tears. “It’s terrible” (p.371).
She is a sensitive woman, it can be seen when she grasps what she does with Gurov is wrong. She gets touched because of Gurov’s deed. She is so sad
because her innocence, she feels lulled by Gurov, and she is dissolved in his gentle persuasion.
different kind of life, I said to myself. I wanted to live. To live, to live! I was burning with curiosity. I don’t think you know what I am talking about, but I swear I could no longer control myself, something was happening to me, I could not be held back, I told my husband I was ill, and I came here. Here too I was going about as though in a daze, as though I was mad, and now I’ve become a vulgar worthless woman whom everyone has a right to despise (p.371).
In that quotation above, it can be seen that she is a naive woman. She humbles herself and she thinks that she is a despicable person.
She is the type of woman who is easy to believe even though she does not see the evidence. She does not think negatively because she understands what happens. She is such an innocent woman that makes her easy to believe the things she does not see. In her heart, she feels sad, but she hides it.
“Do you hear? I’ll come to you in Moscow. I’ve never been happy, I’m unhappy now, and I shall never be happy, never! So please don’t make me suffer still more. I swear I’ll some to you in Moscow. But now we must part (p.377).
Anna Sergeyevna began going to Moscow to see him. Every two or three months she left the town of S—, telling her husband that she was going to consult a Moscow gynaecologist, and her husband believed and did not believed her (p.377).
Anna's nature has changed, she becomes a woman who is not loyal to her husband and has a love affair with other men. She becomes a liar woman because she lies to her husband to meet to Gurov in Moscow. Finally, she undergoes an affair with Gurov.
has forgotten Gurov’s mistakes in the past, and they realize that they love each
other.
He and Anna Sergeyevna loved each other as people do who are very dear and near, as man and wife or, close friends love each other; they could not help feeling that fate itself had intended them for one another, and they were unable to understand why he should have a wife and she a husband; they were like two migrating birds, male and female, who had been caught and forced to live in separate cages. They had forgiven each other what they had been ashamed of in the past, and forgave each other everything in their present, and felt that this love of theirs had changed them both (p.378).
Currently, Anna has changed, she accepts Gurov's request to return to him. Anna visits Gurov in Moscow and they start to have a serious relationship even though they are unable to marry.
B. The Character Development of Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov as Influenced by
Anna Sergeyevna
character. The changing of Gurov's character does not occur without any causes, but it happens due to the influence of Anna Sergeyevna.
1. Gurov’s Perspective on His Life.
In the previous chapter, Gurov is recognized as a lonely man who has monotonous life. He is a man who gets confused about himself, his life, his marriage, and about a woman. He feels that his life is meaningless. Gurov feels that his life is in vain because he still stays in his loveless marriage. He feels unhappy and disappointed with his wife and it makes him think negatively about a woman. He feels empty inside and depressed because he does not feel loved. Increasingly he thinks his life pointless because he has to endure his bitter life experience in a long time. He thinks if he regrets his life experience continuously, it can wreck his chances of getting a true love from another woman. Therefore, he dares to start an affair with other women.
He could not help feeling that he had had enough bitter experience to have the right to call right to call them as he pleased, but all the same without the lower breed he could not have existed a couple of days. He was bored and ill at ease among men, with whom he was reticent and cold, but when he was among women he felt at ease, he knew what to talk about with them and how to behave, even when he was silent in their company he experienced no feeling of constraint. There was something attractive, something elusive in his appearance, in his character and his whole person that women found interesting and irresistible; he was aware of it, and was himself drawn to them by some irresistible force (p.368).
If it is analyzed using the theory of plot, the beginning of this story is indicated with a brief description of the characters’ background. Exposition in this
problems. He feels uncomfortable when he is among other men. Even though he regards all women as the lower race, but he still feels better and more comfortable when women surround him. He does not hesitate to get acquainted with many women. There is something attractive in Gurov's appearance, character, and personality. Which makes women admire Gurov. He is such a charismatic man, that many women get attracted to him. His good appearance makes all women crazy about him, and it makes him very comfortable when women are around him.
Long and indeed bitter experience had taught him that every new affair, which at first relieved the monotony of life so pleasantly and appeared to be such a charming and light adventure, among decent people and especially among Muscovites, who are so irresolute and so hard to rouse, inevitably developed into an extremely complicated problem and finally the whole situation became rather cumbersome. But at every new meeting with an attractive woman he forgot all about this experience, he wanted to enjoy life so badly and it all seemed so simple and amusing (p.368).
Gurov is kind of a man who easily gets women’s attention, and he likes to change partners. The reason why he starts an affair because he is getting bored with his uninteresting life experience. At that time people in Moscow found it difficult to establish new relationships with others. In Gurov's thought, every new meeting with a woman is enjoyable and entertaining for him even though it is only temporary. He can enjoy his life for a moment and apart from his bad life. The influence of Gurov's life in the past makes him becomes an unfaithful person. He becomes a lonely man who is awaiting for love and affection. He is a womanizer man who likes cheating and adoring many women.
without knowing the fate of their relationship. In the end, they live their life as it is. Even though there are many obstacles, they keep struggling to express their feeling.
Before, when he felt depressed, he had comforted himself by all sorts of arguments that happened to occur to him on the spur of the moment, but now he had more serious things to think of, he felt profound compassion, he longed to be sincere, tender ……. (p.379).
Then they had a long talk. They tried to think how they could get rid of the necessity of hiding, telling lies, living in different towns, not seeing one another for so long. How were they to free themselves from their intolerable chains? (p.379).
And it seemed to them that in only a few more minutes a solution would be found and a new, beautiful life would begin; but both of them knew very well that the end was still a long, long way away and that the most complicated and difficult part was only just beginning (p.379).
The conclusion of the changing in Gurov's character, Gurov is no longer depressed because of his unhappy life. He has no purpose in his life and hopeless. He becomes an unfaithful man because every new meeting with a woman makes him interested and enjoys it. Since he meets Anna, there is something that catches Gurov's attention. Then she makes him changes his perspective on his life. Anna has a considerable influence on Gurov's character because Gurov finally realizes he falls in love with Anna. When Anna leaves him, he always imagines Anna and thinks about her. Gurov even more uneasy, and convinces that it is worth it to have her in his life. Many times, he has an affair, but he can truly express his love for Anna.
Since then Gurov can express his feeling, and they both have an awareness to be together. They cannot get married because they cannot be separated from their marriage relationship. The development of Gurov’s character, he becomes a
some obstacles that he has to face. He keeps struggling to get Anna back in his life. He changes his perspective about a woman because he thinks that Anna is different from another woman. He becomes faithful, he does not have an affair with another woman, and he only loves Anna. They know if they have irresistible bond with their marriage partner. They tell a lie to their partner so that they can meet each other. Since then he has goals and hopes in his life. He becomes a more positive man in thinking and behaving. Finally, he continues to have an affair with Anna, without knowing their relationship’s fate.
2. Gurov’s Attitude towards Woman
In the beginning, Gurov is a man who has a wife and child. In his marriage, he feels uncomfortable and unhappiness. Because he does not like the nature and character of his wife, Gurov begins to change his views on women. He believes all women are the lower race. He demeans women because Gurov has terrible experiences in his life and no longer respects his wife. He does not love and he becomes unfaithful.
and though he secretly considered her not particularly intelligent, narrow-minded, and inelegant, he was afraid of her and disliked being at home. (p. 368) He had been unfaithful to her for a long time, he was often unfaithful to her, and that was why, perhaps, he almost always spoke ill of women, and men discussed women in his presence, he describe them as the lower breed (p. 368).
that motivate Gurov to express his love and passion for other women because he wants to release from the burden of his life for a moment. Gurov enjoys when many women surround him. Moreover, his personality and appearance make many women get attracted to him. Besides, Gurov has a charisma that make the women amazed when they see him. Gurov does not stay away from the women although he disgraces them. Instead, Gurov chooses to have an affair with other women without his wife's knowledge.
He could not help feeling that he had had enough bitter experience to have the right to call right to call them as he pleased, but all the same without the lower breed he could not have existed a couple of days. He was bored and ill at ease among men, with whom he was reticent and cold, but when he was among women he felt at ease, he knew what to talk about with them and how to behave, even when he was silent in their company he experienced no feeling of constraint. There was something attractive, something elusive in his appearance, in his character and his whole person that women found interesting and irresistible; he was aware of it, and was himself drawn to them by some irresistible force… But at every new meeting with an attractive woman he forgot all about this experience, he wanted to enjoy life so badly and it all seemed so simple and amusing (p.368).
Gurov was only looking for pleasure for a moment; he did not love and could not undergo a serious relationship with all the women. For him, the women are just entertainers and fill the emptiness in his heart. Gurov only enjoyed the women, and none of them owned his heart. Gurov did not even deeply love the women because he thought that they were only to escape the burden of his bitter and monotonous life. He does not respect women as a person who deserves to be loved sincerely.
beginning. When Anna is coming in Gurov's life, Gurov's character develops and changes slowly. Gurov falls in love at the first time he saw her. He sees her, and his eyes stares at Anna all the time. He always notices her every single detail, her way she dresses, her gestures and her understated reactions. He thinks that Anna is not an ordinary woman. She looks like a woman from the upper class. Gurov does not remain silent; he tries to find a way so that he can be close and get acquainted with her.
The appearance on the front of a new arrival—a lady with a lapdog— became the topic of general conversation. Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov, who had been a fortnight in Yalta and got used to its ways, was also interested in new arrivals. One day sitting on the terrace of Vernet’s restaurant, he saw a young woman walking along the promenade; she was fair, not very tall, and wore a toque, behind her trotted a white Pomeranian (pp.367-368). The way she looked, walked and dressed, wore her hair, told him that she was of good social standing, that she was married, that she was in Yalta for the first time, that she was alone and bored (p.368).
Then both went on eating in silence, like complete strangers; but after dinner they strolled off together, and they embarked on the light playful conversation of free and contented people who do not care where they go or what they talk about. They walked, and talked about the stranger light that fell on the sea; (p.369).
Finally, they knew each other even Gurov was interested in getting to know Anna deeper and further. Besides that, since Gurov's meeting with Anna, Gurov often remains quiet, ponders and thinks of Anna. She looks like her daughter who still looks like a “schoolgirl” (p.369). Anna is twenty years old, at a young age she has experienced a bit of life experience. She releases her youth and marries a man who is older than her. The purpose of Anna’s trip to Yalta is because she gets
bored with her life in S --- town and she wants to take a short vacation. Besides, she wants her husband to go with her.
Later, in his hotel room, he thought about her and felt sure that he would meet her again the next day. It had to be. As he went to bed he remembered that she had only recently left her boarding school, that she had been a schoolgirl like his own daughter; he recalled how much diffidence and angularity there was in her laughter and her conversation with a stranger (p.369).
It was very close in her hotel room, which was full of smell of the scents she had bought in a Japanese shop. Looking at her now, Gurov thought: “Life is full of strange encounters!” (p.370).
