Koo 1

Frederick Koo

Professor Kevin Couther

Writing 102

6 December 2016

The Negative Consequences of Desire in In the Ravine

Everyone in this world has their own desires, it is that desire that drives this society and

allows it to function the way that it does. Desires can lead to both positive consequences as well

as negative consequences. Desire leads to positive consequences when it prompts people to grow

and become better. Desire leads to negative consequences when it prompts individuals to take

selfish actions and transforms them into something unfamiliar. This idea of desire turning

individuals into something foreign is highly evident in the story In the Ravine by Anton

Chekhov. In In the Ravine Chekhov illustrates how the pursuit of ones desire can lead to

negative consequences, such as the jailing of Anisim, the death of Nikifor, and the eventual

separation of the Tsybukin family.

In the beginning of the story the Tsybukin family is very close, which is shown when

Chekhov states The old man had always had an inclination for family life, and he loved his

family more than anything in this world, especially his elder son, the detective and his daughter-

in-law (384). From this excerpt it can be inferred the father Grigory Tsybukin puts his family

before all, and loves them more than anything. Despite the fact that the family is so close in the

beginning, the family crumbles and falls part by the end of the story. The Tsybukin family ends

up falling apart, not due to a single desire, but from a series of small personal desires that all

snowballed eventually leading to the separation of the family.

 Koo 2

The first desire that lead to the downfall of the Tsybukin family was Anisims desire to

obtain wealth. Anisim desired wealth for several different reasons. The first reason that Anisim

desires wealth is shown when Chekhov writes:

Anisim was driving up in a sledge from the station. They were not expecting him

at all. He came in uneasy and alarmed at something; and so he remained all the

while afterwards; and his behavior was somehow casual. He was in no hurry to

leave, and it looked as if had been dismissed from his job (388).

It can be inferred from this quote that one of the reasons that Anisim wanted wealth was because

he had lost his job. Anisim was going home because he had lost his job as a police officer. He

was nervous and uneasy because he had to tell his family that he had been fired, but he didnt

know how to break the news to the family and instead kept up the faade that he was employed

and told stories my his adventures as a police officer. The second reason as to why Anisim

desired wealth is shown in another quote in which Chekhov writes:

He himself was uninteresting, unremarkable appearance; along with his weak,

sickly build and small stature, he had full plump cheeks, as if he puffed them out;

his eyes never blinked, and their gaze was sharp; he had a sparse red beard, and

when he pondered, he kept putting it I his mouth and chewing it; besides, he

drank often, and it showed in his face and gait. But when he was told that they

had a very beautiful bride for him, he said: Well, Im not so lopsided myself

(388).

The second reason Anisim wants wealth is because he feels inadequate to the rest of his family.

His father is a wealthy merchant with a beautiful wife. His brother is deaf, but he has an amazing
 Koo 3

wife, and works with his father as a merchant. Meanwhile, Anisim is a boring police officer and

isnt nearly as wealthy, or successful as his family members. Anisim also feel inadequate in

regards with looks, and demeanor. Anisim is described as a boring unremarkable person, and he

realizes that he is boring and unremarkable. In fact he questions whether he is decent looking or

not. Every single male in the family is more successful than him and he feels inadequate to them,

so he makes it up by obtaining wealth.

Anisim tried to obtain his wealth by doing business with his friend Samorodov, in fact,

Chekhov writes Samorodov got me involved with a certain business: Ill be rich or Ill perish. If

anything happens, mother you must comfort my father. (397). From this statement, its evident

that the business that Anisim is involved in isnt the safest business venture and could lead to the

son losing everything. He even realizes that his business venture isnt safe, and tells his mother

to prepare in case he gets caught. The business Anisim was involved in turned out to be minting

false currency. As a result of Anisim minting false currency, he got caught and was jailed. This is

shown when Chekov writes The news had come long ago that Anisim had been put in prison for

making and passing counterfeit money (405). Since Anisim desired wealth and went into

business with his friend Samorodov, he ended up going to jail suffering. If Anisim had never

desired wealth and went into manufacturing false currency he probably wouldnt have gone to

jail, and he probably would have lived a happy life. But since Anisim pursued his desire of

wealth he faced the consequences of jail time.

The jailing of Anisim started the chain of events that lead to the death of Nikifor.

Nikifors death occurred at the hands of Aksinya, because she didnt obtain her desires. He

desires are displayed when Chekhov writes:

 Koo 4

So yesterday at dinner Aksinya says to the old mam, I want to build a brickworks

in Butyokino, to be a merchant in my own right. She says it and smiles. But

Grigory Petrovich goes dark in the face; obviously he doesnt like it. As long as

Im alive, he says, we cant do things separately, it must be together. And she

flashed her eyes at him, ground her teeth (400).

Aksinya desired to have her own business, and be independent from her father-in-law. She

desired to be able to provide for herself, and make a name for herself. But she wasnt able to

obtain it since he father-in-law denied her. Aksinya was definitely angry at her request being

denied. Though Aksinya was angry she didnt act on her anger, at least until a certain event

occurred which cause her to lash out.

The event that causes Aksinya to lash out and eventually murder Nikifor is Grigory

giving Butyokino to Nikifor. This action infuriates Aksinya, which is made clear when Chekov

writes:

I dont want to serve you anymore! She went on. Im worn out! When its work,

when its sitting in the shop day after day, and sneaking out at night to get vodka-

then its me, but when its giving land- then its the convicts wife with her little

devil! Shes the mistress, shes the lady here and Im her servant! Give her

everything, the jailbirds wife, let her choke on it, Im going home! Find

yourselves another fool, you cured Herods! (409).

From the words that Aksinya says its clear that she is furious that she didnt get the land. She is

overworked, and tired, and desired recognition, and the land from her father, but he doesnt give

it her and instead gives it to Lipa and Nikifor. Since she wasnt able to obtain her desire she
 Koo 5

lashed out at the person stopping her from obtain desires. Aksinya lashed out verbally against her

father, but she also lashed out against Lipa and Nikifor. Chekov shows how she lashed out by

writing Aksinya seized the dipper of boiling water and dashed it over Nikifor. Nikifor was

taken to the regional hospital, and towards evening he died there (411). Aksinya decided to lash

out against Lipa buy pouring boiling water on Nikifor, which resulted in his death. Nikifors

death ended up causing the Tsybukin family split. This once close and loving family is now in

shambles due to the loss of the eldest son and the death of the grandson.

Through the story told by In the Ravine you can see how following ones desires can

lead to negative consequences. Anisim and Aksinya followed their desires and horrible

consequences occurred as a result. Anisim tried to obtain wealth and he ended up jailed. Nikifor

an innocent was killed because Aksinya didnt get what she had desired. Desire is a truly a force

of nature that cone sometimes bring the worst out of us.

 Koo 6

Works Cited

Chekhov, Anton. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokonsky. In the Ravine. Selected

Stories of Anton Chekov. New York: Random House 2000. 383-420. Print.