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Questions and Answers
Why did Madame Lubyantsev sit motionless before the piano?
Why did Madame Lubyantsev sit motionless before the piano?
She was expecting something.
What oppressive desire began to assail Madame Lubyantsev?
What oppressive desire began to assail Madame Lubyantsev?
Madame Lubyantsev struggled against the desire she felt.
Madame Lubyantsev struggled against the desire she felt.
False
Madame Lubyantsev convicts herself of being tempted by sensations which awaited her as an idle lady having her fling in the _______ holidays.
Madame Lubyantsev convicts herself of being tempted by sensations which awaited her as an idle lady having her fling in the _______ holidays.
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What caused Sofya Petrovna to turn round sharply and walk rapidly back along the track?
What caused Sofya Petrovna to turn round sharply and walk rapidly back along the track?
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Sofya Petrovna felt conflicted about her interaction with Ilyin and struggled to maintain her self-assurance.
Sofya Petrovna felt conflicted about her interaction with Ilyin and struggled to maintain her self-assurance.
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What did Sofya Petrovna do in an attempt to prove to herself that she was still a good wife and mother?
What did Sofya Petrovna do in an attempt to prove to herself that she was still a good wife and mother?
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Sofya Petrovna recalled that she enjoyed Ilyin's lovemaking ______________.
Sofya Petrovna recalled that she enjoyed Ilyin's lovemaking ______________.
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Match the following emotions/actions experienced by Sofya Petrovna with the corresponding events in the text:
Match the following emotions/actions experienced by Sofya Petrovna with the corresponding events in the text:
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Why does Sofya Petrovna want to speak to Ilyin seriously?
Why does Sofya Petrovna want to speak to Ilyin seriously?
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What is the primary reason behind Ilyin's anger and frustration?
What is the primary reason behind Ilyin's anger and frustration?
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Sofya Petrovna feels a sense of relief and superiority after addressing Ilyin's pursuit of her.
Sofya Petrovna feels a sense of relief and superiority after addressing Ilyin's pursuit of her.
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Ilyin considers his behavior towards Sofya Petrovna __________ and __________.
Ilyin considers his behavior towards Sofya Petrovna __________ and __________.
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Match the character's descriptions with the characters:
Match the character's descriptions with the characters:
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Study Notes
Setting
- The story takes place in a summer villa near a wood, with a railway embankment and a white church with six domes nearby.
Characters
- Sofya Petrovna (Madame Lubyantsev): the wife of Lubyantsev the notary, a handsome young woman of 25.
- Ilyin: a lawyer who is spending the summer in the neighborhood, in love with Sofya Petrovna.
- Andrey Ilyitch (Lubyantsev): Sofya Petrovna's husband, a notary.
- Varya: Sofya Petrovna and Andrey Ilyitch's daughter.
Plot
- Sofya Petrovna meets Ilyin in the wood and tries to have a serious conversation with him about his pursuit of her.
- Ilyin confesses his love for Sofya Petrovna, saying he is struggling against his feelings and wants to be free from his obsession.
- Sofya Petrovna is torn between her duty as a wife and mother, and her attraction to Ilyin.
- Ilyin's passion and sincerity affect Sofya Petrovna, who is shaken by her own weakness.
- After meeting Ilyin, Sofya Petrovna returns home and tries to shake off the encounter, but her thoughts are preoccupied with Ilyin.
- She decides to tell her husband about her trouble and suggest they leave the villa, but her husband is unwilling to listen.
- Sofya Petrovna realizes she must take charge of the situation and decides to go on a tour, hoping to escape her troubles.
Themes
- The struggle between duty and desire
- The power of passion and obsession
- The difficulty of being true to oneself and others
- The fragility of relationships and the ease of corruption
Symbolism
- The wood and the railway embankment: symbols of the boundaries and constraints of Sofya Petrovna's life
- The church: a symbol of moral guidance and tradition
- The bee buzzing against the window-pane: a symbol of Sofya Petrovna's restless and agitated state
Character Development
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Sofya Petrovna: torn between her duty as a wife and mother, and her attraction to Ilyin; struggling to maintain her self-respect and integrity.
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Ilyin: passionate, sincere, and unhappy; unable to control his feelings, and willing to sacrifice everything for Sofya Petrovna.
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Andrey Ilyitch (Lubyantsev): distant, uninvolved, and complacent; unaware of his wife's troubles and unwilling to listen.### Sofya Petrovna's Evening
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Sofya Petrovna was aware of Ilyin's unhappiness and felt sorry for him, but she was too caught up in her own youth, beauty, and virtue to care.
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She flirted, laughed, and sang with peculiar feeling and gusto, enjoying the attention and amusement.
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She was particularly amused by a red snake pin on Ilyin's cravat with diamond eyes.
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She sang sad, mournful songs about wasted hopes, the past, and old age, almost in mockery of Ilyin's grief.
Ilyin's Confession
- Ilyin was the last to leave the party, and Sofya Petrovna accompanied him to the bottom step of the verandah.
- He showered her with caressing words, tender and sweet, and even called her "thou" as if she were his wife or mistress.
- He put his arm around her waist and took hold of her elbow, kissing the nape of her neck, asking her to come to him.
- Sofya Petrovna was caught off guard and responded with indignation, but her words lacked conviction.
Sofya Petrovna's Struggle
- She realized she had behaved badly and foolishly, like a madcap girl, and was left with a fearful weakness and apathy.
- Her conscience whispered to her about her mistakes, and she felt uneasy and guilty.
- An oppressive desire began to assail her, and she couldn't resist her attraction to Ilyin.
- She convicted herself of being tempted not by feelings but by sensations, and she felt ashamed and humiliated.
The Aftermath
- Sofya Petrovna tried to justify her actions to her husband, Andrey Ilyitch, but he didn't believe her and was frightened by her confession.
- She went for a walk, driven by an overmastering force, and muttered to herself about being an "immoral creature" and a "low wretch."
- She was caught up in a struggle between her desire and her morality, and it seemed like she had lost control.
External Resources
- The text is available for download on the website livrosgratis.com.br, which offers thousands of free e-books on various subjects.
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Description
A short story by Anton Chekhov, where Sofya Petrovna, the wife of Lubyantsev, goes for a walk with a lawyer, Ilyin, in the woods. The story sets the tone for a romantic encounter.
