The looking glass analysis

1

Jasmine Draper
Mrs. Burkamp
Research Paper
27 March 2015
Deeper into The Looking Glass
The short stories that are read today in literary journals and magazines are something of what they are because of Anton Chekhov. He has written roughly 600 short stories which demonstrate his use of simple language and literary schemes such as tone, imagery and symbolism.
The Looking Glass, is one of Chekhov’s short stories that revolve around the dream of a girl named Nellie, that emphasizes important points that happen to both her, the protagonist, and to the readers symbolically. With the particular use of dark tone and vivid imagery, Anton
Chekhov’s,
The Looking Glass, helps the reader to recognize imperative themes that shape the story and focus on the true significance of the looking glass.
The portrayal of Nellie’s dream demonstrate that one of the themes can be inferred from the text is the importance of dreams. Using her dream exhibits her internal conflict within herself and her challenges to relate her problems with others. This mechanism of writing corresponds with Bob Blaisdell statement that, “Chekhov believed that how characters see themselves is more important, finally, than how an author sees them, and that we as readers can understand characters more deeply if we don’t have an author standing between us and them” (Blaisdell). By basing the story off of Nellie’s dream, the reader is able to understand the depiction of the intense scenes that happen within her and recognize how deams influence the decisions and

2

responses of people. There is a better understanding of the main character with the use of dreams as a theme.
The reality of helplessness is also a key theme that is portrayed throughout the story.
Chekhov enables the reader to inquire the realism of the possibility of people unable to solve the problems within themselves and that the same can be seen within others. With his careful usage of tone and imagery, it becomes evident that the protagonist suffers to respond to the situation that she’s in. The depiction of Nellie and her inability to find a solution coincides with
Chekhov’s naturalistic style of “rather than creating rowdy, dashing heroes and elaborate cliffhanging plots, he set out to depict the slow, ticking banalities of everyday life”(Evans). His use of helplessness as a theme gives the story a sense of naturalism that the reader can connect to with their everyday life, as well. Because of the i relatabiltiy, This way of writing gets the reader hooked and keeps them interested throughout the story because of the story’s relatability.
The fear of the future is a relevant theme in this piece with Chekhov’s use of symbolism.
The looking glass or mirror, for this piece, remains symbolic because it is used to portray the future. From the way the story was depicted, the author enables the reader to recognize that dreams reflect the subconscious. In this case, the dark dream that the story revolves around shows Nellie’s fear of the future. For example, Chekhov’s use of lines, “ the grey background
(looking glass)was not untouched by death” (Chekhov), shows how she was terrified and anxious for the future as the dream unfolds. The use of the mirror is very instrumental throughout the story becauses it is served as a window to the protagonist’s subconscious. The symbolic mirror portrays Nellie’s inner feelings, fear and helplessness; and with its use, the story becomes successful in bringing together its goals and objectives of the story to the readers.

3

Overall,
The Looking Glass, is a very successfully written short story by Chekhov that illustrates his mechanisms on his wantings of the reader to understand the concept of his story, deeply. He portrays a dream which remains to show its significance to understanding the subconscious and by dwelling into the consciousness, readers are able to see situations that puts her in a state of helplessness. By the careful use of dark tone and vivid imagery, Chekhov is able to connect points that indicate human condition and how problematic situations illustrates one’s fear of the unknown.