nab-l banner

In VN’s novel Kamera Obskura (1933) the birth of Cheepy (a charming guinea pig created by Robert Horn, a talented but unprincipled artist) is said to be connected with the issue of vivisection:

п÷я─п╦п╠п╩п╦п╥п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬ п╡ 1925 пЁ. я─п╟п╥п╪п╫п╬п╤п╦п╩п╬я│я▄ п©п╬ п╡я│п╣п╪я┐ я│п╡п╣я┌я┐ п╪п╦п╩п╬п╣, п╥п╟п╠п╟п╡п╫п╬п╣ я│я┐я┴п╣я│я┌п╡п╬ - я│я┐я┴п╣я│я┌п╡п╬ я┌п╣п©п╣я─я▄ я┐п╤п╣ п©п╬я┤я┌п╦ п╥п╟п╠я▀я┌п╬п╣, п╫п╬ п╡ я│п╡п╬я▒ п╡я─п╣п╪я▐, я┌. п╣. п╡ я┌п╣я┤п╣п╫п╦п╣ я┌я─я▒я┘-я┤п╣я┌я▀я─я▒я┘ п╩п╣я┌, п╠я▀п╡я┬п╣п╣ п╡п╣п╥п╢п╣я│я┐я┴п╦п╪, п╬я┌ п░п╩я▐я│п╨п╦ п╢п╬ п÷п╟я┌п╟пЁп╬п╫п╦п╦, п╬я┌ п°п╟п╫я▄я┤п╤я┐я─п╦п╦ п╢п╬ п²п╬п╡п╬п╧ п≈п╣п╩п╟п╫п╢п╦п╦, п╬я┌ п⌡п╟п©п╩п╟п╫п╢п╦п╦ п╢п╬ п°я▀я│п╟ п■п╬п╠я─п╬п╧ п²п╟п╢п╣п╤п╢я▀, я│п╩п╬п╡п╬п╪, п╡я│я▌п╢я┐, п╨я┐п╢п╟ п©я─п╬п╫п╦п╨п╟я▌я┌ я├п╡п╣я┌п╫я▀п╣ п╬я┌п╨я─я▀я┌п╨п╦, - я│я┐я┴п╣я│я┌п╡п╬, п╫п╬я│п╦п╡я┬п╣п╣ я│п╦п╪п©п╟я┌п╦я┤п╫п╬п╣ п╦п╪я▐ Cheepy.

п═п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥я▀п╡п╟я▌я┌, я┤я┌п╬ п╣пЁп╬ (п╦п╩п╦, п╡п╣я─п╫п╣п╣, п╣я▒) п©я─п╬п╦я│я┘п╬п╤п╢п╣п╫п╦п╣ я│п╡я▐п╥п╟п╫п╬ я│ п╡п╬п©я─п╬я│п╬п╪ п╬ п╡п╦п╡п╦я│п╣п╨я├п╦п╦. п╔я┐п╢п╬п╤п╫п╦п╨ п═п╬п╠п╣я─я┌ п⌠п╬я─п╫, п©я─п╬п╤п╦п╡п╟п╡я┬п╦п╧ п╡ п²я▄я▌-п≥п╬я─п╨п╣, п╬п╢п╫п╟п╤п╢я▀ п╥п╟п╡я┌я─п╟п╨п╟п╩ я│п╬ я│п╩я┐я┤п╟п╧п╫я▀п╪ п╥п╫п╟п╨п╬п╪я▀п╪ - п╪п╬п╩п╬п╢я▀п╪ я└п╦п╥п╦п╬п╩п╬пЁп╬п╪. п═п╟п╥пЁп╬п╡п╬я─ п╨п╬я│п╫я┐п╩я│я▐ п╬п©я▀я┌п╬п╡ п╫п╟п╢ п╤п╦п╡я▀п╪п╦ п╥п╡п╣я─я▄п╪п╦. п╓п╦п╥п╦п╬п╩п╬пЁ, я┤п╣п╩п╬п╡п╣п╨ п╡п©п╣я┤п╟я┌п╩п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫я▀п╧, п╣я┴я▒ п╫п╣ п©я─п╦п╡я▀п╨я┬п╦п╧ п╨ п╩п╟п╠п╬я─п╟я┌п╬я─п╫я▀п╪ п╨п╬я┬п╪п╟я─п╟п╪, п╡я▀я─п╟п╥п╦п╩ п╪я▀я│п╩я▄, я┤я┌п╬ п╫п╟я┐п╨п╟ п╫п╣ я┌п╬п╩я▄п╨п╬ п╢п╬п©я┐я│п╨п╟п╣я┌ п╦п╥п╬я┴я─п╣п╫п╫я┐я▌ п╤п╣я│я┌п╬п╨п╬я│я┌я▄ п╨ я┌п╣п╪ я│п╟п╪я▀п╪ п╤п╦п╡п╬я┌п╫я▀п╪, п╨п╬я┌п╬я─я▀п╣ п╡ п╦п╫п╬п╣ п╡я─п╣п╪я▐ п╡п╬п╥п╠я┐п╤п╢п╟я▌я┌ п╡ я┤п╣п╩п╬п╡п╣п╨п╣ я┐п╪п╦п╩п╣п╫п╦п╣ я│п╡п╬п╣п╧ п©я┐я┘п╩п╬я│я┌я▄я▌, я┌п╣п©п╩п╬я┌п╬п╧, я┐п╤п╦п╪п╨п╟п╪п╦, п╫п╬ п╣я┴я▒ п╡я┘п╬п╢п╦я┌ п╨п╟п╨ п╠я▀ п╡ п╟п╥п╟я─я┌ - я─п╟я│п©п╦п╫п╟п╣я┌ п╤п╦п╡я▄я▒п╪ п╦ п╨я─п╬п╪я│п╟п╣я┌ п╨я┐п╢п╟ п╠п╬п╩я▄я┬п╣ п╬я│п╬п╠п╣п╧, я┤п╣п╪ п╡ п╢п╣п╧я│я┌п╡п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬я│я┌п╦ п╣п╧ п╫п╣п╬п╠я┘п╬п╢п╦п╪п╬. "п≈п╫п╟п╣я┌п╣ я┤я┌п╬, - я│п╨п╟п╥п╟п╩ п╬п╫ п⌠п╬я─п╫я┐, - п╡п╬я┌ п╡я▀ я┌п╟п╨ я│п╩п╟п╡п╫п╬ я─п╦я│я┐п╣я┌п╣ п╡я│я▐п╨п╦п╣ п╥п╟п╫я▐я┌п╫я▀п╣ я┬я┌я┐я┤п╨п╦ п╢п╩я▐ п╤я┐я─п╫п╟п╩п╬п╡; п╡п╬п╥я▄п╪п╦я┌п╣-п╨п╟ п╦ п©я┐я│я┌п╦я┌п╣, я┌п╟п╨ я│п╨п╟п╥п╟я┌я▄, п╫п╟ п╡п╬п╩п╫я▀ п╪п╬п╢я▀ п╨п╟п╨п╬пЁп╬-п╫п╦п╠я┐п╢я▄ п╪п╫п╬пЁп╬я│я┌я─п╟п╢п╟п╩я▄п╫п╬пЁп╬ п╪п╟п╩п╣п╫я▄п╨п╬пЁп╬ п╥п╡п╣я─я▐, п╫п╟п©я─п╦п╪п╣я─, п╪п╬я─я│п╨я┐я▌ я│п╡п╦п╫п╨я┐. п÷я─п╦п╢я┐п╪п╟п╧я┌п╣ п╨ я█я┌п╦п╪ п╨п╟я─я┌п╦п╫п╨п╟п╪ я┬я┐я┌п╬я┤п╫я▀п╣ п╫п╟п╢п©п╦я│п╦, пЁп╢п╣ п╠я▀ я█я┌п╟п╨ п╡я│п╨п╬п╩я▄п╥я▄, п╩п╣пЁп╨п╬ я┐п©п╬п╪п╦п╫п╟п╩п╬я│я▄ п╬ я┌я─п╟пЁп╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╬п╧ я│п╡я▐п╥п╦ п╪п╣п╤п╢я┐ я│п╡п╦п╫п╨п╬п╧ п╦ п╩п╟п╠п╬я─п╟я┌п╬я─п╦п╣п╧. пёп╢п╟п╩п╬я│я▄ п╠я▀, я▐ п╢я┐п╪п╟я▌, п╫п╣ я┌п╬п╩я▄п╨п╬ я│п╬п╥п╢п╟я┌я▄ п╬я┤п╣п╫я▄ я│п╡п╬п╣п╬п╠я─п╟п╥п╫я▀п╧ п╦ п╥п╟п╠п╟п╡п╫я▀п╧ я┌п╦п©, п╫п╬ п╦ п╬п╨я─я┐п╤п╦я┌я▄ я│п╡п╦п╫п╨я┐ п╫п╣п╨п╬я┌п╬я─я▀п╪ п╬я─п╣п╬п╩п╬п╪ п╪п╬п╢п╫п╬п╧ п╩п╟я│п╨п╦, я┤я┌п╬ п╦ п╬п╠я─п╟я┌п╦п╩п╬ п╠я▀ п╬п╠я┴п╣п╣ п╡п╫п╦п╪п╟п╫п╦п╣ п╫п╟ п╫п╣я│я┤п╟я│я┌п╫я┐я▌ п╢п╬п╩я▌ я█я┌п╬п╧, п╡ я│я┐я┴п╫п╬я│я┌п╦, п╪п╦п╩п╣п╧я┬п╣п╧ я┌п╡п╟я─п╦". "п²п╣ п╥п╫п╟я▌, - п╬я┌п╡п╣я┌п╦п╩ п⌠п╬я─п╫, - п╬п╫п╦ п╪п╫п╣ п╫п╟п©п╬п╪п╦п╫п╟я▌я┌ п╨я─я▀я│. п▒п╬пЁ я│ п╫п╦п╪п╦. п÷я┐я│п╨п╟п╧ п©п╦я┴п╟я┌ п©п╬п╢ я│п╨п╟п╩я▄п©п╣п╩п╣п╪". п²п╬ п╨п╟п╨-я┌п╬ я─п╟п╥, я│п©я┐я│я┌я▐ п╪п╣я│я▐я├ п©п╬я│п╩п╣ я█я┌п╬п╧ п╠п╣я│п╣п╢я▀, п⌠п╬я─п╫ п╡ п©п╬п╦я│п╨п╟я┘ я┌п╣п╪я▀ п╢п╩я▐ я│п╣я─п╦п╦ п╨п╟я─я┌п╦п╫п╬п╨, п╨п╬я┌п╬я─я┐я▌ п©я─п╬я│п╦п╩п╬ я┐ п╫п╣пЁп╬ п╦п╥п╢п╟я┌п╣п╩я▄я│я┌п╡п╬ п╦п╩п╩я▌я│я┌я─п╦я─п╬п╡п╟п╫п╫п╬пЁп╬ п╤я┐я─п╫п╟п╩п╟, п╡я│п©п╬п╪п╫п╦п╩ я│п╬п╡п╣я┌ я┤я┐п╡я│я┌п╡п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬пЁп╬ я└п╦п╥п╦п╬п╩п╬пЁп╟ - п╦ п╡ я┌п╬я┌ п╤п╣ п╡п╣я┤п╣я─ п╩п╣пЁп╨п╬ п╦ п╠я▀я│я┌я─п╬ я─п╬п╢п╦п╩п╟я│я▄ п©п╣я─п╡п╟я▐ п╪п╬я─я│п╨п╟я▐ я│п╡п╦п╫п╨п╟ п╖п╦п©п╦. п÷я┐п╠п╩п╦п╨я┐ я│я─п╟п╥я┐ п©я─п╦п╡п╩п╣п╨п╩п╬, п╪п╟п╩п╬ я┤я┌п╬ п©я─п╦п╡п╩п╣п╨п╩п╬ - п╬я┤п╟я─п╬п╡п╟п╩п╬, я┘п╦я┌я─п╣п╫я▄п╨п╬п╣ п╡я▀я─п╟п╤п╣п╫п╦п╣ я█я┌п╦я┘ п╠п╩п╣я│я┌я▐я┴п╦я┘ п╠п╦я│п╣я─п╫я▀я┘ пЁп╩п╟п╥, п╨я─я┐пЁп╩п╬я┌п╟ я└п╬я─п╪, я┌п╬п╩я│я┌я▀п╧ п╥п╟п╢п╬п╨ п╦ пЁп╩п╟п╢п╨п╬п╣ я┌п╣п╪я▐, п╪п╟п╫п╣я─п╟ я│я┐я│п╩п╦п╨п╬п╪ я│я┌п╬я▐я┌я▄ п╫п╟ п╥п╟п╢п╫п╦я┘ п╩п╟п©п╨п╟я┘, п©я─п╣п╨я─п╟я│п╫я▀п╧ п╨я─п╟п©, я┤п╣я─п╫я▀п╧, п╨п╬я└п╣п╧п╫я▀п╧ п╦ п╥п╬п╩п╬я┌п╬п╧, п╟ пЁп╩п╟п╡п╫п╬п╣ - п╫п╣я┐п╩п╬п╡п╦п╪п╬п╣ п©я─п╣п╩п╣я│я┌п╫п╬п╣ - я│п╪п╣я┬п╫п╬п╣ п╫п╣я┤я┌п╬, я└п╟п╫я┌п╟я│я┌п╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╟я▐, п╫п╬ п╡п╣я│я▄п╪п╟ п╬п©я─п╣п╢п╣п╩п╣п╫п╫п╟я▐ п╤п╦п╥п╫п╣п╫п╫п╬я│я┌я▄, - п╦п╠п╬ п⌠п╬я─п╫я┐ п©п╬я│я┤п╟я│я┌п╩п╦п╡п╦п╩п╬я│я▄ п╫п╟п╧я┌п╦ я┌я┐ п╨п╟я─п╦п╨п╟я┌я┐я─п╫я┐я▌ п╩п╦п╫п╦я▌ п╡ п╬п╠п╩п╦п╨п╣ п╢п╟п╫п╫п╬пЁп╬ п╤п╦п╡п╬я┌п╫п╬пЁп╬, п╨п╬я┌п╬я─п╟я▐, я▐п╡п╩я▐я▐ п╦ п©п╬п╢я┤п╣я─п╨п╦п╡п╟я▐ п╡я│п╣ я│п╟п╪п╬п╣ п╥п╟п╠п╟п╡п╫п╬п╣ п╡ п╫п╣п╪, п╡п╪п╣я│я┌п╣ я│ я┌п╣п╪ п╨п╟п╨-я┌п╬ п©я─п╦п╠п╩п╦п╤п╟п╣я┌ п╣пЁп╬ п╨ п╬п╠я─п╟п╥я┐ я┤п╣п╩п╬п╡п╣я┤п╣я│п╨п╬п╪я┐. п▓п╬я┌ п╦ п╫п╟я┤п╟п╩п╬я│я▄: п╖п╦п©п╦, п╢п╣я─п╤п╟я┴п╟я▐ п╡ п╩п╟п©п╨п╟я┘ я┤п╣я─п╣п© пЁя─я▀п╥я┐п╫п╟ (я│ я█я┌п╦п╨п╣я┌п╨п╬п╧: Cavia cobaja) п╦ п╡п╬я│п╨п╩п╦я├п╟я▌я┴п╟я▐ "п▒п╣п╢п╫я▀п╧ п≥п╬я─п╦п╨!"; п╖п╦п©п╦ п╫п╟ п╩п╟п╠п╬я─п╟я┌п╬я─п╫п╬п╪ я│я┌п╬п╩п╣, п╩п╣п╤п╟я┴п╟я▐ п╠я─я▌я┬п╨п╬п╪ п╡п╡п╣я─я┘ п╦ п©я▀я┌п╟я▌я┴п╟я▐я│я▐ п╢п╣п╩п╟я┌я▄ п╪п╬п╢п╫я┐я▌ пЁп╦п╪п╫п╟я│я┌п╦п╨я┐, - п╫п╬пЁп╦ п╥п╟ пЁп╬п╩п╬п╡я┐ (п╪п╬п╤п╫п╬ я│п╣п╠п╣ п©я─п╣п╢я│я┌п╟п╡п╦я┌я▄, я│п╨п╬п╩я▄ п╪п╫п╬пЁп╬пЁп╬ п╢п╬я│я┌п╦пЁп╩п╦ п╣п╣ п╨п╬я─п╬я┌п╨п╦п╣ п╥п╟п╢п╫п╦п╣ п╩п╟п©п╨п╦); п╖п╦п©п╦ я│я┌п╬п╧п╪я▐, п╠п╣я│п©п╣я┤п╫п╬ п╬п╠я│я┌я─п╦пЁп╟я▌я┴п╟я▐ я│п╣п╠п╣ п╨п╬пЁп╬я┌п╨п╦ п©п╬п╢п╬п╥я─п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬ я┌п╬п╫п╨п╦п╪п╦ п╫п╬п╤п╫п╦я├п╟п╪п╦, - п©я─п╦я┤я▒п╪ п╡п╬п╨я─я┐пЁ п╡п╟п╩я▐я▌я┌я│я▐: п╩п╟п╫я├п╣я┌, п╡п╟я┌п╟, п╦пЁп╬п╩п╨п╦, п╨п╟п╨п╟я▐-я┌п╬ я┌п╣я│я▄п╪п╟... п·я┤п╣п╫я▄ я│п╨п╬я─п╬, п╬п╢п╫п╟п╨п╬, п╫п╟я─п╬я┤п╦я┌я▀п╣ п╬п©п╣я─п╟я├п╦п╬п╫п╫я▀п╣ п╫п╟п╪п╣п╨п╦ я│п╬п╡п╣я─я┬п╣п╫п╫п╬ п╬я┌п©п╟п╩п╦, п╦ п╖п╦п©п╦ п╫п╟я┤п╟п╩п╟ п©п╬я▐п╡п╩я▐я┌я▄я│я▐ п╡ п╢я─я┐пЁп╬п╧ п╬п╠я│я┌п╟п╫п╬п╡п╨п╣ п╦ п╡ я│п╟п╪я▀я┘ п╫п╣п╬п╤п╦п╢п╟п╫п╫я▀я┘ п©п╬п╩п╬п╤п╣п╫п╦я▐я┘ - п╬я┌п╨п╟п╩я▀п╡п╟п╩п╟ я┤п╟я─п╩я▄я│я┌п╬п╫, п╥п╟пЁп╬я─п╟п╩п╟ п╢п╬ п©п╬п╩п╫п╬пЁп╬ п╪п╣п╩п╟п╫п╦п╥п╪п╟ п╫п╟ я│п╬п╩п╫я├п╣ п╦ я┌. п╢. п⌠п╬я─п╫ п╤п╦п╡п╬ я│я┌п╟п╩ п╠п╬пЁп╟я┌п╣я┌я▄, п╥п╟я─п╟п╠п╟я┌я▀п╡п╟я▐ п╫п╟ я─п╣п©я─п╬п╢я┐п╨я├п╦я▐я┘, п╫п╟ я├п╡п╣я┌п╫я▀я┘ п╬я┌п╨я─я▀я┌п╨п╟я┘, п╫п╟ я└п╦п╩я▄п╪п╬п╡я▀я┘ я─п╦я│я┐п╫п╨п╟я┘, п╟ я┌п╟п╨п╤п╣ п╫п╟ п╦п╥п╬п╠я─п╟п╤п╣п╫п╦я▐я┘ п╖п╦п©п╦ п╡ я┌я─я▒я┘ п╦п╥п╪п╣я─п╣п╫п╦я▐я┘, п╦п╠п╬ п╫п╣п╪п╣п╢п╩п╣п╫п╫п╬ п©п╬я▐п╡п╦п╩я│я▐ я│п©я─п╬я│ п╫п╟ п©п╩я▌я┬п╣п╡я▀п╣, я┌я─я▐п©п╦я┤п╫я▀п╣, п╢п╣я─п╣п╡я▐п╫п╫я▀п╣, пЁп╩п╦п╫я▐п╫я▀п╣ п©п╬п╢п╬п╠п╦я▐ п╖п╦п©п╦. п╖п╣я─п╣п╥ пЁп╬п╢ п╡п╣я│я▄ п╪п╦я─ п╠я▀п╩ п╡ п╫п╣п╣ п╡п╩я▌п╠п╩я▒п╫. п╓п╦п╥п╦п╬п╩п╬пЁ п╫п╣ я─п╟п╥ п╡ п╬п╠я┴п╣я│я┌п╡п╣ я─п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥я▀п╡п╟п╩, я┤я┌п╬ я█я┌п╬ п╬п╫ п╢п╟п╩ п⌠п╬я─п╫я┐ п╦п╢п╣я▌ п╪п╬я─я│п╨п╬п╧ я│п╡п╦п╫п╨п╦, п╫п╬ п╣п╪я┐ п╫п╦п╨я┌п╬ п╫п╣ п╡п╣я─п╦п╩, п╦ п╬п╫ п©п╣я─п╣я│я┌п╟п╩ п╬п╠ я█я┌п╬п╪ пЁп╬п╡п╬я─п╦я┌я▄. (chapter I)

In a letter of Nov. 12, 1889, to Suvorin Chekhov calls the characters of his story Uchitel’ slovesnosti (“The Teacher of Literature,” 1894) provintsial’nye morskie svinki (the provincial guinea pigs):

п÷п╬я│я▀п╩п╟я▌ я─п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥ п╢п╩я▐ я└п╣п╩я▄п╣я┌п╬п╫п╟. п²п╣я│п╣я─я▄я▒п╥п╫я▀п╧ п©я┐я│я┌я▐я┤п╬п╨ п╦п╥ п╤п╦п╥п╫п╦ п©я─п╬п╡п╦п╫я├п╦п╟п╩я▄п╫я▀я┘ п╪п╬я─я│п╨п╦я┘ я│п╡п╦п╫п╬п╨. п÷я─п╬я│я┌п╦я┌п╣ п╪п╫п╣ п╠п╟п╩п╬п╡я│я┌п╡п╬... п°п╣п╤п╢я┐ п©я─п╬я┤п╦п╪, я│п╣п╧ я─п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥ п╦п╪п╣п╣я┌ я│п╡п╬я▌ я│п╪п╣я┬п╫я┐я▌ п╦я│я┌п╬я─п╦я▌. п╞ п╦п╪п╣п╩ п╡ п╡п╦п╢я┐ п╨п╬п╫я┤п╦я┌я▄ п╣пЁп╬ я┌п╟п╨, я┤я┌п╬п╠я▀ п╬я┌ п╪п╬п╦я┘ пЁп╣я─п╬п╣п╡ п╪п╬п╨я─п╬пЁп╬ п╪п╣я│я┌п╟ п╫п╣ п╬я│я┌п╟п╩п╬я│я▄, п╫п╬ п╫п╣п╩я▒пЁп╨п╟я▐ п╢п╣я─п╫я┐п╩п╟ п╪п╣п╫я▐ п©я─п╬я┤п╣я│я┌я▄ п╡я│п╩я┐я┘ п╫п╟я┬п╦п╪; п╡я│п╣ п╡п╥п╪п╬п╩п╦п╩п╦я│я▄: п©п╬я┴п╟п╢п╦! п©п╬я┴п╟п╢п╦! п╞ п©п╬я┴п╟п╢п╦п╩ я│п╡п╬п╦я┘ пЁп╣я─п╬п╣п╡, п╦ п©п╬я┌п╬п╪я┐ я─п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥ п╡я▀я┬п╣п╩ я┌п╟п╨ п╨п╦я│п╣п╩.

According to Chekhov, initially he had planned to tear his characters to pieces but then conceded to the plea of his family to whom he had read his story and who had asked him to have mercy on his characters. “I spared my characters and that’s why the story turned out to be so sour.”

In his review of Chekhov’s story Muzhiki (“Peasants,” 1897) N. Ladozhki (the penname of V. K. Petersen) compares the author to a vivisectionist:

п÷п╬п╡п╣я│я┌я▄ я█я┌п╟ п╡ я│п╟п╪п╬п╪ п╢п╣п╩п╣ п╪п╬п╤п╣я┌ п╠я▀я┌я▄ п©я─п╦я┤п╦я│п╩п╣п╫п╟ п╨ п╩я┐я┤я┬п╦п╪ я─п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥п╟п╪ п╫п╟я┬п╣пЁп╬ п╦п╥п╡п╣я│я┌п╫п╬пЁп╬ п╠п╣п╩п╩п╣я┌я─п╦я│я┌п╟ п©п╬ я└п╟п╠я┐п╩п╣ п╦ п╫п╣п╬п╠я▀я┤п╟п╧п╫п╬ я█п©п╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╦-я│п©п╬п╨п╬п╧п╫п╬п╧ п╪п╟п╫п╣я─п╣ п©п╦я│я▄п╪п╟. п░п╡я┌п╬я─ п╥п╢п╣я│я▄ п╨п╟п╨ п╩п╦я┤п╫п╬я│я┌я▄ п╡п©п╬п╩п╫п╣ п╦ п╡я│п╣я├п╣п╩п╬ п╬я┌я│я┐я┌я│я┌п╡я┐п╣я┌, п╦п╥п╬п╠я─п╟п╤п╟я▐ п©п╬п╩п╫п╣п╧я┬п╣п╣ я│п©п╬п╨п╬п╧я│я┌п╡п╦п╣ п╡п╦п╡п╦я│п╣п╨я┌п╬я─п╟ п╦ п╫п╣ п©п╬п╨п╟п╥я▀п╡п╟я▐ п╫п╦ п╪п╟п╩п╣п╧я┬п╣пЁп╬ п©я─п╦п╥п╫п╟п╨п╟ я│п╬я│я┌я─п╟п╢п╟п╫п╦я▐ п╦п╩п╦ п╫п╣пЁп╬п╢п╬п╡п╟п╫п╦я▐ п©п╬ п╬я┌п╫п╬я┬п╣п╫п╦я▌ п╨ я┌п╬я┤п╫п╬ п╫п╟п╠п╩я▌п╢п╟п╣п╪п╬п╪я┐ п╦п╪ я▐п╡п╩п╣п╫п╦я▌. (“The Terrible Peasants”)

According to Petersen, the author as a person is completely absent from Chekhov’s story, demonstrating the absolute composure of a vivisectionist and showing no sign of compassion or indignation in regard to the phenomenon he sees.

The name Petersen brings to mind Magda Peters, one of the three main characters in Kamera Obskura. The author of Cheepy, Robert Horn is Magda’s first (and last) lover. The name Horn and Patagonia (mentioned in the novel’s first sentence) seem to hint at Cape Horn. In his essay on Chekhov, Tvorchestvo iz nichego (“Creation from Nothing,” 1905), Lev Shestov compares the writers to the natives of Ognennaya Zemlya (Tierra del Fuego):

п▓ п╩п╦я┌п╣я─п╟я┌я┐я─п╣ я│я┐я┴п╣я│я┌п╡я┐п╣я┌ я┌п╬я┌ п╤п╣ п╬п╠я▀я┤п╟п╧, я┤я┌п╬ п╦ я┐ п╤п╦я┌п╣п╩п╣п╧ п·пЁп╫п╣п╫п╫п╬п╧ п≈п╣п╪п╩п╦: п╪п╬п╩п╬п╢я▀п╣, п©п╬п╢я─п╟я│я┌п╟я▐, я┐п╠п╦п╡п╟я▌я┌ п╦ я│я┼п╣п╢п╟я▌я┌ я│я┌п╟я─п╦п╨п╬п╡.

There is the same custom in literature as in Tierra del Fuego. The young, growing men kill and eat the old. (I)

In his essay Shestov mentions the fatal conflict between Laevski and von Koren (the two main characters in Chekhov’s story “The Duel,” 1891):

п╓п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫ п╫п╟п╥я▀п╡п╟п╣я┌ п⌡п╟п╣п╡я│п╨п╬пЁп╬ п╫п╣пЁп╬п╢я▐п╣п╪ п╦ п╪п╣я─п╥п╟п╡я├п╣п╪ п╦ я┌я─п╣п╠я┐п╣я┌ п╨ п╫п╣п╪я┐ п©я─п╦п╪п╣п╫п╣п╫п╦я▐ я│п╟п╪я▀я┘ я│я┌я─п╬пЁп╦я┘ п╨п╟я─. п÷п╬п╪п╦я─п╦я┌я▄ я└п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫п╟ я│ п⌡п╟п╣п╡я│п╨п╦п╪ п╫п╣п╡п╬п╥п╪п╬п╤п╫п╬. п╖п╣п╪ я┤п╟я┴п╣ п╦п╪ п©я─п╦я┘п╬п╢п╦я┌я│я▐ я│я┌п╟п╩п╨п╦п╡п╟я┌я▄я│я▐ п╪п╣п╤ я│п╬п╠п╬п╧, я┌п╣п╪ пЁп╩я┐п╠п╤п╣, п╫п╣я┐п╪п╬п╩п╦п╪п╣п╧ п╦ п╠п╣я│п©п╬я┴п╟п╢п╫п╣п╧ п╬п╫п╦ п╫п╣п╫п╟п╡п╦п╢я▐я┌ п╢я─я┐пЁ п╢я─я┐пЁп╟. п▓п╪п╣я│я┌п╣ п╤п╦я┌я▄ п╦п╪ п╫п╟ п╥п╣п╪п╩п╣ п╫п╣п╩я▄п╥я▐. п·п╢п╫п╬ п╦п╥ п╢п╡я┐я┘: п╩п╦п╠п╬ п╫п╬я─п╪п╟п╩я▄п╫я▀п╧ я└п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫, п╩п╦п╠п╬ п╡я▀я─п╬п╤п╢п╣п╫п╣я├ п╢п╣п╨п╟п╢п╣п╫я┌ п⌡п╟п╣п╡я│п╨п╦п╧. п÷я─п╦я┤п╣п╪ п╡я│я▐ п╡п╫п╣я┬п╫я▐я▐, п╪п╟я┌п╣я─п╦п╟п╩я▄п╫п╟я▐ я│п╦п╩п╟ п╫п╟ я│я┌п╬я─п╬п╫п╣ я└п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫п╟, п╨п╬п╫п╣я┤п╫п╬. п·п╫ п╡я│п╣пЁп╢п╟ п©я─п╟п╡, п╡я│п╣пЁп╢п╟ п©п╬п╠п╣п╤п╢п╟п╣я┌, п╡я│п╣пЁп╢п╟ я┌п╬я─п╤п╣я│я┌п╡я┐п╣я┌ п╦ п╡ п©п╬я│я┌я┐п©п╨п╟я┘ я│п╡п╬п╦я┘ п╦ п╡ я┌п╣п╬я─п╦я▐я┘. п⌡я▌п╠п╬п©я▀я┌п╫п╟я▐ п╡п╣я┴я▄: п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡ — п╫п╣п©я─п╦п╪п╦я─п╦п╪я▀п╧ п╡я─п╟пЁ п╡я│я▐п╨п╬пЁп╬ я─п╬п╢п╟ я└п╦п╩п╬я│п╬я└п╦п╦. п²п╦ п╬п╢п╫п╬ п╦п╥ п╢п╣п╧я│я┌п╡я┐я▌я┴п╦я┘ п╩п╦я├ п╡ п╣пЁп╬ п©я─п╬п╦п╥п╡п╣п╢п╣п╫п╦я▐я┘ п╫п╣ я└п╦п╩п╬я│п╬я└я│я┌п╡я┐п╣я┌, п╟ п╣я│п╩п╦ я└п╦п╩п╬я│п╬я└я│я┌п╡я┐п╣я┌, я┌п╬ п╬п╠я▀п╨п╫п╬п╡п╣п╫п╫п╬ п╫п╣я┐п╢п╟я┤п╫п╬, я│п╪п╣я┬п╫п╬, я│п╩п╟п╠п╬, п╫п╣я┐п╠п╣п╢п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬. п≤я│п╨п╩я▌я┤п╣п╫п╦п╣ п©я─п╣п╢я│я┌п╟п╡п╩я▐п╣я┌ я└п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫, я┌п╦п©п╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╦п╧ п©я─п╣п╢я│я┌п╟п╡п╦я┌п╣п╩я▄ п©п╬п╥п╦я┌п╦п╡п╫п╬-п╪п╟я┌п╣я─п╦п╟п╩п╦я│я┌п╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╬пЁп╬ п╫п╟п©я─п╟п╡п╩п╣п╫п╦я▐. п∙пЁп╬ я│п╩п╬п╡п╟ п╢я▀я┬п╟я┌ я│п╦п╩п╬п╧, я┐п╠п╣п╤п╢п╣п╫п╦п╣п╪. п▓ п╫п╦я┘ п╣я│я┌я▄ п╢п╟п╤п╣ п©п╟я└п╬я│ п╦ п╪п╟п╨я│п╦п╪я┐п╪ п╩п╬пЁп╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╬п╧ п©п╬я│п╩п╣п╢п╬п╡п╟я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬я│я┌п╦. п▓ я─п╟я│я│п╨п╟п╥п╟я┘ п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡п╟ п╪п╫п╬пЁп╬ пЁп╣я─п╬п╣п╡ п╪п╟я┌п╣я─п╦п╟п╩п╦я│я┌п╬п╡, п╫п╬ я│ п╬я┌я┌п╣п╫п╨п╬п╪ я│п╨я─я▀я┌п╬пЁп╬ п╦п╢п╣п╟п╩п╦п╥п╪п╟, п©п╬ п╡я▀я─п╟п╠п╬я┌п╟п╫п╫п╬п╪я┐ п╡ 60-я┘ пЁп╬п╢п╟я┘ я┬п╟п╠п╩п╬п╫я┐. п╒п╟п╨п╦я┘ п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡ п╢п╣я─п╤п╦я┌ п╡ я┤п╣я─п╫п╬п╪ я┌п╣п╩п╣ п╦ п╡я▀я│п╪п╣п╦п╡п╟п╣я┌. п≤п╢п╣п╟п╩п╦п╥п╪ п╡п╬ п╡я│п╣я┘ п╡п╦п╢п╟я┘, я▐п╡п╫я▀п╧ п╦ я┌п╟п╧п╫я▀п╧, п╡я▀п╥я▀п╡п╟п╩ п╡ п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡п╣ я┤я┐п╡я│я┌п╡п╬ п╫п╣п╡я▀п╫п╬я│п╦п╪п╬п╧ пЁп╬я─п╣я┤п╦. п∙п╪я┐ п╩п╣пЁя┤п╣ п╠я▀п╩п╬ п╡я▀я│п╩я┐я┬п╦п╡п╟я┌я▄ п╠п╣я│п©п╬я┴п╟п╢п╫я▀п╣ я┐пЁя─п╬п╥я▀ п©я─я▐п╪п╬п╩п╦п╫п╣п╧п╫п╬пЁп╬ п╪п╟я┌п╣я─п╦п╟п╩п╦п╥п╪п╟, я┤п╣п╪ п©я─п╦п╫п╦п╪п╟я┌я▄ я┘я┐п╢п╬я│п╬я┤п╫я▀п╣ я┐я┌п╣я┬п╣п╫п╦я▐ пЁя┐п╪п╟п╫п╦п╥п╦я─я┐я▌я┴п╣пЁп╬ п╦п╢п╣п╟п╩п╦п╥п╪п╟. п∙я│я┌я▄ п╡ п╪п╦я─п╣ п╨п╟п╨п╟я▐-я┌п╬ п╫п╣п©п╬п╠п╣п╢п╦п╪п╟я▐ я│п╦п╩п╟, п╢п╟п╡я▐я┴п╟я▐ п╦ я┐я─п╬п╢я┐я▌я┴п╟я▐ я┤п╣п╩п╬п╡п╣п╨п╟ — я█я┌п╬ я▐я│п╫п╬ п╢п╬ п╬я│я▐п╥п╟п╣п╪п╬я│я┌п╦. п°п╟п╩п╣п╧я┬п╟я▐ п╫п╣п╬я│я┌п╬я─п╬п╤п╫п╬я│я┌я▄, п╦ я│п╟п╪я▀п╧ п╡п╣п╩п╦п╨п╦п╧, п╨п╟п╨ п╦ я│п╟п╪я▀п╧ п╪п╟п╩я▀п╧, я│я┌п╟п╫п╬п╡п╦я┌я│я▐ п╣п╣ п╤п╣я─я┌п╡п╬п╧. п·п╠п╪п╟п╫я▀п╡п╟я┌я▄ я│п╣п╠я▐ п╪п╬п╤п╫п╬ я┌п╬п╩я▄п╨п╬ п╢п╬ я┌п╣я┘ п©п╬я─, п©п╬п╨п╟ п╥п╫п╟п╣я┬я▄ п╬ п╫п╣п╧ я┌п╬п╩я▄п╨п╬ п©п╬п╫п╟я│п╩я▀я┬п╨п╣. п²п╬ п╨я┌п╬ п╬п╢п╫п╟п╤п╢я▀ п©п╬п╠я▀п╡п╟п╩ п╡ п╤п╣п╩п╣п╥п╫я▀я┘ п╩п╟п©п╟я┘ п╫п╣п╬п╠я┘п╬п╢п╦п╪п╬я│я┌п╦, я┌п╬я┌ п╫п╟п╡я│п╣пЁп╢п╟ я┐я┌я─п╟я┌п╦п╩ п╡п╨я┐я│ п╨ п╦п╢п╣п╟п╩п╦я│я┌п╦я┤п╣я│п╨п╦п╪ я│п╟п╪п╬п╬п╠п╬п╩я▄я┴п╣п╫п╦я▐п╪. п·п╫ я┐п╤п╣ п╫п╣ я┐п╪п╣п╫я▄я┬п╟п╣я┌ — п╬п╫, я│п╨п╬я─п╣п╧, я│п╨п╩п╬п╫п╣п╫ п©я─п╣я┐п╡п╣п╩п╦я┤п╦п╡п╟я┌я▄ я│п╦п╩я┐ п╡я─п╟пЁп╟. п░ я┤п╦я│я┌я▀п╧, п©п╬я│п╩п╣п╢п╬п╡п╟я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫я▀п╧ п╪п╟я┌п╣я─п╦п╟п╩п╦п╥п╪, п╨п╬я┌п╬я─я▀п╧ п©я─п╬п©п╬п╡п╣п╢я┐п╣я┌ я└п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫, п╫п╟п╦п╠п╬п╩п╣п╣ п©п╬п╩п╫п╬ п╡я▀я─п╟п╤п╟п╣я┌ п╫п╟я┬я┐ п╥п╟п╡п╦я│п╦п╪п╬я│я┌я▄ п╬я┌ я│я┌п╦я┘п╦п╧п╫я▀я┘ я│п╦п╩ п©я─п╦я─п╬п╢я▀. п╓п╬п╫-п п╬я─п╣п╫ пЁп╬п╡п╬я─п╦я┌, я┌п╬я┤п╫п╬ п╪п╬п╩п╬я┌п╬п╪ п╠я▄п╣я┌, п╦ п╨п╟п╤п╢я▀п╧ п╣пЁп╬ я┐п╢п╟я─ п©п╬п©п╟п╢п╟п╣я┌ п╫п╣ п╡ п⌡п╟п╣п╡я│п╨п╬пЁп╬, п╟ п╡ п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡п╟, п╡ я│п╟п╪я▀п╣ п╠п╬п╩я▄п╫я▀п╣ п╪п╣я│я┌п╟ п╣пЁп╬. п·п╫ п╢п╟п╣я┌ п п╬я─п╣п╫я┐ п╡я│я▒ п╠п╬п╩я▄я┬п╣ п╦ п╠п╬п╩я▄я┬п╣ я│п╦п╩, п╬п╫ я│п╟п╪ п©п╬п╢я│я┌п╟п╡п╩я▐п╣я┌ я│п╣п╠я▐ п©п╬п╢ п╣пЁп╬ я┐п╢п╟я─я▀. п≈п╟я┤п╣п╪? п÷п╬я┤п╣п╪я┐? п░ п╡п╬я┌ п©п╬п╢п╦я┌п╣ п╤п╣! п°п╬п╤п╣я┌ п╠я▀я┌я▄, п╤п╦п╩п╟ п╡ п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡п╣ я┌п╟п╧п╫п╟я▐ п╫п╟п╢п╣п╤п╢п╟, я┤я┌п╬ я│п╟п╪п╬п╦я│я┌я▐п╥п╟п╫п╦п╣ п╢п╩я▐ п╫п╣пЁп╬ п╣п╢п╦п╫я│я┌п╡п╣п╫п╫я▀п╧ п©я┐я┌я▄ п╨ п╫п╬п╡п╬п╧ п╤п╦п╥п╫п╦? п·п╫ я█я┌п╬пЁп╬ п╫п╟п╪ п╫п╣ я│п╨п╟п╥п╟п╩.

Von Koren calls Layevski a scoundrel and a rogue, and demands that he should be punished with the utmost severity. To reconcile them is impossible. The more they meet, the deeper, the more merciless, the more implacable is their hatred for each other. It is impossible that they should live together on the earth. It must be one or the other; either the normal von Koren, or the degenerate decadent Layevski. Of course, all the external, material force is on Von Koren's side in the struggle. He is always in the right, always victorious, always triumphant in act no less than in theory. It is curious that Chekhov, the irreconcilable enemy of all kinds of philosophy—not one of his heroes philosophises, or if he does, his philosophising is unsuccessful, ridiculous, weak and unconvincing—makes an exception for von Koren, a typical representative of the positive, materialistic school. His words breathe vigour and conviction. They have in them even pathos and a maximum of logical sequence. There are many materialist heroes in Chekhov's stories, but in their materialism there is a tinge of veiled idealism, according to the stereotyped prescription of the 'sixties. Such heroes Chekhov ridicules and derides. Idealism of every kind, whether open or concealed, roused feelings of intolerable bitterness in Chekhov. He found it more pleasant to listen to the merciless menaces of a downright materialist than to accept the dry-as-dust consolations of humanising idealism. An invincible power is in the world, crushing and crippling man—this is clear and even palpable. The least indiscretion, and the mightiest and the most insignificant alike fall victims to it.

One can only deceive oneself about it so long as one knows of it only by hearsay. But the man who had once been in the iron claws of necessity loses for ever his taste for idealistic self-delusion. No more does he diminish the enemy's power, he will rather exaggerate it. And the pure logical materialism which Von Koren professes gives the most complete expression of our dependence upon the elemental powers of nature. Von Koren's speech has the stroke of a hammer, and each blow strikes not Layevski but Chekhov himself on his wounds. He gives more and more strength to von Koren's arm, he puts himself in the way of his blows. For what reason? Decide as you may. Perhaps Chekhov cherished a secret hope that self-inflicted torment might be the one road to a new life? He has not told us so. (VI)

The characters in Kamera obskura include von Korovin, a guest at a party given by Kretschmar whose name seems to hint at the zoologist von Koren.

In his essay Shestov calls Chekhov pevets beznadezhnsti (the poet of hopelessness):

п╖я┌п╬п╠я▀ п╡ п╢п╡я┐я┘ я│п╩п╬п╡п╟я┘ п╬п©я─п╣п╢п╣п╩п╦я┌я▄ п╣пЁп╬ я┌п╣п╫п╢п╣п╫я├п╦я▌, я▐ я│п╨п╟п╤я┐: п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡ п╠я▀п╩ п©п╣п╡я├п╬п╪ п╠п╣п╥п╫п╟п╢п╣п╤п╫п╬я│я┌п╦. пёп©п╬я─п╫п╬, я┐п╫я▀п╩п╬, п╬п╢п╫п╬п╬п╠я─п╟п╥п╫п╬ п╡ я┌п╣я┤п╣п╫п╦п╣ п╡я│п╣п╧ я│п╡п╬п╣п╧ п©п╬я┤я┌п╦ 25-п╩п╣я┌п╫п╣п╧ п╩п╦я┌п╣я─п╟я┌я┐я─п╫п╬п╧ п╢п╣я▐я┌п╣п╩я▄п╫п╬я│я┌п╦ п╖п╣я┘п╬п╡ я┌п╬п╩я▄п╨п╬ п╬п╢п╫п╬ п╦ п╢п╣п╩п╟п╩: я┌п╣п╪п╦ п╦п╩п╦ п╦п╫я▀п╪п╦ я│п©п╬я│п╬п╠п╟п╪п╦ я┐п╠п╦п╡п╟п╩ я┤п╣п╩п╬п╡п╣я┤п╣я│п╨п╦п╣ п╫п╟п╢п╣п╤п╢я▀.

To define his tendency in a word, I would say that Chekhov was the poet of hopelessness. Stubbornly, sadly, monotonously, during all the years of his literary activity, nearly a quarter of a century long, Chekhov was doing one alone: by one means or another he was killing human hopes. (I)

In the opening sentence of Kamera obskura VN mentions not only Patagonia but also Mys Dobroy Nadezhdy (the Cape of Good Hope). As pointed out by Shestov, Chekhov’s literary activity spans the period of nearly twenty-five years. Cheepy was born around 1925.

Alexey Sklyarenko