Project Blog #14 -Anton Chekov – “The Darling”

In the story "The Darling", I was able to see an example through literature that does not support the ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson highly valued individualism. This meant that a person should never underestimate themselves and value their own opinion (Wayne). Emerson definitely portrays individualism through his essay "Self-Reliance". In this essay, Emerson says that an individual should "declare his or her independence from society" because it would ultimately make for a better environment (Wayne). I think that the main character in 'The Darling" lives a completely different life style than that of the envisioned one by Emerson.

The main character, Olga, constantly attaches herself to different men throughout her life. The story says that her first "love" was her father (Chekov). From that point in her life, she finds other men that she says she immediately falls in love with. Her first lover is Mr. Kukin, a theatre owner whom she portrays affection for after the death of her father. She marries him, then after he ends up dying, she goes and finds another man. The next man she falls in love with is Smirnin. She ends up taking his ideas from him regarding animal treatment (Chekov). It is clear she loses all sense of being an individual through these constant marriages. I believe Olga feels as if she has to have a man at her side in order to feel complete. It is completely the opposite of Emerson's "Self Reliance" because the reader can tell that marriage after marriage molds Olga into a different person with different ideas and opinions.

"She got thinner and plainer, and when people met her in the street they did not look at her as they used to, and did not smile to her; evidently her best years were over and left behind, and now a new sort of life had begun for her, which did not bear thinking about," (Chevok)

In the latter quote, the reader can see how lost the main character's life has become after her search for husbands, lovers, and companions. She loses all sense of individualism and her physical features, as well as mental attitude and emotions, were all effected by this choice of lifestyle.

I think that this opposing viewpoint on individualism, compared to that of Emerson, helps the reader grasp just how big (and important) of a concept Emerson gave society. It was important back then, and even now, to be yourself. by underestimating oneself, it is harder to accomplish the goals and ambitions you have. Confidence is key every time.

Wayne, Tiffany K. "'Self-Reliance'." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Chekhov, Anton. "The Darling." Enotes.com. Enotes.com. Web. 06 Mar. 2012