andrewsblogforstuff12345

 

In the short story “The Huntsman” Chekhov demonstrate the extreme verbal and physical abuse men were able to inflict on women in 19th century Russia without any repercussions or batted eyes, in order to call out the wrong doings women were subjected too. In “The Huntsman” a husband, Yegor Vlasych, and wife, Pelageya, run into each other in the woods; Chekhov uses dialog between the two characters to underline the violent transgressions women face. Pelageya states, “you swore at me, beat me and left” an as if this is just a normal part of being married she instantly follows up this statement with, “I’ve been waiting and waiting… waiting for you” (Chekhov 10). Chekhov uses of dialog clearly depicts the horrible maltreatment women were objected too and how they had become accustom to the mistreatment and atrocities men were capable of. Pelageya is conditioned to think that this type of treatment is normal and justified because of the fact that Yegor is a man. Chekov also is able to reestablish the fact that women face countless acts of oppression. When Pelageya to claim she understands what Yegor is talking; when she does this Yegor exclaims “You don’t understand, stupid… In all your days born you’ve never understood and never will understand”, “you’re a woman, you don’t understand” (Chekhov 11). Yegor just dismisses every idea or concept she claims to have or understand, whenever Pelageya tries to take part in the conversation she is immediately met with immediate backlash and criticism. Yegor also continues to personally attack her calling her a “cow girl” (Chekhov 12) and “stupid” (Chekhov 11). Pelageya never seems fazed by any of this verbal or mentions of physical abuse, the fact that all of this abuse is seen as normal just reiterates Chekhov’s purpose of exposing the vast injustices vast women faced