The Progression: An Analysis of Dr. Yefimitch in Chekov’s "Ward No. 6"

Quinn Tabler

Elizabeth Chappel

Pre-AP English 10

13 May 2013

The Progression: An Analysis of Dr. Yefimitch in Chekov’s "Ward No. 6"

As the story progresses Dr. Andrey Yefimitch begins to adopt a new personality that shows signs of spiritual, mental, and emotional changes. These changes ultimately land him his own spot in a hospiatl where he was once given the responsibility to care for it's patients. The order and time in which these events take place is debatable and can be argued due to one's perception of the text.

Dr. Yefimitch was far from what one would call an honest man. Throughout his profession, the doctor manipulated and decieved others with his doctoring. He did this to the extent of cluelessly prescribing patients with remedies and medication that even he himself knew to be pointless. I feel like because he was conscious to the foul acts taking place, that it contributed to his madness, and ultimately, his admission into the insane asylum.

In the short story, it was said that Andrey would be found lying on his couch, with his "his face to the cushion," for long durations of time. This behavior was a warning sign that something about his personality or persona was quite off. I feel like this behavior can be contributed to his finnancial issueshe was facing at the time. "He was mortified that after more than twenty years of service he had been neither given a pension nor assistance." Dr. Yefimitch was in debt , having spent the last of his roubles on alcohol which also didn't contribute to his sanity. This lack of money angered the doctor and was an immensly key part of his outbreaks and posistion in the hospital.

It was said throughout the story that Dr. Andrey didn't "understand suffereing" because of his isolation from it and his keen ability to look past it. Guilt is a strong emotion and just happens to be part of what got the best of the doctor. The doctor's guilt for his past ignorance when over-looking others suffereing tore him to pieces as he finally snapped out of his dillusional state of mind toward the end of the book. Once he has finally had enough of it and ends up in the ward, he gets the opportunity to experience it first hand. This only adds to the suffering that this sad, washed up doctor had to live with for the rest of his life.

Dr. Andrey Yefimitch's fate was a direct result of his past actions. He was a dishonest, unhelpful man that ended up in a place he deserved to be. These changes in the doctor were to be seen from the beginning to the end of the story, although the clarity of their effect on the doctor is made more aparent further toward the end. Andrey changed in a way that caused him actual mental illness, and that devoured him emotionally.

　

The Bolshevik Revolution

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Most Prominent Theme of "Cry the Beloved Country."

       Paton's "Cry, The beloved Country" is an eventful novel filled with twists and turns. The book contains so many more things than most novels. But the thing that is most unique about this story is the number of themes to which is contains. These wide array of themes are really what sets this book apart.

        One of the first themes I would like to dicuss would be inequality. As Kumalo searches for his long lost son, Absalom, social inequalities take place all around him. During this time period that this book depicts, segregation against black South Africans is in it's prime. These people are facing racism at it's source and this inner twines with Kumalo's search for his son. Absalom finds himself caught up in this storm of inequalities as a black South African himself, and as a result, turns to crime when jobs become scarce. A lot of the negative aspects of this story can be traced back to inequalities.

        In this novel, church, christianity, and injustice are all discussed or expressed quite often. Kumalo faces so many hardships throughout this time period, and church always seems to be his fallback or what he looks for to find solitude. In a specific instance in the book, Kumalo's faith is almost broken when he finds out that his son is responsible for the murder of an innocent man. His fellow Priests are there for him and remind him that prayer can go a long way. Kumalo takes there advice and almost comes to terms with his life and recent events that would tear the normal mn down.

        Christianity and injustice have a direct relationship. John Kumalo makes a comment that black priests are paid less than white ones. Arthur Jarvis agrees with him and talks about more injustice incolving blacks, whites, and christianity. I feel like these are among the most prominent themes in the novel and are very worthy of such discussion.

        Cry, the Beloved Country is a social protest against the structures of the society that would later give rise to apartheid. Paton depicts the Whites as affected by "native crime", while the Blacks suffer from social ineqaulity and moral issues due to the breakdown of the tribal system. It shows many of the problems with South Africa such as the degrading of the land reserved for the natives, which is sometimes considered to be the main theme, the movement away from the tribal community, native crime, and the flight to the urban areas. I feel like fear affects the characters and society of South Africa the most.

         As I explained in the beginning, this book can be connected to many different themes. That is what makes it so unique and sets it apart. Christianity, church, racism, all around injustice, and fear can all be easily found and used to label this novel.  I feel like these are among the most prominent themes in the novel and that is the exact reason I decided to discuss them.