Fat and Thin
| Author | Anton Chekhov |
|---|---|
| Original title | Russian: Толстый и тонкий |
| Country | Russia |
| Language | Russian |
| Genre | Short story |
| Publisher | Oskolki |
Publication date | 1883 |
| Text | Fat and Thin at Wikisource |
Fat and Thin (Russian: Толстый и тонкий) ― is a satirical short story written by Russian writer Anton Chekhov, that was first published in 1883 in humorous magazine "Oskolki"[1].
History of creation
The plot of the short story "Thick and Thin" in its original version was based on an anecdote, and the conflict between the characters arose accidentally, due to the involuntary oversight of the "Thin".
The 1886 edition, being in general textually close to the previous edition of 1883, changed the meaning of the story. The motive of official subordination was eliminated: the "Thin" now grovels before the "Thick" without any practical need ― "over the reflex". The story also received a much greater satirical sharpness and generality[1].
Characters
Main characters:
- Misha ― the Thick
- Porphyry ― the Thin
Minor characters:
- Louise ― is the wife of Porphyry
- Nathanael ― is the son of Porphyry
Plot
At a railway station the thick Mischa accidentally meets the thin Porfiri. The thin man travels accompanied by his wife and son. The two old school friends greet each other in an exuberant and informal manner. A conversation follows, and it is about careers of both of them as fovernment officials. The thin apeears to be an office chairman with a low salary, and his wife gives music lessons.
The Thick has become a Privy Council and has a greater authority than the Thin. The Thin shrinks, and at once addresses to his school friend as "Your Excellency." The Thick rejects "this respect". The thin man continues to talk in a formal way with his old friend. The Privy Councilor is repelled by such submissiveness: he says goodbye and leaves.
In culture
- The story was made into a movie under the very same name in 1955[2].
- A monument to the characters of the story was installed in Taganrog on May 13, 2011 in front of the Museum of Chekhovs' Works (sculptor David Begalov)[3].
- A monument to the characters of the story is set in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in 2013, in the park near the Sakhalin International Theater Center.
References
- 1 2 Elena, Nedorezova. "Чехов А.П. Толстый и тонкий". hallenna.narod.ru. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
- ↑ "Толстый и тонкий (фильм, 1955) — RuData.ru". www.rudata.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-06-04.
- ↑ ↑ Сазонова Е. Так рождаются легенды // Таганрогская правда. — 2011. — 17 мая.