Published: 2022-11-07

Narcissistic personality in literature (Anton Chekhov’s short story "The Wife")

Artur Sadecki Logo ORCID

Abstract

The subject of interest in this article is the problem of narcissism in literary terms. The reflection of Simon Baron-Cohen serves as the theoretical basis. In the protagonist of the short story The Wife - Pavel Andreitch Asorin - many narcissistic features can be distinguished, which translates into the world of the story, the relations between the characters (primarily the relationship with his wife, Natalya), and the narrative structure (first-person narrative). Chekhov shows the protagonist's reevaluation of values, but the changes in the perception of life only allow Asorin to withdraw into the background. The lack of empathy cannot be easily filled, which ultimately results in the lack of a full happy ending in the short story.

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Sadecki, A. (2022). Narcissistic personality in literature (Anton Chekhov’s short story "The Wife"). Przegląd Rusycystyczny [Russian Studies Review], (4), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.31261/pr.13238

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No. 4 (2022)
Published: 2022-11-07


ISSN: 0137-298X
Ikona DOI 10.31261/pr

Publisher
Polskie Towarzystwo Rusycystyczne oraz Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego

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