"The Lady with the Dog" by Anton Chekhov - Summary

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The story takes place in Yalta, a vacation spot. It is told in the third person. Dmitri notices a young lady with a dog on the sea front. He wants to meet her. Dmitri is unhappy in his marriage, is unfaithful to his wife. Even though he thinks women are inferior he admits to needing them. He is jaded by his vast experience with women.

Dmitri engages the women after showing affection to her dog. They have a good conversation. He learns that her name is Anna and that she too is married. Even though he clearly desires and admires her he finds her pathetic. The two begin spending a lot of time together. A week after they meet, Dmitri kisses Anna. She takes him back to her hotel room, where she feels bad for what took place. She expresses regret at her hasty marriage. He is bored with her conscientiousness but comforts her. He continuously feels conflictingly about her.

Anna and Dmitri keep meeting every day. She expresses her fear that he doesn't respect her as well as being affected very strongly by him. One day her husband calls for her and she leaves, her parting colored by both affection and remorse. Dmitri returns home to Moscow.

At home, Dmitri is surprised that he thinks of Anna so frequently. He suspects that he was in love. At home the climate is unloving, and in the winter he goes to Anna's town to seek her. He finds her house, but doesn't know how to go about approaching it. He goes to the town theater in hopes of running into her. She is there and her presence excites him. He approaches her and she is frightened and confused at the sight of him. They exit the theater, Anna leaving her husband there. Dmitri suddenly knows that it is not the end for the couple. Anna confesses that she too has not stopped thinking about him. He kisses her but she makes him stop and promises to visit Dmitri in Moscow.

Anna begins coming to Moscow to see Dmitri. They begin an affair which they hide from their spouses and the world. Dmitri begins to feel he has two lives, one open and one secret, and that everything he truly valued was contained in the secret life. One day Anna breaks down as soon as she sees Dmitri. She is overwhelmed by their secret life and is truly passionate about him, and Dmitri realizes that for the first time in his life he is truly in love. The two begin to plan their future together, trying to eliminate from it secrecy and deceit, and realize that it is a difficult road that lies ahead.

Anton Chekhov

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