Have you ever had something of yours published in the newspaper? If yes, you probably remember how exciting it felt to see your name somewhere where everyone would read it. That feeling is exactly what made the main character of this story feel very joyful. I hope you like “Joy” and the history behind the author.

Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on January 29th 1860 in Taganrog in the, at that time, Russian Empire. Chekhov attended the Greek school in Tangarog and later the now-called Chekhov Gymnasium. In 1879 he then attended medical school and graduated as a physician in 1884. During his years of study, to support his family and pay his fees, he wrote sketches and sold them to newspapers for little money. Chekhov became one of the greatest writers of all time and had an important career as a playwright. In May 1904 his tuberculosis became so bad that it was sure that he would die from it. Two months later, on July 15th 1904, Anton Chekhov passed away at the age of 44.

Summary
The story is about a boy named Mitya Kuldarov. After midnight one day, he excitedly ran into his parent’s apartment. They already went to sleep and his sister and brothers were in their rooms. Mitya was so happy he could barely explain what happened, to the confusion of his parents. Running around the house he got his sister’s attention and woke up his young brothers. Proudly, he presented that all of Russia knows his name now and that he must be famous since his name is in the newspaper. Slowly, the father started to read what had Mitya so excited. The article read that a boy named Dmitry Kuldarov walked around the city intoxicated as he fell underneath a horse carriage. The boy was dragged across the street by the horse, while there was a merchant sitting in the carriage. He fell unconscious and was taken to the police station for a health check by the doctor. Even when Mitya’s father read that he suffered a bad hit on the head, he announced loudly that it was from the shaft of the carriage. After he was finished reading, Mitya didn’t give his family time to react and instead left the house and said that he has to show it to everyone else he knows.

For the original story, click here! https://www.online-literature.com/anton_chekhov/1103/

At first, the reader gets introduced to Mitya’s excitement about being published in the newspaper. For whatever reason, I think everyone would agree that that is exciting. Once it gets revealed that he did not do anything heroic to be mentioned, but instead had a rather embarrassing and painful encounter with a carriage, the story has its funny turn. The story doesn’t get to the point where we would find out what his parents or siblings, whom he had just woken up, might have to say to this. Mitya is so filled with Joy, that nothing else, not even the wound on his head, seems important.