Gooseberries

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1898

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Character Analysis

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Character Analysis

Ivan Ivanich

Ivan Ivanich is both a character in the framing story and the narrator of the story within the story. As a character, he represents a modern Russian man who rejects the conventional, rigid social structure. His training and practice as a veterinary surgeon hint at the Enlightenment ideas on reason, empiricism, and science. In the beginning of the story, on his way to take shelter in Aliokhin’s cottage, Ivan plunges into the pool and speaks with peasants. His behavior highlights his disregard for social norms and his respect for all members of society regardless of their sociopolitical status. In the same vein, he perceives countryside as the idyllic, and unspoiled world that all members of Russian society can share and enjoy. While swimming in the pool, he exclaims that the water is “delicious,” (Paragraph 19), a commentary more on the symbolic meaning of nature and countryside than on the taste of the water.

Notedly, his values and morality impact his recounting of the story of his younger brother, Nicholai. From Ivan’s point of view, Nicholai’s definition of happiness is distorted because he perceives countryside as a place where he can enjoy the traditional privilege as a “noble” man. On one hand, Nicholai’s pursuit of personal desires at the expense of others reminds Ivan that the meaning of individual life lies in contributing to the welfare of society as a whole. On the other hand, Ivan’s narrative can also be questioned because unlike him, Nicholai lacks the education and respected profession to pursue lofty ideas. Ivan may have ignored the fact that most Russians are still struggling with disappointments and despair, which in turn encourage them to seek prerogative as shelter.

Nicholai Ivanich

Although only two years younger than Ivan Ivanich, Nicholai Ivanich contrasts with Ivan in every possible respect. He perceives nature and the countryside as his possessions. For decades, he tried to fulfill his dream of owning land, and he’s deeply self-centered. For example, he marries a woman not for love, but for her money. His ideas align with the conventional social structure in Russia: He, as an aspiring nobleman, is and should be “superior” to peasants, who belong to him.

As the story progresses, Nicholai materializes his dream and lives happily on his farm. His “happy ending” embodies irony because his happiness is nothing but an illusion. In a scene toward the end of Nicholai’s story, Ivan visits him and they share gooseberries. For Nicholai, the gooseberries are good because he owns and cultivates them; but in reality, as Ivan notes, the berries are “hard and sour” (Paragraph 41). Nicholai is offended by peasants who don’t address him as “Your Lordship” (Paragraph 41). However, although the peasants may feel pressured to call him by his title, the endearment doesn’t necessarily signify sincere respect. Nicholai’s yearning for respect is lost in his contentment with living a life of privilege.

Bourkin

“Gooseberries” represents Bourkin only as Ivan’s friend and audience to his narrative about Nicholai. However, Bourkin’s character is closely examined in “The Man in the Case,” the first part of Chekhov’s The Little Trilogy series. In that story, Bourkin is a gymnasium teacher and tells a story about his traditionally minded coworker, Belikov, whose love for a cheerful, Aphrodite-like woman named Varinka isn’t reciprocated. The story only hints at Bourkin’s personality and political views. He seems compassionate toward both Belikov and Varinka, which implies that he might also struggle in between Russia’s conventional emphasis on social class and gender roles and the more Westernized ideas on social equality, individual freedom, and human rights.

As “Gooseberries” closes, Bourkin is the only character who is unable to sleep after hearing Nicholai’s story. The ambiguous ending may suggest that the story affected Bourkin but that he has trouble deciding which direction he wants to take.

Aliokhin

“Gooseberries” represents Aliokhin only as Ivan’s friend and listener to his story about his brother. However, Aliokhin’s character is developed more fully in “About Love,” the third part of The Little Trilogy. In “About Love,” Aliokhin shares his own love story with Anna Alekseyevna, a married woman. Despite their mutual attraction, which lasts for years, their love story ends up in separation. While Aliokhin worries he can’t provide financially for Anna and her two young children, Anna reasons that Aliokhin might fall in love with someone else because she’s not young and has two children. In the simplest terms, the cause of their relationship’s sad ending is that the social norms of late 19th-century Russia emphasized a rigorous social class and traditional gender roles. Although the story doesn’t contain Aliokhin’s explicit reflections on his unhappy love, it implies that he lacks the courage to break the social expectations and pursue individual freedom.

In “Gooseberries,” Aliokhin goes to bed straight after hearing Ivan’s story about Nicholai, which implies his lack of struggle. Unlike Ivan, who sides with modern, Westernized ideas on social equality and individual freedom, Aliokhin may have subconsciously chosen the opposite.