Name : Keysha Alya Karerina

NIM : 210302110086

MIDTERM TEST

A Happy Man
By Anton Chekov

Universal Theme
The universal theme of this passage is the fleeting nature of happiness and the search for
meaning in life. The character Ivan Alexyevitch is consumed by his temporary happiness on
his honeymoon, but there is an underlying sense that he is unsure about the direction of his
life. He seems to be searching for something more meaningful, but is unable to articulate
what it is.

Title
The story "A Happy Man" by Anton Chekhov is a short but poignant account of a man
named Ivan Alexyevitch who is newly married and completely in love with his wife. Ivan
Alexyevitch is on his honeymoon and is traveling by train when he accidentally gets
separated from his compartment. He meets an old friend, Pyotr Petrovitch, who tries to make
him feel better about his predicament.

Character:
Throughout the conversation, Ivan Alexyevitch can't stop talking about his wife and how
happy he is. He describes her in great detail, praising her beauty and her little foot, which he
says he could pick up and eat. He waggles his head and laughs with delight, reveling in the
joy of being newly married.
Despite his predicament, Ivan Alexyevitch remains in high spirits, and his enthusiasm for life
is contagious. He is completely focused on his love for his wife and the happiness he feels
being with her. In the end, Ivan Alexyevitch manages to find his compartment, where his wife
is waiting for him, and he goes to her with a big smile on his face.
The story is a beautiful reminder of the power of love to bring joy into our lives, and of the
importance of cherishing the moments we have with the people we love. Despite the
challenges that Ivan Alexyevitch faces, he remains optimistic and happy, and his love for his
wife sustains him through everything.

Plot
  The story begins with a description of a train and its passengers, who are trying to
sleep after having a meal.
 Suddenly, a tall and lanky man enters the compartment and begins to search for his
own compartment.
 One of the passengers recognizes him as Ivan Alexyevitch and invites him to sit
down.
 Ivan Alexyevitch tells the other passenger that he has lost his compartment and is on
his honeymoon.
 He is overjoyed and feels like the happiest man alive. He talks about his wife and her
small, delicate foot.
 He waggles his head and... The story ends here, leaving the reader with the
impression of Ivan's ecstatic state of mind.

Point of View

 Ivan Alexyevitch: The narrator describes Ivan as a "young man with a good-natured,
happy face" who is excited about his new life with his wife. However, the narrator
also notes that Ivan's happiness is somewhat superficial and suggests that he may
not be fully aware of his own emotions.
 Pyotr Petrovitch: Pyotr is described as an old friend of Ivan's who is "a man of the
world" and has a more cynical outlook on life. Pyotr recognizes that Ivan's happiness
is not as profound as it seems and tries to encourage him to reflect on his true
feelings.
 Ivan's wife: Although she only appears briefly in the story, Ivan's wife is described as
"a pretty young woman" who is the source of Ivan's happiness. However, the narrator
does not offer any insights into her character or feelings.

Symbols, Imagery, & Motif

 Ivan’s high spirit of his newly marriage life

 Ivan talks excitedly about his new wife and how happy he is with her
 Ivan is so overwhelmed with joy that he feels like he's turning into an idiot

Theme Statement
The short story "A Happy Man" by Anton Chekov tells the story of Ivan Alexyevitch, a man
who has just gotten married and is on his honeymoon. Ivan is incredibly happy and excited
about his new life with his wife. The universal theme of this passage is the fleeting nature of
happiness and the search for meaning in life. The character Ivan Alexyevitch is consumed
by his temporary happiness on his honeymoon, but there is an underlying sense that he is
unsure about the direction of his life.