Druid

The Lottery Ticket

-Anton Checkhov

Introduction

Anton Checkhov’s Short Story “The Lottery Ticket” points out how money spoils
human relationship. A couple wishes to win a lottery price. The incident makes hatred
among them. This story is a satirical comment on Selfish human thoughts and aspirations.

The Couples Dream

Ivan Dimitrich and Masha was a happy couple. They belonged to a middle class
family. Ivan had no trust in lottery luck. Masha has deep belief on winning a lottery ticket.
One day, Ivan was looking casually at the lottery pricelist in the newspaper. His wife’s
lottery ticket number was 9499 but before getting the result, they plunged into their dreams.

That Price Money was 75,000 rubles. The couples wanted to buy an estate for 25,000
rubles, 10,000 for expenses and 40,000 in the bank to get interest. Masha accepted the plan
for the future income from the estate. Ivan wanted to enjoy after his retirement in the estate.

In foot habits and daily life, they wanted to be rich. He wanted to take long walk at
the autumn season in his garden. He wished to drink vodka and to eat mushroom or
cucumber. Then, he liked to lie on the Sofa to take rest or entertainment. He also decided to
go to South France, Italy or India. Ivan disliked traveling with his wife because she would
be make him to take care on children and would surely make him work for them.

Ivan felt him young and healthy and considered his wife old and unattractive. He did
not want to depend on her if she won the lottery because she would hide money from him.
She only would take care on her relatives, so he developed hatred on her. She in turn feared
on her husband because he would take all of her money. Thus, their dreams turned their
love into hatred. Finally, he checked the result. It is No.46 was the lucky ticket but his wife’s
ticket was 26.He sadistically said to his wife that she did not win the ticket.

Conclusion

The lottery incident was a sad one in the life of the couple. It spoiled the happy
married life of them. The story points out that money breaks happy family relationships.

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