THE LOTTERY TICKET

by Anton Checkov

Introduction to the author:

 Anton Checkov was born in 29th January, 1860.

 He was a Russian playwright and master of the modern short story.
 Briefly attending a local school for Greek boys, Checkov entered the town
Gimnaziya (High School), where he reamiend for 10 years.
 During his last three years at school Chekhov lived alone and supported himself
by coaching younger boys; his father, having gone bankrupt, had moved with
the rest of his family to Moscow to make a fresh start.
 In the autumn of 1879, Chekhov joined his family in Moscow.
 He at once enrolled in the university’s medical faculty, graduating in 1884 as a
doctor.

SUMMARY OF THE STORY:

The story is about a man named Ivan Dmitritch. He and his family were living
a middle-class life and they were well satisfied with their life until one day his wife
asked him to check the list of lottery drawings in the newspaper. They consider what
could be, if they win lottery ticket which is bought by his wife Masha.This short story
examines how Ivan and his wife's reaction to the possibility of wealth is joyful. But,
after they share their dreams, it looks how Ivan and his wife drive back their own
worlds. General effect of this story is how money definitely does not buy love but it
has the potential to destroy it. The presentation of the theme in the ''Lottery Ticket''
by Anton Checkov is based on three dramatic elements:
 Plot
 Charaterisation and
 Settings.
When it is thought logically, it is clear for readers to realize that plot in the ''Lottery
Ticket'' is very well organized. In the rising action, Ivan Dmitritch and his
wife dream perfect life.They desire of living a luxury life and all their thoughts are
driven towards dreaming. Ivan says, ''We spend twenty-five thousand on real
property in the form of an estate; ten thousand on immediate expenses, new
furnishing . . . travelling . . . paying debts, and so on. . .''.
After these loud out dreams, Masha supports him saying ''Yes, an estate, that
would be nice".
As it is seen, before Ivan checks the numbers, they have already
started dreaming wealthy life as if they have correct ticket number. In falling action
part, mood changing and awareness of characters show themselves. The husband
and wife's conversation goes from joyful to serious when they consider details. To
illustrate, at first, Ivan and his wife smile at each other but after short while they
become jealous and hate each other because of differences in their dreams.
Morever, Ivan thinks that the ticket is hers and she has many relatives. They will
come home begging money from and she will give them and his dreams of living a
luxury life will shattered. Then Ivan starts hating his wife Masha.
Characterization in the ''Lottery Ticket'' seems ideal in terms of many proporti
es such as how Ivan Dmitritch appears to feel about what is happening to him in the
story.
Stereotype is a type of flat character that is commonly found in fiction. In the
'' Lottery Ticket'', Ivan is stereotyped character. In the story, from the beginning to
end, Anton Chekhlov tries to improve Ivan's characters so that readers are convinced
and feel Ivan’s emotions and thoughts. Furthermore, Anton Chekhlov applied stream
of consciousness technique in this story. Ivan's head is always confused during
dreaming new life and his wife. While he is thinking about new life, suddenly bad
things come to his mind and he considers negatively such as when Ivan shares his
travelling idea happily, then his wife also wants to goabroad. At this point, Ivan
becomes anxious about his wife. Because it wouldn’t be good; if Masha goes abroad
alone. Ivan thinks the position of his society. So he doesn’t like this idea of
her. In this fiction, setting is well structured and Anton Checklov is trying to impress
audiences through his amazing and rich vision world. Although story takes place at
Ivan's home, Ivan can be seen at differnt places at the same time. In real, Ivan is at
home and talks with his wife and walks around the corners of the room. But, when
Ivan fantasies, sometimes children are playing near him.

In conclusion, plot, characterisation and setting are dramatic elements of the

“Lottery Ticket”. I found this story agreeable in terms of its hidden meaning; but, it
could be fine if there were more details and characters.