Introduction
"The Suitor and
Papa" is a humorous short story written by the famous Russian writer Anton
Chekhov (An-ton Che-khov). The story explores the lengths to which a young
man will go to avoid the responsibility of marriage and the desperation of a
father trying to marry off one of his seven daughters.
Detailed Summary
The story begins with Pyotr
Petrovich Milkin (Pyoh-tr Pe-tro-vich Mil-kin) at a summer ball, where a
friend teases him about his upcoming marriage to Nastya (Nas-tya).
Milkin has been spending a lot of time with the Kondrashkin
(Kon-drash-kin) family—dining there, singing ballads, and walking with
Nastya—which has led everyone to believe he will marry her.
Worried by these rumours,
Milkin decides to visit the father, Kondrashkin, to say goodbye and end
the relationship before things get serious. However, Kondrashkin is eager for
the marriage because he has seven daughters to marry off. He ignores
Milkin’s attempts to say goodbye and instead pressures him to propose.
To escape, Milkin starts
making up several excuses, but Kondrashkin counters every one of them:
- Different Views:
Milkin says they don't share the same convictions. Kondrashkin replies
that people change and "rough edges" are rubbed off over time.
- Being Poor:
Milkin says he is unworthy and poor. Kondrashkin points out that Milkin
earns a salary.
- Being a Drunkard:
Milkin claims he is a drunkard with a "hereditary vice."
Kondrashkin says he has never seen Milkin drunk and doesn't believe it.
- Taking Bribes: Milkin claims he takes bribes. Kondrashkin laughs it off, saying, "Who doesn't?"
- Embezzlement and Forgery:
Milkin says he is on trial for stealing a large sum of money and for
forgery. Kondrashkin says if Nastya loves him, she will follow him even to
Siberia (prison).
- Runaway Convict: In
desperation, Milkin says he is a runaway convict living under an alias. At
first, Kondrashkin is shocked, but then he tells Milkin to marry anyway
since no one will ever find out.
- Insanity:
Finally, Milkin claims he is "mad" (insane).
Milkin rushes to his friend Dr.
Fituyev (Fi-too-yev) to get a medical certificate proving he is insane so
he cannot marry. However, the doctor refuses, stating that a man who does not
want to get married is actually very wise and sane. The story ends with
Milkin’s plan failing because his very desire to avoid marriage proves he is of
sound mind.
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Theme
- Social Pressure and Marriage: The
story highlights the 19th-century social pressure to get married. For
Kondrashkin, marriage is a way to get rid of the "burden" of his
seven daughters.
- Self-Centredness and Hypocrisy: Both
characters are selfish. Milkin is willing to claim he is a criminal just
to avoid responsibility, while Kondrashkin is willing to marry his
daughter to a "criminal" just to get her off his hands.
- Appearance vs. Reality: On
the surface, the families seem hospitable and "cordial," but
underneath, there is a desperate struggle of interests.
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Setting
The story is set in 19th-century
Russia. The scenes take place during a summer ball and later in Kondrashkin’s
study. This setting reflects the social customs of the Russian middle class
of that era, where formal courtship and parental approval were essential.
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Literary Devices
- Irony: The
greatest irony is at the end. Milkin tries to prove he is
"crazy" to avoid marriage, but the doctor says that avoiding
marriage is the most "sane" thing a man can do.
- Humour and Satire:
Chekhov uses humour to mock the desperation of parents and the cowardice of
young suitors.
- Hyperbole (Exaggeration):
Milkin’s excuses become increasingly exaggerated and ridiculous—from being
a drunkard to a runaway convict—showing his extreme desperation.
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Character Analysis
Pyotr Petrovich Milkin (Pyoh-tr Pe-tro-vich Mil-kin)
Milkin is the
"suitor" who is actually terrified of commitment. He is dishonest
and cowardly, as he prefers to lie about being a criminal rather than
simply telling the truth about his feelings. He is self-centred because
he only cares about his own freedom and does not consider how his actions or
lies might hurt Nastya or her family.
Kondrashkin (Kon-drash-kin)
Kondrashkin is the
"Papa" who is desperate and manipulative. He is burdened by
the responsibility of having seven daughters and is willing to overlook any
flaw—even crime or madness—just to secure a husband for Nastya. His
"cordial hospitality" is actually a mask for his own agenda.
Dr. Fituyev (Fi-too-yev)
The doctor appears briefly at
the end to provide the final comic twist. His refusal to help Milkin
serves as a satirical commentary on marriage, suggesting that only a
"madman" would actually want to get married
This
study guide provides a comprehensive review of Anton Chekhov’s short story
"The Suitor and Papa". It includes a short-answer quiz, an answer
key, essay prompts for deeper analysis, and an extensive glossary of terms
found in the text.
Comprehension
Quiz
Instructions: Answer
the following questions in 2–3 sentences.
1. Who is Pyotr Petrovich Milkin, and what
motivates his visit to Court Councillor Kondrashkin?
Answer: Pyotr Petrovich Milkin is a young man who
has spent the summer dining and walking with Nastya Kondrashkin. He visits her
father to "sort it out" and put an end to rumours of an impending
marriage by making excuses to leave.
2. What social pressure is Milkin facing from his
friends at the start of the story?
Answer: Milkin’s friends are teasing him about his
upcoming "stag party" because they have observed him spending all his
time with the Kondrashkin family. They believe a wedding is inevitable as soon
as he returns to town from the country.
3. How many daughters does Kondrashkin have, and
how does this circumstance affect his reception of Milkin?
Answer: Kondrashkin has seven daughters to get
married off. Because of this heavy responsibility, he is desperate to
"trap" any eligible bachelor like Milkin and refuses to let him go
easily, despite Milkin's various confessions.
4. When Milkin claims he and Nastya do not share
the same "convictions and views," how does Kondrashkin counter this
argument?
Answer: Kondrashkin dismisses this by saying that
no one finds a wife with identical views and that youth is full of theories. He
argues that "rough edges" are rubbed off over time as a couple lives
together, much like a road becomes smoother with use.
5. Describe the "hereditary vice" Milkin
claims to possess to avoid marriage.
Answer: Milkin claims to be a drunkard who goes on
"drinking bouts," suggesting it is a vice inherited from his parents.
Kondrashkin refuses to believe him, noting that he has never actually seen
Milkin drunk.
6. How does Kondrashkin respond to Milkin’s
confession that he is on trial for embezzlement and forgery?
Answer: Kondrashkin is initially dumbfounded by the
sum of 144,000, but eventually suggests that if Nastya loves Milkin, she can simply
follow him to Siberia. He argues that love should not fear sacrifice and that
the penalty for forgery is the same anyway.
7. What is the "horrible secret" Milkin
eventually discloses, and why does he think it will end the marriage pursuit?
Answer: Milkin claims to be a "runaway
convict" living under an alias. He believes this shock will make
Kondrashkin banish him, but the father eventually decides that since Milkin has
"repented" and is now an honest man, the marriage should still
proceed.
8. Why does Milkin seek out his friend, Dr.
Fituyev?
Answer: Milkin visits Dr. Fituyev to obtain a
medical certificate of insanity, referred to as "Hamlet’s device." He
hopes that by being legally declared mad, he will be barred from the contract
of marriage.
9. Explain the reasoning Dr. Fituyev gives for
refusing to certify Milkin as insane.
Answer: Dr. Fituyev argues that anyone who does not
want to get married is wise and of sound mind. He jokingly tells Milkin to come
back when he actually wants to get married, as that would be proof of going
"stark, staring mad."
10. What does the story suggest about Kondrashkin’s
"cordial hospitality" through the summary provided?
Answer: The summary suggests a "bitter
irony" where the father’s warm hospitality is actually a mask for
self-centredness. He is so focused on his own burden of having seven daughters
that he ignores Milkin’s potential criminal past and character flaws just to
secure a son-in-law.
Essay Questions
Instructions: Select one of the following prompts and write a detailed response
exploring the themes and characters of the text.
1. The Architecture of Deception:
Analyse the escalating nature of Milkin's lies. How
does each lie reflect his desperation, and what does Kondrashkin’s dismissal of
these lies reveal about the father’s own character?
Answer: Milkin’s lies escalate
from minor social differences to self-incrimination for embezzlement,
forgery, and being a runaway convict, and finally feigning insanity.
This desperate progression shows he prefers social ruin and even Siberia over
the "calamity" of marriage.
Kondrashkin’s dismissals, even
accepting a "runaway convict" by telling Milkin that "no one
will ever know", reveal his own profound desperation to marry off seven
daughters. He is a "stubborn brute" whose "cordial
hospitality" masks a cynical self-interest. He views his daughters as
"menaces" to be "fixed up", appearing willing to sacrifice
his daughters’ security just to shed his parental burden.
The interaction highlights a bitter irony: Milkin is willing to destroy his reputation to remain single, while Kondrashkin is willing to ignore a suitor's "horrible secrets" to secure a wedding
2. Social Satire in Chekhov’s Work:
Discuss how "The Suitor and Papa"
satirises the social expectations surrounding marriage and the "eligible
bachelor" in 19th-century Russia.
Answer: Chekhov satirizes 19th
century Russian marriage as a transactional social trap rather than a romantic
union. He mocks how casual interactions, such as dining or singing ballads, are
viewed by society as a binding commitment to wed. The story exposes the
desperation of parents who view their seven daughters as "menaces" to
be "fixed up" regardless of a suitor's character.
Kondrashkin’s willingness to accept an embezzler or a runaway convict as a son-in-law highlights the hypocrisy of social standards. Furthermore, the satire targets the "eligible bachelor" through Milkin, who finds marriage so "calamitous" that he prefers feigning insanity to escape it. Ultimately, the doctor’s refusal to certify Milkin’s madness because he avoids marriage suggests that the societal obsession with weddings is the real insanity
3. The Irony of the Ending:
Examine the encounter between Milkin and Dr.
Fituyev. How does the doctor's definition of "sanity" and
"madness" provide a comedic yet biting commentary on the institution
of marriage?
Answer: In the climax, Dr.
Fituyev refuses to certify Milkin as insane because he considers the desire to
avoid marriage the ultimate sign of wisdom. The doctor’s definition of sanity
subverts social norms: avoiding the "calamity" of marriage is
rational, while wanting to wed is proof of being "stark, staring
mad".
This provides a biting commentary by framing marriage as a state so disastrous that no sane person would choose it. Chekhov uses this comedic reversal to satirise a society that views marriage as a mandatory social goal. Ultimately, Milkin's rational fear of marriage becomes his downfall; his sound mind prevents him from obtaining the medical certificate he needs to escape the wedding. His very sanity ensures his entrapment.
4. Character Study of Kondrashkin:
Is Kondrashkin a sympathetic character burdened by
the responsibility of seven daughters, or is he a "stubborn brute"
who is willing to sacrifice his daughters' safety for social relief? Use
evidence from his reactions to Milkin's "confessions" to support your
argument.
Answer: Kondrashkin is a "stubborn brute" rather than a sympathetic father. Burdened by seven daughters, his reactions to Milkin's confessions prove he prioritises social relief over his daughter's safety. When Milkin admits to embezzlement and forgery, Kondrashkin dismissively suggests Nastya should follow him to Siberia. Even more shocking is his response to Milkin being a "runaway convict"; he tells him to marry anyway because "no one will ever know". Milkin observes that Kondrashkin is willing to marry his daughter to the "devil himself" just to be rid of her. His "cordial hospitality" is a mask for self-centredness, as he views his daughters as "menaces" to be disposed of at any cost. His willingness to ignore serious criminality reveals a cynical disregard for his daughter's well-being.
5. The Role of Irony:
Explore the use of irony throughout the story,
specifically focusing on the gap between Milkin’s intentions and the actual
outcomes of his conversations with both Kondrashkin and the doctor.
Answer: Irony permeates the
story, as Milkin’s efforts to avoid marriage only tighten the trap. He meets
Kondrashkin to say goodbye, but his escalating confessions of being a drunkard,
embezzler, and fugitive are met with bizarre acceptance. Instead of repelling
the father, Milkin finds that Kondrashkin is willing to overlook even a
horrible secret to marry off one of his seven daughters.
The irony peaks with Dr.
Fituyev. Milkin intends to feign madness to gain a medical excuse, but the
doctor refuses the certificate. Fituyev argues that anyone avoiding the
calamity of marriage is actually very wise and of sound mind. Consequently, the
more Milkin tries to prove he is insane, the more he proves his sanity to the
doctor. His rational desire for freedom becomes the very reason he cannot
escape his social obligations.
Glossary
of Key Terms
- Alias: A
false or assumed name/identity.
- Appalled:
Shocked, horrified.
- Ballads:
Folk compositions in short stanzas adapted for singing; in this story, it
refers to romantic songs.
- Blockhead: A
stupid fellow.
- Calamity:
Disaster.
- Convictions and views: Opinions and ideas.
- Cordial hospitality: Warm, generous reception.
- Crazy for certain spells: Mentally unsound for a certain period of time.
- Drinking bouts: Periods of intensive drinking.
- Dumbfounded:
Extremely surprised, astonished.
- Embezzlement: Theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one’s
care; fraudulent practices.
- Evading:
Avoiding or escaping from something.
- Feign insanity: Pretend to be mad.
- Flustered:
Confused, agitated, disturbed.
- Forgery:
Making fake or counterfeit documents to cheat people.
- Get hitched: To
get married.
- Going purple in the face: Getting very angry.
- Green and salad days: Youthful days of inexperience and idealism.
- Gusevs: A
locality in Russia; also a Russian surname.
- Hamlet’s device: Pretending to be mad to escape an undesired
situation (referencing Shakespeare’s Hamlet).
- Hereditary vice: Badness or wrong qualities passed on from parents
to children.
- Ignominiously: Shamefully, disgracefully.
- Jiffy: A
very short time; in a second.
- Menaces:
Troublemakers; nuisances.
- Not for all the tea in China: Not at any cost; never.
- Pop over: To
pay a visit.
- Rough edges:
Uncompromising situations or attitudes.
- Runaway convict: An escaped person who is serving a prison sentence
for a crime.
- Save your breath: Stop advising someone when it has no impact.
- Smells of Siberia: To be put in a Siberian jail.
- Snatched up: To
grasp something to collect it.
- Stag party: A
celebration for a man before his wedding, attended by his male friends
only.
- Stubborn brute: An inflexible and wilful fellow.
- Tiff: An
argument; a war of words.
- Wet behind the ears: Immature, inexperienced.
I. Answer in one or two words.
1. Who is the suitor in the
story?
Answer: Pyotr
Petrovich Milkin.
2. Who asked for a stag party?
Answer: One of Milkin's friends.
3. How many daughters did
Kondrashkin have?
Answer: Seven.
4. What ‘hereditary vice’ did
Pyotr refer to as an excuse to avoid getting married?
Answer: Drinking bouts.
5. For which crime did Pyotr
say that he was on trial?
Answer: Embezzlement.
6. What ‘horrible secret’ did
Pyotr contrive to get rid of the Kondrashkin family?
Answer: Being
a runaway convict.
7. Why did Pyotr meet his
friend Dr Fituyev?
Answer: To
get a certificate of madness.
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II. Answer these questions in
a few words each.
1. Why did Pyotr’s friends ask
for a stag party?
Answer: They
heard rumours that he was going to marry Nastya Kondrashkina.
2. How did Kondrashkin counter
Pyotr’s argument that his convictions and views were different from those of
Nastya?
Answer: He
said that when people live together, their "rough edges" are rubbed
off over time.
3. Why did Pyotr say that he
was unworthy of Nastya? How did Kondrashkin react to it?
Answer: Pyotr
said he was poor. Kondrashkin called him a "wonderful laddie" and
noted he earns a salary.
4. How did Kondrashkin dismiss
Pyotr’s claim that he was guilty of taking bribes?
Answer: He laughed and said, "Who doesn't?"
5. Why did Kondrashkin fear
that Pyotr might be sent to Siberia?
Answer: Milkin
claimed he was on trial for embezzling 144,000 rubles.
6. Why did Kondrashkin call
Pyotr dishonest?
Answer: Milkin
spent the whole summer with his daughter but then tried to leave without
proposing.
7. Why did Dr Fituyev refuse
to give Pyotr the certificate he wanted?
Answer: He
believed that any man who wants to avoid marriage is actually very wise and
sane.
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III. Answer these questions
briefly in your own words.
1. Why did Pyotr get so
disturbed by the rumours about his marriage? What did he try to do to get rid
of the disturbing situation?
Answer: Milkin
was disturbed because he did not actually want to marry Nastya. He tried to
visit her father to say goodbye and end the relationship before he was forced
to propose.
2. Which crimes of Pyotr,
according to Kondrashkin, might land him in Siberia? How did he react to
Pyotr’s ‘confession’ of these crimes and why?
Answer: Milkin
confessed to embezzlement and forgery. Kondrashkin suggested Nastya should
follow him to Siberia because he was desperate to marry off his seven
daughters.
3. Why did Pyotr decide to
adopt ‘Hamlet’s device’? Why did he fail in this venture?
Answer: He
feigned madness because his other lies about being a criminal failed to stop
the marriage. He failed because the doctor said avoiding marriage is a sign of
a sound mind, not madness.
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IV. Give suitable answers to
these questions.
1. Describe the character of
Kondrashkin in the light of his responses and reactions when Pyotr visits his
place to say goodbye.
Answer: Kondrashkin
is a desperate father who sees his daughters as "menaces". He is
willing to ignore serious crimes, like forgery or being a runaway convict, just
to get his daughter married.
2. Do you think that Pyotr was
more self-centred than Kondrashkin as revealed in the conversation between the
two?
Answer: Both
are self-centred. Milkin is selfish for lying about being a criminal to escape
his responsibilities. Kondrashkin is selfish for being willing to sacrifice his
daughter's safety to reduce his own burden.
3. Who, do you think, has won
the game? Justify your answer.
Answer: Kondrashkin
wins because he outwits every one of Milkin's excuses. Milkin’s final attempt
to use a doctor's certificate fails, leaving him trapped in the marriage.
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