The Death Of A Government Clerk Summary

The Death of a Government Clerk, By Anthon Chekhov

“The Death of a Government Clerk” by the famous Russian writer, Anthon Chekhov, is the study of character and the author deals very well with the character and his predicaments in the story. It gives us an idea of how the relationship of the servants was with their superiors in Russia. And also what impacts did social class and position had over individuals in that time. This story is mainly about Ivan Dmitritch Tchervyakov, a government clerk who attends an opera and all of a sudden, sneezes there. He then notices a general of transport whose name is Brizzhalov, sitting in the front row, cleaning his head and neck with his gloves. The clerk thinks that he had made a terrible mistake by sneezing at him and owes him an apology. Surprisingly, whenever he attempts to express his apology, he does not get the chance and is always interrupted. He looks for ways to end this misunderstanding between him and the general. But the behavior of general with the clerk places him in such a stressful condition, which eventually causes his death.

The story first starts in an opera in an evening. As we may know, different kinds of people attend operas to be entertained and enjoy the actor’s performance. People tend to be more polite and stay silent to avoid disturbing

But as always, the general doesn’t give him the chance and tells him that he is making fun of him by doing all this. Tchervyakov then wants to write a letter to the general to apologize, he thinks many times but as he is too panicked about the situation, he cannot make the letter. When he goes to general’s office for the last time to talk to him in person, the general gets angry and yells at him. He asks the clerk to leave. As much as he tries, he cannot get Brizzhalov to like him. This affects the clerk’s feelings. His anxious level increases & he becomes desperate. When he comes home, after lying on the sofa, he