The Lady With The Pet Dog Comparison Essay

Every piece of literature can be compared to others to determine which is better. But what if the two pieces being compared are the same story? Anton Chekhov, in the late 1800s, wrote the short story “The Lady with the Pet Dog” about a man who views women as an “inferior race” and constantly cheats on his wife until he finds a young lady he truly falls in love with. Joyce Carol Oates’ story, written almost 100 years later, also named “The Lady with the Pet Dog” is about a woman who cheats on her husband with a lover she truly falls in love with. Even with these two stories being very similar as much as having the same title, one can be determined as the better piece. I believe Joyce Carol Oates’ version of “The Lady with the Pet Dog” is better due to its familiar setting, sympathetic perspective, and complex structure. The difference in settings of both stories is not extremely effective of plot change, but they can affect the audience. Chekhov, being Russian, wrote his original version with a Russian

Chekhov chose to make a simple story with a linear structure. Each chapter is set up chronologically of each other. This creates an easier read for the audience which is never a bad choice. However many more advanced readers enjoy a challenging and complex structure such as what Oates’ story contains. Oates uses a circular or stream of consciousness way of storytelling. The story forms like puzzle pieces that the audience must continue to read to fully decipher. This form of structure is the most important reason Oates’ story is the better piece of literature. Even though Anton Chekhov’s original version of “The Lady with the Pet Dog” is a great story, Joyce Carol Oates’ take on the plot is a better piece of literature due to its familiar setting, sympathetic perspective, and complex structure. Stories can always be debated to which is better. Even if they have the same