Ethnic stereotypes and the role they play in the representation of foreigners in Chekhov's prose

Abstract

This article discusses the artistic functions of “the other” culture in Anton Chekhov's prose and looks at some problems of ethnic stereotypes reflection in the character's and the author's minds. Analyzing the most representative works in the designated aspect (short stories “In a Strange Land”, “The Stupid Frenchman”, “Aborigines”, “A Daughter of Albion”, “Whistlers”, “To Characteristic of the Nations”, “Ariadne”, “On Duty”, “The Bishop”, “An Anonymous Story”, “The Duel”), the author of the article identifies three distinctive features of national stereotypes representation in Chekhov's works. Firstly, the mention of “the other” culture in Chekhov's texts always refers the reader to a stereotype. At the same time characteristics of the “Russian” are also given as stereotypic. It is noted that Chekhov subordinates the ready, cliched description to his special purposes. The image of the other is often presented by the Russian character or revealed to the reader in the foreign character's monologue and actions. It is proved that the foreigner can be the subject of a mockery and can make fun of the other culture representative, but after all he appears no better than the one he makes fun of. As a result, he becomes an object of the author's mockery that discloses the cultural and educational level of the person in question. Also the foreigner can represent a different system of ethics and values in comparison with which the existing system is shaded, integrated or discredited. Besides, he can introduce another outlook on life. A free, independent character, who puts spiritual values above material ones, is highly appreciated by the writer. Secondly, the writer draws the geographical space of a foreign country only in strokes. The image of a foreign space is quite often presented through the character's eyes, and that discloses his consciousness. In the artistic world created by Chekhov, both the homeland and a foreign country are not important as geographical and cultural spaces. Important is how the character feels about a country. In late Chekhov's works, the motif of escape is related to the foreign space image and accompanies characters' stay in Russia and abroad. Another country seems no different from Russia, and a stay in any country does not make significant changes to the character's life. This allows us to draw a conclusion that the existential experience of man in the life space is the most important for the writer. Last but not least, there is no opposition us vs. them in the author's mind; however, it may constantly be present in the character's mind, and that leads to the author's mockery of his point of view. It is noted that in Chekhov's texts we see interaction of different value and semantic positions, but not the opposition of cultures. The article draws a conclusion that ethnic stereotypes are not ends in themselves for Chekhov as in the center of his attention is human ethics and values of any nationality.