Major themes of his story by Anton Chekhov include social class, pride, respect, dignity and courage. A young woman in her first job as a governess returns from a walk to find the woman of the house searching her room for a missing brooch. She is so offended and incensed that, despite entreaties by the woman’s husband, she decides to leave. An unusual (for Chekhov) aspect of the story is that here we have a relatively powerless woman stand up to the humiliating treatment of her aristocratic employer, even though it may cost her and her parents dearly.
An Upheaval Full Text / PDF / Audio (2,700 words)