A Defenseless Creature
In addition to his tales highlighting serious issues such as poverty, class, death and unfulfilled expectations, Anton Chekhov wrote dozens of comic short stories to support himself through medical school. In this story, a persistent, shrew-like woman wears down a sickly banker. The exasperated man finally pays money the woman claims is owing to her husband out of his own pocket, even though the alleged debt has nothing to do with his bank. Despite the woman repeatedly describing herself as such, readers are left wondering if the harried banker is the titular “defenseless creature”. Themes: bureaucracy, communication, desperation, persistence.
No one can make fun of themselves like the Irish. This quite funny folktale is about two well-off but foolish farmers named Hudden and Dudden. They will do anything to get their hands on a small piece of land between their two farms. This land belongs to a poor but clever man named Donald O’Neary. The story begins simply enough with Hudden and Dudden deciding to poison Donald’s faithful cow. Things escalate from there with Donald becoming rich and three people dying. By the end of the story, justice appears to have been served. But has it really?
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The lessons taught by many folktales are just as important today as they were hundreds of years ago. Donkey Skin deals with sexual abuse in the form of incest between father and daughter. A powerful king wants to marry his daughter, as this is the only way he can keep a promise he made to his dying wife. Fortunately, the brave girl has other ideas. I find it interesting that the story makes it clear that the king’s actions are wrong, but seems to have no problem with a handsome prince who spies on women through key holes.
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