In his story, “Let Me Sleep”—English translation by Patrick Miles and Harvey Pitcher— Chekhov recounts the tale of a nursemaid, Varka, who is never allowed to sleep. She is either up all night with the child or working for the family during the day. This leads to delusions and a tragic end. Ironically, for such a dark story, it is punctuated with references to light throughout. These references to light and a green lamp in particular, signal not only tonal shifts within the story, but also the shifts in the mental state of the protagonist.
When the light is first mentioned, the room is serene and the narrator reflects this through the language used to describe the lamp. The lamp “burns” (Chekhov 150). To burn, means “to be in the state of …show more content…
The mood if the room is mimicked through the language used to describe the lamp in this moment. The lamp “throws a large patch of green onto the ceiling” (151). This begins the personification of the lamp and its light, as it “throws” a green patch onto the wall. To throw means to “project (anything) with a force of the nature of a jerk, from the hand or arm” (“Throw, V.1”). This is an action that is associated with humans. Therefore, it is as though the lamp coming alive. Similarly, the shadow is “casted” rather than stretched (150). To cast and to throw mean the same thing (“Cast, V”). Therefore, the usage of this verb continues the personification of both the lamp and its shadow. However, the usage of these verbs gives it a violent connation because when a person throws an object, something can shatter. With these verbs, the narrator shatters the illusion of calmness that the reader had within the first paragraph. The reader learns that the baby has been crying all night and “Varka wants to sleep,” but she cannot because her masters will “thrash her” (151). This shows not only a change in the atmosphere of the room, but it Varka’s mental …show more content…
To possess means to “own, to have or gain ownership of…as an object” (“Possess, V”). With the use of this verb, the narrator insinuates that she has no control over her actions. She has been taken over. Similarly, in an earlier reference to the lamp, where it also winks at her, the narrator states that the lamp, “befuddle[s] her brain” (155). To befuddle means to, to confuse, to stupefy” (“Befuddle, V”). Therefore, she is not only objectified, but stupefied as a well. Therefore, it is clear that she cannot control her actions because she is so delirious with exhaustion. Through the employment of these verbs, the narrator takes the fault off her and shows her sympathy. The narrator shows her sympathy because he does not judge her actions, saying that the “delusion” took hold of her (155). While Chekhov has he’s narrator not judge his protagonist, Chekhov seems to be shifting the meanings of the symbol of light and the color green.
Traditionally, the symbol of light has been seen as something good and peaceful, as in “Genesis I”, where God creates light and sees that it is “good” Similarly, the color green is associated with “safety” (“Green, Adj. and N.1”). While Varka goes feel safe and good near the end of the story, her safety is fostered through the murder of a child. So, it is not good or safe at all. In this way, Chekhov flips the normal convention of what the reader
When the light is first mentioned, the room is serene and the narrator reflects this through the language used to describe the lamp. The lamp “burns” (Chekhov 150). To burn, means “to be in the state of …show more content…
The mood if the room is mimicked through the language used to describe the lamp in this moment. The lamp “throws a large patch of green onto the ceiling” (151). This begins the personification of the lamp and its light, as it “throws” a green patch onto the wall. To throw means to “project (anything) with a force of the nature of a jerk, from the hand or arm” (“Throw, V.1”). This is an action that is associated with humans. Therefore, it is as though the lamp coming alive. Similarly, the shadow is “casted” rather than stretched (150). To cast and to throw mean the same thing (“Cast, V”). Therefore, the usage of this verb continues the personification of both the lamp and its shadow. However, the usage of these verbs gives it a violent connation because when a person throws an object, something can shatter. With these verbs, the narrator shatters the illusion of calmness that the reader had within the first paragraph. The reader learns that the baby has been crying all night and “Varka wants to sleep,” but she cannot because her masters will “thrash her” (151). This shows not only a change in the atmosphere of the room, but it Varka’s mental …show more content…
To possess means to “own, to have or gain ownership of…as an object” (“Possess, V”). With the use of this verb, the narrator insinuates that she has no control over her actions. She has been taken over. Similarly, in an earlier reference to the lamp, where it also winks at her, the narrator states that the lamp, “befuddle[s] her brain” (155). To befuddle means to, to confuse, to stupefy” (“Befuddle, V”). Therefore, she is not only objectified, but stupefied as a well. Therefore, it is clear that she cannot control her actions because she is so delirious with exhaustion. Through the employment of these verbs, the narrator takes the fault off her and shows her sympathy. The narrator shows her sympathy because he does not judge her actions, saying that the “delusion” took hold of her (155). While Chekhov has he’s narrator not judge his protagonist, Chekhov seems to be shifting the meanings of the symbol of light and the color green.
Traditionally, the symbol of light has been seen as something good and peaceful, as in “Genesis I”, where God creates light and sees that it is “good” Similarly, the color green is associated with “safety” (“Green, Adj. and N.1”). While Varka goes feel safe and good near the end of the story, her safety is fostered through the murder of a child. So, it is not good or safe at all. In this way, Chekhov flips the normal convention of what the reader