The Black Monk by Anton Chekhov

 


Chekhov's tale revolves around three individuals: Kovrin, a scholar and philosopher, Pesotsky, owner of a large estate where he keeps orchards and gardens, and Tánya, Pesotsky's beautiful young daughter.

A bit worn out from all his studies, his doctor friend advises Kovrin to spend the spring and summer in the country. Just then, Kovrin receives a letter from Tánya asking him to visit her father (Kovrin's parents died when he was young and he became Pesotsky's ward). After some time in solitude, Kovrin does visit Pesotsky and shortly thereafter, falls in love with Tánya.

Chekhov frames his tale thusly. However, there's an added element: Kovrin receives visits from the Black Monk who convinces him that he's a genius, an elected one far above the mediocre herd (we hear echoes of Nietzsche in the monk's words). On some level Kovrin understands the monk is a projection of his imagination, a powerful hallucination...but still.

A more detailed synopsis along with critical analysis of the story is available online. Thus I'll shift to my own more personal take on this Chekhov's tale linked with several author quotes.

“So he alone had seen the Black Monk. He felt a strong desire to tell what he had seen to Tánya and Yegor Semiónovitch, but feared that they would regard it as a hallucination, and decided to keep his counsel. He laughed loudly, sang, danced a mazurka, and felt in the best of spirits; and the guests and Tánya noticed upon his face a peculiar expression of ecstasy and inspiration, and found him very interesting.”

Good thinking, Kovrin! If you've had a vision propelling you into ecstasy, better not blab about it to other people. Sidebar: In more traditional societies, an individual who received such a vision could be chosen to be the tribe's Shaman, thus becoming a messenger from the spirit world. But in 19th century Russia, having a vivid vision of a black monk can only mean one thing: you're nuts and need a doctor.

"I love you too sincerely not to talk to you frankly," he said, thrusting his hands into his pockets. "In all delicate questions I say what I think, and dislike mystification. I tell you plainly, therefore, that you are the only man whom I should not be afraid of Tánya marrying. You are a clever man, you have a heart, and you would not see my life's work ruined.”

So speaks Pesotsky to Kovrin. Ideally, what Pesotsky wants is for Kovrin and Tánya to marry so they can become, when he dies, caretakers of his true love – his gardens. I read this and think – horseshit, old man! The garden is YOUR love but don't try to impose your love on others. Heads up, Kovrin – you don't want to be trapped in the dream of the old man. For as Gilles Deleuze knew very well, “If you're trapped in the dream of the Other, you're fucked.”

Deep into the story, the Black Monk speaks to Kovrin: “The higher a man has climbed in mental and moral development the freer he is, the greater satisfaction he draws from life. Socrates, Diogenes, Marcus Aurelius knew joy and not sorrow. And the apostle said, 'rejoice exceedingly.' Rejoice and be happy!"

And what is Tánya's reaction when Kovrin tells her the Black Monk has spoken to him? Predictably, as a staunch representative of the status quo: he's sick and must seek out medical treatment to be cured.

Sidebar: Nowadays the Tányas of the world, both male and female, spend most of their lives eating crap food, drinking soda and booze, all the while sitting on their fat ass in from of the idiot box aka boob tube aka TV. “Come on, Kovrin, be normal like us!”

And further on in the tale, when Kovrin does become 'normal' he says to his little lovely, “Now I have become rational and solid, just like the rest of the world. I am a mediocrity, and it is tiresome for me to live.... Oh, how cruelly... how cruelly you have treated me! I had hallucinations ... but what harm did that cause to anyone? I ask you what harm?"

Ha! Kovrin, my boy, your visions of the Black Monk don't harm anybody. But, and here's the kicker, your visions of the Black Monk THREATEN other people's worldview, their secure little version of life.

I'm so reminded of Schopenhauer's words, “"Whoever expects to see devils go through the world with horns and fools with jingling bells will always be their prey or plaything." However, there's another force acting in society, in many ways more insidious – all those holders of the status quo, groupthink with a vengeance.

Anybody who seeks to follow their visions, their creative fires, their call to be something more than humdrum and mediocre – beware! The Tányas of the world are many, as are the likes of her old man.