The Looking Glass

Anton Chekhov was a Russian writer. He is known for his modern short stories and plays during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His most famous works include The Steppe and The Lady with the Dog. In ‘The Looking Glass,’ Chekhov explores the anxieties, desires, and inner turmoil of a woman named Nellie, who dreams of marriage and happiness. However, as the story unfolds, Nellie finds herself in a desperate situation, knocking on the door of a doctor, Stepan Lukitch, late at night, begging him to come and treat her seriously ill husband. The doctor, exhausted and ill himself, hesitates, leading to a tense confrontation. Is the entire struggle an indication of her deepest fears? Will her husband survive? Read this interesting story to find out the lines between reality and Nellie’s imagination.