Misery page 62-63

P- Chekhov portrays a very pesimistic feeling for Iona
C- Pg 62
Q- “…only wife for me now is the damp earth”
E- Iona has know positive feelings for the rest of his life, no drive to get him anywhere. Through the writers use of description the reader demonstrates a sense of sorrow towards Iona. Iona only wishes to reach the end of his life because he feels like he has failed his honour of his family, because he couldn’t provide the right essentials for his family to survive.
Q- “found a hiding place…insignificant shell…candle by day light.”
E- The theme of pessimism is further shown by this quote. It is talking about Iona’s inner feelings rather than him physically wanting to find a hiding. When talking about the candle, it is meaning that even in the bright sunlight, surrounded by loads of people he still feels insignificant and small. But in his own world he feels like he is the root of all the problems he can see and he just wants to hide from them.


P- Although Ionas pain has always been there, he only just begins to experience the true power of his emotions and lets himself be overcome by them.
C- Pg 62
Q- “…misery…brief space eased…back again…tears his heart…cruelly…”
E- This quote shows Iona having a sudden realisation of his predicament which he has found himself in. Even though the people he has been escorting around have been cruel with their conversations and words, he has still been compliant with the conversations because they temporarily take him away from the grief of his current situation.