What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to explore and reveal the biblical symbolism within Anton Chekhov’s short story 'The Letter.'

June 14, 2026Open Access

“All These Things Spake He Unto the Multitude in Parables”: Uncovering Biblical Symbolism in the Short Stories of Anton Chekhov

Key Points

This research aims to explore and reveal the biblical symbolism within Anton Chekhov’s short story 'The Letter.'
Conducted a close reading of Chekhov's 'The Letter' (1887).
Utilized an innovative analytical framework to navigate various literary traditions.
Engaged with biblical texts, particularly the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14).
Identified a structural connection between 'The Letter' and the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.
Revealed layers of symbolism that challenge traditional realist interpretations.

Abstract

Literary critics have generally viewed the works of Anton Chekhov within the genre of realism. A relatively recent mythopoetic trend has been challenging the dominant mimetic tradition, seeking rather to uncover deep symbolic layers beneath the surface of the texts. This thesis engages in a close reading of Chekhov’s short story “The Letter” (1887) using an innovative analytical framework that avoids the excesses of both the mimetic and mythopoetic approaches. The analysis demonstrates that Chekhov based the structure of “The Letter” on the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9–14).

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