A Sociopsychological Analysis of Chekhov’s “The Darling” in the Light of Fromm’s Ideas: A Feminist Perspective

Since its publication in 1899, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’s “The Darling” has provoked a lot of controversy among literary scholars and critics. Was the portrayal of Olga Semyonova, the darling protagonist, meant to ridicule, sympathize with, or eulogize women? Generally, the story is analyzed from a feminist point of view. Moreover, Eric Fromm’s ideas of freedom and mechanisms of escape are applied to the story. Thus the present research, firstly, aims to identify the motives behind Olga’s unhealthy psychological state or identity crisis. Secondly, it addresses freedom as Olga’s psychological problem as well as the escape mechanisms she adopts. Finally, the patriarchal society is blamed for Olga’s problems.