The above is some music that would have been popular during the time period in Russia.
Setting:
Drunk takes place in a restaurant in an unknown large city. This is during the mid to late 19th century in Russia. This is the time period when money meant everything, and gave you the right to do anything.
Main Characters:
Frolov: Frolov is a rich manufacturer who is unhappy with his life. He drinks much in this story but is never happy. He finds the social order of things very peculiar. He wishes somebody would as real towards him, not just try to please him so that he will pay them. "On my honor, if one of them would take offense I would make him a present of a thousand roubles." He just wishes people would be real towards him unlike the paid staff whom he calls parasites.
Almer: Almer is Frolov's lawyer. He seems to enjoy his life at the top and loves some good gossip. He doesn't want his friend to get into trouble or ruin either of their social standings. He is kind of a moocher too in that he just wants Frolov's money. "What is the matter with you?" Said Almer, looking at him with surprise. "Whence this melancholy?" Almer is surprised at Frolov's appearance but doesn't care too deeply in reality.
Summary:
Exposition: We meet the men in a restaurant empty of all guests but these two men. They are chatting away drinking vodka out of wine glasses and eating oysters when Frolov throws his tablecloth and everything on top of it off the table and the servers rush to clean it up. This is where we begin to see Frolov's unhappiness. Here we also learn that Frolov is a wealthy manufacturer and Almer is is lawyer.
Rising Action: Frolov orders another drink, getting drunker and more angry. He confesses more unhappiness at life, especially geared towards the hired help in the restaurant. He calls them parasites and abuses them because he knows they will take it because he is paying. Frolov tells Almer he has a secret.
Climax: Frolov tells Almer his big secret. Frolov hates his wife. She is spending too much money and he mistrusts her. He believes she only married him for his money and that she never really loved him. He believes, that like everybody else out there, she only ever wanted his money, and that she will continue trying to please him so that the money will keep pouring in.
Falling Action: Frolov drinks even more and Almer helps him increase his bill by drinking and eating more. They call the gypsy girls out for entertainment,and they get the staff drunk and just all and all tear up the entire restaurant. Throughout this entire time, Frolov is still unhappy. At the end of the night, Frolov pays the thousands of roubles in damages, food and drinks that he owes from the night and begins on his way home.
Resolution: As they arrive at his home, Frolov tells Almer that he is an awful person and that if Almer were really his friend, he would have told him that. Instead, Almer just says goodnight and laughs off Frolov as being drunk, when he is really serious. The story stops with Frolov going upstairs to bed.
("Anton Chekhov - The Literature Network.")
Theme: The main theme of this story is that money can not buy happiness. Although Frolov has tons of money, and he can order anyone to do his bidding, and he can mistreat people anyway he likes, he is still unhappy. Everyone is using Frolov for his money. They don't really like him for his personality. Because of this, Frolov isn't happy and is paranoid that when his money runs out, that he will be left with nobody standing by his side.
Symbols: Vodka or just the alcohol consumed in this story is a huge symbol. Drinking symbolizes having a good time and being at ease, but no matter how much Frolov drinks, he is still unhappy and uncomfortable. While everyone else is enjoying their night, he just becomes more and more miserable. Even though he is with tons of people who are at his beck and call, he feels alone.
("Online Symbolism Dictionary.")
Setting:
Drunk takes place in a restaurant in an unknown large city. This is during the mid to late 19th century in Russia. This is the time period when money meant everything, and gave you the right to do anything.
Main Characters:
Frolov: Frolov is a rich manufacturer who is unhappy with his life. He drinks much in this story but is never happy. He finds the social order of things very peculiar. He wishes somebody would as real towards him, not just try to please him so that he will pay them. "On my honor, if one of them would take offense I would make him a present of a thousand roubles." He just wishes people would be real towards him unlike the paid staff whom he calls parasites.
Almer: Almer is Frolov's lawyer. He seems to enjoy his life at the top and loves some good gossip. He doesn't want his friend to get into trouble or ruin either of their social standings. He is kind of a moocher too in that he just wants Frolov's money. "What is the matter with you?" Said Almer, looking at him with surprise. "Whence this melancholy?" Almer is surprised at Frolov's appearance but doesn't care too deeply in reality.
Summary:
Exposition: We meet the men in a restaurant empty of all guests but these two men. They are chatting away drinking vodka out of wine glasses and eating oysters when Frolov throws his tablecloth and everything on top of it off the table and the servers rush to clean it up. This is where we begin to see Frolov's unhappiness. Here we also learn that Frolov is a wealthy manufacturer and Almer is is lawyer.
Rising Action: Frolov orders another drink, getting drunker and more angry. He confesses more unhappiness at life, especially geared towards the hired help in the restaurant. He calls them parasites and abuses them because he knows they will take it because he is paying. Frolov tells Almer he has a secret.
Climax: Frolov tells Almer his big secret. Frolov hates his wife. She is spending too much money and he mistrusts her. He believes she only married him for his money and that she never really loved him. He believes, that like everybody else out there, she only ever wanted his money, and that she will continue trying to please him so that the money will keep pouring in.
Falling Action: Frolov drinks even more and Almer helps him increase his bill by drinking and eating more. They call the gypsy girls out for entertainment,and they get the staff drunk and just all and all tear up the entire restaurant. Throughout this entire time, Frolov is still unhappy. At the end of the night, Frolov pays the thousands of roubles in damages, food and drinks that he owes from the night and begins on his way home.
Resolution: As they arrive at his home, Frolov tells Almer that he is an awful person and that if Almer were really his friend, he would have told him that. Instead, Almer just says goodnight and laughs off Frolov as being drunk, when he is really serious. The story stops with Frolov going upstairs to bed.
("Anton Chekhov - The Literature Network.")
Theme: The main theme of this story is that money can not buy happiness. Although Frolov has tons of money, and he can order anyone to do his bidding, and he can mistreat people anyway he likes, he is still unhappy. Everyone is using Frolov for his money. They don't really like him for his personality. Because of this, Frolov isn't happy and is paranoid that when his money runs out, that he will be left with nobody standing by his side.
Symbols: Vodka or just the alcohol consumed in this story is a huge symbol. Drinking symbolizes having a good time and being at ease, but no matter how much Frolov drinks, he is still unhappy and uncomfortable. While everyone else is enjoying their night, he just becomes more and more miserable. Even though he is with tons of people who are at his beck and call, he feels alone.
("Online Symbolism Dictionary.")