10th Homework Assignment
MRS POPOV, THE MAIN CHARACTER OF ANTON CHEKOV’S THE
BEAR, IS A FAITHFUL PERSON
By: Sahat Matio Panjaitan, 4-B, 218110041
In this essay, I would like to discuss why I think Mrs Popov, the main character of
Chekov's The Bear, is a faithful person. There are at least three excerpts from The Bear which
strongly support my argument that the main character is a faithful person.
The first excerpt which shows that Mrs Popov is a faithful person indicates that she
still loves her husband until his death.
"POPOVA: [With determination] I must ask you never to talk to me about it!
You know that when Nicolai Mihailovitch died, life lost all its meaning for me.
I vowed never to the end of my days to cease to wear mourning, or to see the
light.... You hear? Let his ghost see how well I love him.... Yes, I know it's no
secret to you that he was often unfair to me, cruel, and... and even unfaithful,
but I shall be true till death, and show him how I can love. There, beyond the
grave, he will see me as I was before his death...." (The Bear, p.4).
From the excerpt above, I can conclude that Mrs. Popova wanted to show her husband
that she really loves him, even though her husband was often unfair to her, cruel, and even
unfaithful. She still loves her husband until his death.
The second excerpt which shows that Mrs Popov is a faithful person indicates that
that she stayed faithful to her husband even though he was having an affair with another
woman.
"POPOVA: The man! [Laughs bitterly] Men are faithful and constant in love!
What an idea! [With heat] What right have you to talk like that? Men are
faithful and constant! Since we are talking about it, I'll tell you that of all the
men I knew and know, the best was my late husband.... I loved him
passionately with all my being, as only a young and imaginative woman can
love, I gave him my youth, my happiness, my life, my fortune, I breathed in
him, I worshipped him as if I were a heathen, and... and what then? This best
of men shamelessly deceived me at every step! After his death I found in his
desk a whole drawerful of love-letters, and when he was alive—it's an awful
thing to remember!—he used to leave me alone for weeks at a time, and make
love to other women and betray me before my very eyes; he wasted my money,
and made fun of my feelings.... And, in spite of all that, I loved him and was
true to him. And not only that, but, now that he is dead, I am still true and
constant to his memory. I have shut myself for ever within these four walls,
and will wear these weeds to the very end....” (The Bear, p.11).
From the excerpt above, I can conclude that Mrs. Popova stayed faithful to her
husband even she found out love letters in her husband's desk that he cheated on him with
another women.
The third excerpt which shows that Mrs Popov is a faithful person indicates that she
kicked out Smirnov from her house.
"SMIRNOV: [Loads the revolver in silence, takes his cap and goes to the
door. There he stops for half a minute, while they look at each other in
silence, then he hesitatingly approaches POPOVA] Listen.... Are you still
angry? I'm devilishly annoyed, too... but, do you understand... how can I
express myself?... The fact is, you see, it's like this, so to
speak.... [Shouts] Well, is it my fault that I like you? [He snatches at the back
of a chair; the chair creaks and breaks] Devil take it, how I'm smashing up
your furniture! I like you! Do you understand? I... I almost love you!
POPOVA: Get away from me—I hate you!" (The Bear, p.16).
From the excerpt above, I can conclude that Mrs. Popova kicked out Smirnov from
her house after he tells that he likes Mrs. Popova and almost loves her. She doesn't want to
see men or marry again.
In this essay, I have discussed why I think Mrs Popov, the main character of Chekov's
The Bear, is a faithful person. To support this argument, I have also examined 3 (three)
relevant excerpts that I have taken from The Bear. Based on the three excerpts above, it is
clear, therefore, that Mrs Popov is a faithful person.
