<Gooseberries>, by Anton Chekhov

Rating: 9/10

    What is happiness, and how do we achieve it? It seems these two questions are what Chekhov wanted us to think about deeply.  I believe that there is no definition of happiness, but wrong perspectives on happiness do exist.  However, the "hammer quote" really hit me, and it must be written for a meaningful purpose. I believe Nikolay was caught up in this thought that he must always move towards bigger success and material wealth. If you must compare your position in the society to others in order to feel secure and happy, that happiness will not be worth it in a long term. It's very impressive how this story reflects today's society although it has been written more than 100 years ago. It's truly sad to see so many people feel insecure and dreary if it's not for "someone standing with a little hammer." Even the ending where Alyohin and Burkin is unsatisfied, unmoved, and not interested in Ivan's sincere sermon perfectly completes the story showing how people are negligent on wisdom and foolish beings we are. This story struck me with a deep theme we must ponder about away from our hectic lives once in a while.

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 <The Student>, by Anton Chekhov Rating: 8/10      This story didn't have a dramatic scene or very creative factors, but the meaning was still powerful enough to give us an impact. As a Christian, it was meaningful to read the inner story of Peter's denial and the outer story of Velikopolsky altogether forming a complete meaning. Velikopolsky thinks that the past is linked to the present by an unbroken chain of events. The whole coincidence-like situation where Velikopolsky's preach about Peter's denial reflected the widows' past they don't want to be reminded of, making Vasilisa cry was impressive as it's proof that his thought is correct, and it represented that the message of the Gospels is relatable to people of the present.      "The Student" contained the 8th stage of a hero's journey, ordeal. Velikopolsky preached to the two widows, one of which didn't like his presence. He completed his preach, consequently touching Vasilisa&#
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<Eveline>, by James Joyce Rating: 9/10     I loved how this story depicted Eveline's inner turmoil so well. She's drawn as a typical woman of a patricentric society. I do sympathize with Eveline's thinking that her family is not so awful after all, as I also fought very often with my parents and had bad times with them, but still love them and those awful memories are covered by happy and warm ones. However, I don't mean that I think she made a smart decision. Eveline knows her mom's end of her life. She knows how she suffered through her life. Maintaining the family together? That should be pursued when she is treated properly as a daughter, as a family, as an independent human being. How can it be more important than pursuing a proper, realized life and her own identity? I think the historical and personal background were a big role in barring her from escaping her paralyzed life and opening a new path with Frank. What could have been the reason for her to c
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