The Death of a Government Clerk

At its heart, Chekhov’s “The Death of a Government Clerk” is a subversive parody that ridicules the overly regimented bureaucratic system in Russia at the time. During Chekhov’s life, the governmental body that regulated the country’s administrative functions was growing larger and more unwieldy. Many civil servants found themselves mired in low-level occupations, with little hope of promotion and a host of demanding superiors to please. Chekhov uses his characters’ names to reinforce these archetypal roles. Chervyakov’s name has similarities with the word chervyak, which means “worm” in Russian. Thus, the clerk is a disregarded creature that exists at the bottom of the social order. He is a squirming figure trying to crawl his way up to a higher level. These actions are in vain, however, as Chervyakov’s appeals to General Brizzhalov are repeatedly dismissed. Brizzhalov’s name also has a second meaning; in Russian, it suggests “grumbling,” from the word briuzzhat. This is reflected in Brizzhalov’s grouchy, angry demeanor.

Nineteenth-century Russian literature often features ineffectual bureaucrats who are obsessed with status. Chervyakov fits this character type from the story’s beginning. He attends the opera, symbolizing his pursuit of high class and sophistication.