29 pages • 58 minutes read
The Death of a Government Clerk
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Character Analysis
Ivan Dmitrich Chervyakov
Chekhov’s portrayal of Chervyakov is reminiscent of a character type found in Russian literature at the time. Given the enormous influence of the bureaucratic system in place in the late 19th century, many stories and novels contained civil servants that seemed one-dimensionally preoccupied with advancement. Often, these characters were intended for comic effect. For example, Nikolai Gogol’s satirical comedy The Government Inspector centers around a greedy and irresponsible civil servant named Ivan Alexandreyevich Khlestakov. In “The Death of a Government Clerk,” Chervyakov’s name means “worm,” which makes his groveling, servile role in the story apparent.
Chervyakov is a humorous figure, but Chekhov adds dark, tragic elements to his personality. For one, he is unable to interpret his surroundings and make sound decisions for his own well-being. Also, when he attempts to remedy his situation, he is completely ineffective. Despite these unique attributes, he still fits the traditional type. Acceptance and advancement in Russia’s administrative system are paramount in his mind.
Over the course of the story, Chervyakov’s character develops in reverse. He begins as a confident figure, viewing himself as on top of the world as he takes in the opera. The sneeze has an instant disorienting effect, which reveals his precarious position in society. From this moment onward, Chervyakov is mostly timid and skittish, cautiously approaching the general and speaking in an unsure, halting way. The clerk’s inability to learn or let go of his obsession with gaining his superior’s pardon condemns his character to diminish rather than grow.
Toward the end, Chervyakov’s frustration reaches a high point, and he develops an angry attitude toward the general. He even refers to him as a “blusterer” (Paragraph 23). This small act of defiance shows his capability for human emotion and rational assessment. Instead of automatically begging for preferment, Chervyakov can see the tragedy in his situation and respond accordingly. Of course, this moment of clarity gives way to further pandering and Chervyakov’s untimely death. As such, Chekhov reveals the clerk’s inevitable defeat at the hands of large-scale governmental rule and the class system it creates.
General Brizzhalov
Brizzhalov is noteworthy for his mostly understated presence and simple, straightforward dialogue. Despite these subtle traits, he maintains the image of a powerful authority figure in the story. This comes about in the way Chervyakov views the general and responds to his body language and spare dialogue. Chekhov capitalizes on the general’s grouchiness to show that Chervyakov and his fellow low-level clerks are conditioned to fear their social and professional superiors. Chervyakov’s knee-jerk anxiety to sneezing on the general conveys an oppressive system that operates automatically in the hearts and minds of its subjects. Brizzhalov only needs to dismiss the clerk for the rising action to occur, ultimately allowing the natural tensions over class to grow and intensify.
Brizzhalov, however, is not a static character. He changes as the story progresses, transforming from a largely distant and elusive figure into an outright angry and violent taskmaster. His climactic outburst at the end, complete with stamping feet and direct orders for Chervyakov to leave his presence, initiates the clerk’s retreat and eventual death. As such, Brizzhalov’s characterization is one of the most important elements in the work. Through his development, the reader measures the severity of Chervyakov’s actions. When the general finally loses his patience, the clerk’s death is the clear, direct consequence.
Chervyakov’s Wife
Although Chervyakov’s wife is a main catalyst in the story, Chekhov chooses to not develop her fully. She is largely anonymous, even appearing without a proper name, yet her few words of dialogue are a springboard for the dramatic events at the end. The reader can assume that Chervyakov’s wife is capable and intelligent, simply because Chervyakov seeks her council and follows her advice. During his brief encounter and explanation of the sneeze, she reacts with initial alarm but is reassured to know that Brizzhalov is not Chervyakov’s general. This displays some savvy, as the wife seems to understand the intricacies of the professional world.
However, Chervyakov’s wife also possesses the same tragic flaws as her husband. She encourages Chervyakov to apologize in person to Brizzhalov, which only seems to further pester the general and lower the clerk in his esteem. Chervyakov’s wife also adds the comment that Brizzhalov “might think that [Chervyakov doesn’t] know how to behave in public!” (Paragraph 13). With this shared anxiety between the husband and wife, the reader gets the idea that Russia’s culture and governance have given rise to a value system that unfairly targets the lower class.
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