The man in the Iron case. (A person) living by his own narrow interests; isolated from people, from life; inert and closed. - You are a man in a case, a cardboard soul, a folder for affairs!(B. Lavrenev. A story about a simple thing). He reminds her of Chekhov's man in a case.(A. Koptyaeva. Ivan Ivanovich). - Based on the story by A.P. Chekhov “The Man in a Case” (1898).

Russian phraseological dictionary literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008.

See what “Man in a Case” is in other dictionaries:

Man in a case- Title of the story (1898) by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860 1904). The main character is a provincial teacher Belikov, who is afraid of any innovations, actions not permitted by the “boss,” as well as reality in general. Hence his favorite expression: ... ... Dictionary winged words and expressions

MAN IN A CASE- CASE. MAN IN A CASE. In Chekhov’s story “The Man in a Case”: “This man had a constant and irresistible desire to surround himself with a shell, to create for himself, so to speak, a case that would seclude him, protect him from external... ... History of words

MAN IN A CASE- “MAN IN A CASE”, USSR, SOVIET BELARUS, 1939, b/w, 84 min. Drama. Based on the story of the same name by A.P. Chekhov. Cast: Nikolai Khmelev (see KHMELEV Nikolay Pavlovich), Mikhail Zharov (see ZHAROV Mikhail Ivanovich), Olga Androvskaya (see ANDROVSKAYA Olga... ... Encyclopedia of Cinema

Man in a case- This term has other meanings, see Man in a Case (meanings). Man in a Case (true incident) ... Wikipedia

Man in a case- wing. sl. This is the name given to a person who is afraid of all innovations, drastic measures, very timid, like the teacher Belikov, depicted in A.P. Chekhov’s story “The Man in a Case” (1898). Belikov “was remarkable in that he always, even in very good times... ... Universal additional practical Dictionary I. Mostitsky

Man in a case- Razg. Disapproved About a man who closed himself in a circle of narrow philistine, petty-bourgeois interests, fenced himself off from real life, afraid of innovation and change. /i> Based on the title of the story by A. P. Chekhov (1898). BMS 1998, 619; BTS, 1470; FM 2002, 609; ... Big dictionary Russian sayings

man in a case- about someone who has closed himself in a circle of narrow, bourgeois interests, has isolated himself from real life, is afraid of innovations and changes. The expression goes back to the story of the same name by A.P. Chekhov. The main character of this work is Belikov, a teacher of ancient languages,... ... Phraseology Guide

man in a case- About someone who is isolated in a circle of narrow, philistine interests, afraid of any innovations From the title of the story by A.P. Chekhov... Dictionary of many expressions

"Man in a Case"- A MAN IN A CASE story by A.P. Chekhov (1898), ch. The hero is afraid of life and tries to hide from it in a case, a shell of regulations and stereotypes... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

Man in a Case (film)- This term has other meanings, see Man in a Case. Man in a Case ... Wikipedia

Books

• Man in a Case, A.P. Chekhov. The hero of the story “The Man in a Case” is Belikov, a high school Greek language teacher. His main fear is “that something might not work out.” With the arrival of a new teacher, Mikhail, in the city...

Who are the case people? They surround us everywhere, but few people realize that they can be characterized by such an interesting term. Because not everyone has read the famous story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, which was called “The Man in a Case.” It was this Russian prose writer-playwright who first in history proposed this type of personality. However, first things first.

Visual image

Anyone who is familiar with knows how rich the world of his works is on human types. Who doesn’t appear in his stories! And conscientious individuals, not satisfied with social laws and with themselves, and narrow-minded ordinary people, and noble dreamers, and opportunistic officials. And images of “case” people also appear. In particular, in the story mentioned above.

The plot of “The Man in a Case” centers on a high school teacher named Belikov. Teaching Greek has long ceased to be needed by anyone. He's very strange. Even if it’s sunny outside, he puts on galoshes, a warm cotton coat with a high collar and takes an umbrella. Mandatory "accessory" - sunglasses. He always stuffs his ears with cotton. He drives a cab, with the top always up. Belikov also keeps everything in cases - an umbrella, a watch, and even a penknife.

But this is just an image. It would seem that the description only says that the person is neat and prudent, maybe even a little pedantic. But it’s not without reason that they say that external manifestations reflect internal state person. And indeed it is.

Personal characteristics

Examples of “case” people encountered in life are reflected in Belikov. He is a mixture of sociopath, paranoid and introvert. He is afraid of all living things. His is: “No matter what happens.” He treats everything that surrounds him with caution and fear. Belikov is not able to think freely, since each of his ideas is in a “case”.

And it would be fine if he were like that in society. But even at home he behaves the same way! He dresses in a long robe and cap, closes the shutters on the windows tightly, snapping the latches. His bed has a canopy, and when Belikov lies down in it, he covers his head with a blanket.

Naturally, he observes all fasts and does not have female servants - fearing that others will suspect him of having relationships with them. Belikov is a real hermit. Who, in the literal sense of the word, is afraid to live.

Consequences

Naturally, such a lifestyle that Belikov leads cannot but affect anything. Who are the case people? These are real hermits who believe that they live quite normally, unlike others. This is also manifested in Chekhov's hero.

At one point he meets Varenka, a girl who is the sister of a new geography and history teacher. She shows an unexpected interest in Belikov. Whom society begins to persuade to marry her. He agrees, despite the fact that thoughts of marriage depress and worry him. Belikov loses weight, turns pale, becomes even more nervous and fearful. And the first thing that worries him the most is the lifestyle of the “bride”.

Who are the case people? Those who cannot understand others due to their detachment. Varenka loves to ride a bike with her brother. And Belikov is sure that this quite common hobby is not normal! Because it is not appropriate for someone who teaches history to young people to ride a bicycle. And the woman on this vehicle looks completely indecent. Belikov did not hesitate to express his thoughts to Varenka’s brother, who cannot stand him. And he threatened to report his hobby to the director of the gymnasium. In response, Varenka’s brother pulled Belikov down the stairs. What's the result? Belikov falls ill - from stress, he is haunted by the thought that someone will find out about his shame. And a month later he dies. This is the end.

Main thought

Well, who these case people are - you can understand from Belikov’s example. And, in principle, Chekhov wanted to convey a simple idea. The prose writer tried to convey to readers that a life “closed” from society only cripples the human soul. You can't be outside the rest. We are all members of a single society. Everything that a person has messed up for himself, set up, only fences him off from life. From a reality filled with colors. And indeed it is. Spiritual wretchedness only limits human existence. This is what Chekhov is thinking about in this story.

Modernity

A person of the 21st century who has read Chekhov knows what kind of people are called case people. And he is able to recognize them among the rest. Nowadays they are called introverts. These are people whose mental makeup is characterized by contemplation, isolation and concentration on their own inner world. They are not inclined to communicate with other people - it is difficult for them to establish contact with anyone.

However, to understand the essence of this term, it is enough to turn to etymology. "Introvert" is a word derived from the German introvertiert. Which literally translates as “turned inward.”

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is the author of many innovative works, where the reader sees not only subtle satire, but also a detailed description human soul. When you get acquainted with his work, it begins to seem that he is not only a prose writer, but also a very gifted psychologist.

"The Man in the Case" is one of three stories in the "Little Trilogy" series, which the author worked on for about two months in 1898. It also includes the stories “Gooseberry” and “About Love”, which Anton Pavlovich wrote in Melikhovka, where he lived with his family. He barely managed to finish working on them, because he was already suffering from tuberculosis and wrote less and less.

It is impossible to be sure that Chekhov wrote about some specific person, most likely, central image“Man in a Case” is collective. The writer's contemporaries put forward several candidates who could serve as prototypes for Belikov, but all of them had only a slight resemblance to the hero.

Genre, conflict and composition

It is quite easy for the reader to get acquainted with the work, because it is written in simple language, which, nevertheless, is capable of causing a huge number of impressions. Style is expressed in compositions: the text is divided into small semantic fragments, focusing attention on the most important thing.

In the story we see conflict between two heroes. The author contrasts Kovalenko (life-affirming, active position, positive thinking) and Belikov (passive and lifeless vegetation, internal slavery), which helps him to reveal the problem posed even better. The case becomes artistic detail, which describes the whole essence and meaning of the work, shows the inner world of the hero.

Literary genre- a story that is part of a “small trilogy” of three separate stories, but combined with one idea. “The Man in the Case” is written with an obvious satirical overtones; with this technique the writer ridicules the very essence of “ little man", who is simply afraid to live.

Meaning of the name

In his story, Chekhov warns us that absolutely any person, without wanting to, can imprison himself in a “case,” which is where the name came from. A case is understood as a fixation on an unwritten set of rules and restrictions with which people constrain themselves. Dependence on conventions turns into a disease for them and prevents them from getting closer to society.

The secluded world of prohibitions and barriers seems much better to the inhabitants of the cases; they surround themselves with a kind of shell so that influence outside world didn't affect them at all. However, living locked up with own rules and the installations are cramped, another person will not fit there. It turns out that a resident of a stuffy, clogged corner is doomed to loneliness, so the title of the story is fundamentally given in the singular.

Main characters

1. The main character of the story is Belikov- Greek language teacher at the gymnasium. He sets certain rules in his life, and most of all he is afraid that something will not go as planned. Belikov, even in the clearest and warmest weather, is dressed in galoshes and a warm coat with a raised collar; he hides his face behind dark glasses and a hat in order to protect himself as best as possible from influence environment: not only natural, but also social. He is frightened by modern reality and irritated by everything that happens around him, which is why the teacher puts on a kind of case both externally and internally.
2. Mikhail Kovalenko — new teacher history and geography, who comes to work at the gymnasium with his sister. Mikhail is a young, sociable and cheerful man of tall stature, a great lover of laughing and even laughing heartily.
3. His sister Varenka- a 30-year-old woman, very cheerful and happy, loves to have fun, sing and dance. The heroine shows interest in Belikov, who, in turn, devotes time to her and agrees to go for walks in order to discuss the fact that marriage is too serious a thing. The woman still does not lose hope of stirring up her gentleman, which reveals in her such qualities as perseverance and determination.

Themes

1. The main theme of Chekhov's story is closed and isolated human life who is shy of the surrounding world and shuns any manifestation of feeling. He hides his eyes from the people around him, constantly carries all his things in a case, be it small knife, designed for sharpening a pencil, or an ordinary umbrella, which is so convenient to hide your face. Many spiritual values ​​were strange to the main character, and emotions were incomprehensible. This expresses his limitations, which poison his existence.
2. Love theme in the story it is revealed in Varenka’s attitude towards Belikov. The girl is trying to interest the hero and return him to a full life. She believes to the last that he can still change for the better. But he also closes himself off from her, because the prospect of marriage and his colleagues’ obsessive conversations about their marriage begin to frighten him.
3. Chekhov explains to the reader that the worst thing that can happen to a person is indifference to life. Belikov became so withdrawn into himself that he stopped distinguishing the colors of the world, enjoying communication, and striving for something. He no longer cares what happens outside his case, as long as numerous decencies are observed.
4. Man in a case - collective image timid people who are afraid of their own feelings and emotions. They abstract themselves from the world around them and withdraw into themselves. That's why theme of loneliness is also important in the story of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov.

Main problems

1. Conservative. The author realizes with horror and pity that some of his contemporaries create a shell for themselves in which they perish morally and spiritually. They exist in the world, but do not live. People go with the flow, moreover, they cannot even allow fate to intervene and change something in their life. better side. This fear of new events and changes makes people passive, inconspicuous and unhappy. Due to the abundance of such conservatives in society, stagnation forms, through which it is difficult for young shoots capable of developing and developing the country to break through.
2. The problem of the meaninglessness of life. Why did Belikov live on earth? He never made anyone happy, not even himself. The hero trembles over his every action and constantly echoes: “No matter what happens.” Bypassing fictitious sorrows and suffering, he misses happiness itself, thus, its price of psychological comfort is too high, since it destroys the very essence of people’s existence.
3. It appears before the reader the problem of happiness, more precisely, the problem of its achievement, essence and price. The hero replaces him with peace, but, on the other hand, he himself has the right to determine what is the highest value for him.
4. The problem of fear of love. The people who surround him are just as unhappy, they find themselves on the other side of a fictional case, Belikov simply cannot open up and let someone closer. The hero was never able to develop his feelings for the girl he liked, he was simply afraid of them and was left with nothing.
5. The Problem of Sociopathy. The teacher is afraid of society, despises it, isolates himself, not allowing any of the people around him to help himself. They would be happy, but he himself does not allow this.

the main idea

Chekhov was not only a doctor by training, but also a healer of souls by vocation. He realized that spiritual illness is sometimes more dangerous than physical illness. The idea of ​​the story “The Man in a Case” is a protest against lonely, closed vegetation under a shell. The author puts into the work the idea that the case must be mercilessly burned in order to feel freedom and approach life with ease.
Otherwise, the fate of a closed person may be disastrous. Yes, in the final main character dies alone, leaving no grateful descendants, no followers, no achievements. The writer shows us how it can end in vain earthly path"case" person. Colleagues and acquaintances who attend his funeral are mentally happy that they have finally said goodbye to Belikov and his importunity.

Anton Pavlovich puts socio-political implications into his work, emphasizing the importance of social activity and civic initiative. He advocates a rich and fulfilling life, endows the main character with repulsive character traits in order to prove to people how pathetic and pathetic the inhabitant of the “case” looks, wasting himself.

Thus, Chekhov describes the lot of many clerks who lived sadly in a stuffy city, sorting out pieces of paper that no one needed. He ironically plays on the “little man” type, violating literary tradition depict it in idyllic colors. His author's position- not contemplative or sentimental, but active, not tolerating compromises. The inhabitants of the case should not savor their insignificance and wait for pity, they need to change and squeeze out a slave.

What does the author teach?

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov makes us think about our own life and wonder interesting question: “Aren’t we building ourselves the same case that the main character Belikov had?” The author literally teaches us to live, showing by example how a personality that grovels before conventions and stereotypes can fade and disappear. Chekhov was really able to instill in people a disgust for a gray, worthless life, to show that inaction and indifference are the worst things that can happen to us.

The fear of discoveries and accomplishments destroys a person’s personality; he becomes pitiful and helpless, unable to show even the simplest feelings. The writer believes that human nature is much richer and more capable than what fear and laziness turn it into. Happiness, according to Chekhov, lies in a fulfilling life, where there is a place for strong emotions, interesting communication and individuality.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

Written in May - June 1898. It was first published in the magazine “Russian Thought”, 1898, No. 7. The first part of the “little trilogy”.

Encyclopedic YouTube

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  The idea of ​​creating this series came to Chekhov in the summer. The Little Trilogy series, consisting of three stories: “Man in a Case”, “Gooseberry”, “About Love”, should not have ended with the story “About Love”. While writing the stories, there was a decline in creative activity, and later Chekhov was distracted by tuberculosis.
  Chekhov worked on the story in May - June 1898 in Melikhovo. At the beginning of June of the year, the story was being prepared for publication, and on June 15 of the year the manuscript was sent to the magazine.
  Chekhov wrote about this story in his notebooks:

  “A man in a case: everything is in his case. When I was lying in a coffin, I seemed to be smiling: I had found my ideal.”

  A. P. Chekhov

  Prototype

  Belikov's exact prototype is unknown. Some contemporaries (including V. G. Bogoraz and M. P. Chekhov) believed that the prototype of the “man in a case” was the Taganrog gymnasium inspector Alexander Fedorovich Dyakonov, while others described Dyakonov’s character traits, refuting the opinion of the first. Thus, P. P. Filevsky noted Dyakonov’s generosity and wrote: “I affirm positively that there is nothing in common between “The Man in a Case” and A. F. Dyakonov and no local color can be found in this work by A. P. Chekhov.” .

  Yu. Sobolev believed that the famous publicist M. O. Menshikov could be a likely prototype of the Chekhov hero. Chekhov wrote about him in one of his diaries:

  "M. in dry weather he wears galoshes and carries an umbrella so as not to die from sunstroke, afraid to wash cold water, complains of heart palpitations"

  However, the similarity between Menshikov and Belikov can only be noted externally. Chekhov himself wrote about his brother I.P. Chekhov:

  “He, that is, Ivan, has turned a little gray and still buys everything very cheaply and profitably, and even at good weather takes an umbrella with him."

  From all these facts, we can conclude that the image of the Greek teacher Belikov is collective.
  Now the expression “Man in a Case” has become a common noun in the Russian language, meaning a lonely person who closes himself off from the whole world, creating a shell around himself, a “case.”

  Characters

  • Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Himalayan- veterinary doctor, nobleman. A tall, thin old man with a long mustache.
  • Burkina- gymnasium teacher and friend of I. I. Chimshi-Himalayansky. Tells a story about Belikov.

  Heroes of Burkina's story:

  • Belikov- Greek teacher. He worked together with Burkin at the gymnasium. His favorite phrase: “No matter what happens”
  • Cook Afanasy- old man 60 years old. Belikov's drunken and crazy servant.
  • Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko- teacher of history and geography. Young, dark, a tall man. He comes from Malorosiya (Ukraine), where he came from with his sister.
  • Varenka- Belikov’s beloved, 30 years old. Sister Kovalenko. A tall, slender, black-browed, red-cheeked girl.

  Plot

  The story begins with a description of the overnight stay of two hunters: Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Himalayan and Burkin. They stopped in the village headman's barn and told each other different stories. The conversation turned to the topic of people “who are lonely by nature, who, like a hermit crab or a snail, try to retreat into their shell.” Burkin tells the story of a certain Belikov, who recently died in his town.

  Belikov was the “Man in a Case”. Even in the warmest weather, he went out in a coat, galoshes and an umbrella. And his umbrella had a case, and his watch, and his penknife. And his very face seemed to be in a case, he constantly hid it behind his collar. This man had an irresistible desire to create a shell for himself behind which he would hide from reality. Even the smallest violation or deviation from the rules made him worry. On pedagogical councils he oppressed everyone with his suspiciousness and caution. With his sighs and whining, he put pressure on everyone and everyone gave in to him. Everyone was afraid of him. Belikov had a strange habit - going to teachers’ apartments. He came, sat down and was silent. So he "supported good relations with comrades."

  Once a new history and geography teacher was appointed to the gymnasium, and he came not alone, but with his sister Varenka. She charmed everyone at the director's name day, even Belikov. And then everyone decided to marry them. Varenka was not averse to getting married. But Belikov doubted, he constantly talked about Varenka, about family life and that marriage is a serious step.

  Varenka's brother hated Belikov from the first day they met. He even gave Belikov the name “Look at the Spider.”

  The critic was confused by the combination of a comedic caricature character and the seriousness of Chekhov's gaze, the seriousness of the background.

  “In the gap between Belikov from Burkin’s story and Belikov from Chekhov’s story there is Emptiness. Emptiness is one of the names of the Man in the Case, his secret, his riddle. A hypertrophied and sad socio-cultural with the weakness of the natural, a grotesque body of the political, its evil parody, a jester suddenly turned into a spy with an important report. If you follow the logic of the myth, Belikov’s message must be really important.”

  A. L. Bokshitsky

  The influence of the image

  Modern psychologists consider the image of Belikov as an example of a description of an anxiety disorder.

  A monument to the heroes of the story was erected in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, in the park near the Sakhalin International theater center in 2013.

  Screen adaptation

  • "Man in a Case" - Feature Film, 1939 .
  • "Man in a Case" - animated film,

  Man in a case
  Title of the story (1898) by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904).
  The main character is the provincial teacher Belikov, who is afraid of any innovations, actions not permitted by the “boss,” as well as reality in general. Hence his favorite expression: “No matter what happens...” And, as the author writes, Belikov “had a constant and irresistible desire to surround himself with a shell, to create for himself, so to speak, a case that would seclude him, protect him from external influences."
  The author himself began to use this expression as a common noun. In a letter to his sister M.P. Chekhova, he wrote (November 19, 1899): “The November winds are blowing furiously, whistling, tearing roofs. I sleep in a hat, in shoes, under two blankets, with the shutters closed - a man in a case.”
  Playfully and ironically: a timid person, afraid of bad weather, drafts, and unpleasant external influences.

  Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. - M.: “Locked-Press”.Vadim Serov .2003.

  Man in a case

  This is the name for a person who is afraid of all innovations, drastic measures, very timid, like the teacher Belikov, depicted in the story by A.P. Chekhov's "Man in a Case" (1898). Belikov “he was remarkable in that he always, even in very good weather, went out in galoshes and with an umbrella and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool... When a drama club, or a reading room, or a tea house was allowed in the city, he shook his head and spoke quietly : “It is, of course, so and so, all this is wonderful, but no matter what happens” It is interesting to note that the expression “man in a case” was jokingly used by Chekhov himself; in a letter to M.P. Chekhova dated November 19, 1899, he wrote: “The November winds blow furiously, whistle, tear the roofs. I sleep in a hat, in shoes, under two blankets, with the shutters closed - a man in a case.”.

  Dictionary of catch words.Plutex .2004 .

  
  
  

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