Reading Mindfully: Chekhov’s “The Princess”

Reading Mindfully: Chekhov’s “The Princess”

Based on the success of our eighteen-day mindful reading initiative earlier this year, we launch our monthly mindful reading series as a springboard to think about and to practice, compassion, empathy and awareness – of ourselves and of the world we live in. Reading mindfully allows us a few quiet minutes in the day to focus on something different, something literary or artful. Won’t you join us this week, and share your thoughts and reactions?

Anton Chekhov’s short story, “The Princess” is hardly a fairy tale. It begins when the princess of the story’s title arrives at a monastery for her annual retreat – a time to live simply. As Chekhov describes it, “The shy novices, the stillness, the low ceilings, the smell of cypress, the modest fare, the cheap curtains on the windows – all this touched her, softened her and disposed her to contemplation and good thoughts.”

But the story doesn’t end with quiet contemplation – it quickly turns to focus on misunderstandings and the failings of empathy.

As you read “The Princess,” please consider these questions:

  • How does Chekhov’s Princess fail to be self-aware?
  • And what impacts do these failures have on others?
  • What do the different perspectives reveal about the Princess? About the doctor?
  • How is empathy portrayed in this story? Who has empathy? Who lacks it?
  • What does the story expose about the nature of philanthropy?
  • What is real generosity?

The Princess
Anton Chekhov

A CARRIAGE with four fine sleek horses drove in at the big so-called Red Gate of the N—— Monastery. While it was still at a distance, the priests and monks who were standing in a group round the part of the hostel allotted to the gentry, recognized by the coachman and horses that the lady in the carriage was Princess Vera Gavrilovna, whom they knew very well. Keep Reading

Image: Konstantin Yuon, Troitse-Sergiyev Monastery, c. 1910 [Public Domain] via Wikiart.org

Further Reading:

Why We Are Still Reading Mindfully

How Reading Fiction Increases Our Capacity for Empathy

The Element of Surprise: What Stories Help Us See

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Cecily Erin Hill

Cecily Erin Hill

Cecily Hill is the Project Director, NEH for All at the National Humanities Alliance and former member of the Books@Work team.