The Lady with the Dog
The Lady with the Dog
by Anton Chekhov

The Lady with the Dog Themes

Little Words, Big Ideas

Love

From reading "The Lady with the Dog," it would seem that love is involuntary. People are made victims of it – often in the worst times, places, and circumstances – beyond their control....

Dissatisfaction

In this story, dissatisfaction – with, marriage, family, work, and life in general – is a big motivating factor for action. Two adulterous lovers find themselves in each other's arms la...

Isolation

"The Lady with the Dog" explores many different kinds of isolation. First there is the isolation from the rest of the world that two secret lovers feel when together. Despite this closeness, the tw...

Reputation

"The Lady with the Dog" reminds us that the threat of scandal always looms. For two adulterous lovers, reputation is forever at risk, as are their marriages and lifestyles. The story also focuses o...

Fate and Free Will

In "The Lady with the Dog," two lovers – both married to other people – lament their predicament and what they consider a shared ill-fate. But should fate be blamed for these unfortunat...