Kardelen

‘'Ward No. 6'' (1892) by Anton Chekhov is one of the best short stories written in its time and tells us a lot about the conflict of “society vs. others”. Chekhov, who is also a doctor, wrote the story that takes place in an asylum. In the beginning, the author introduces you to ward no. 6 and the staff members of the asylum. We read the story from the point of view of an omniscient narrator. The main character, Doctor Yefimitch, starts to spend a lot of time talking with one of the patients in ward no. 6 and, because of that, others spread rumours about the Doctor's mental health. By writing these rumours, Chekhov uses the Chekhov's gun. Doctor did not know it then, but his relationship with “the madman” would change his life in a dramatic way. Chekhov uses conflicts like sanity vs insanity to show the perspective of a madman and the perspective of the others from society. Also, when we look at the conversations of the doctor and patience, we come across with another conflict: life vs death. This story is one of the best examples of a story that illustrates how society works. ‘'Ward No. 6'' will cause you to question society and its rules. If you are looking for a dramatic, thought-provoking story, I would highly recommend you “Ward No. 6”. This story will be unforgettable for you. I want to finish my review with one of my favourite quotes from the story: “So long as prisons and madhouses exist, someone must be shut up in them.” If not you, I. If not I, some third person. “