Essay on The Chameleon

        Chekov’s short stories serve as a reminder about the human nature and the way human beings interact with the society and different factors that reside into it. His authored short story The Chameleon is the shortest one of his career. With almost four pages but a meaningful insight The Chameleon reflects the dual standards of society and the adaptability of human’s moral compass according to the situation. Chekov’s writing uses symbolism and dark themes to convey the underlying meaning.  The Chameleon reflects the disparity in society and exposes the face of society in a subtle manner. Chekov has used the small yet crisp story to its full potential.

        The story of “The Chameleon” revolves around an investigation and journey of a police officer in pursuit of the truth. The police officer named Otchumyelov is the character referred in the title. The story is basically journey about how Otchumyelov changes his mind several times on how to act in the given situation as he is not aware of the facts. Chekov has penned down the story in a way such that doesn’t confuse the reader but brings about the real meaning behind the story.

        The story begins with Otchumyelov walking in the market carrying a parcel under his arm when he notices a certain panic kind of activity in the market. This all panic is due to a puppy biting the goldsmith’s finger. Hryukin is the goldsmith who is initially the victim of the little dog’s bite. The story proceeds further with Otchumyelov being sympathetic towards the victim.

    "So you bite, you damned brute?" Otchumyelov hears suddenly. "Lads, don't let him go! Biting is prohibited nowadays! Hold him! ah . . . ah!" (Chekov, 1891)

    Being in authority and belonging to the police he wants a report about the crime so justice can be served. The Chameleon in him reveals when he is informed about the alleged owner of the little dog. Someone from the crowd reveals to him that the dog belongs to the General Zhigalov. The Chameleon Otchumyelov changes his initial stance and tries to blame the poor goldsmith now. He questions his account by saying:

    "There's one thing I can't make out, how it came to bite you?" Otchumyelov turns to Hryukin. "Surely it couldn't reach your finger. It's a little dog, and you are a great hulking fellow! You must have scratched your finger with a nail, and then the idea struck you to get damages for it. We all know . . . your sort! I know you devils!" (Chekov, 1891)

    Not only in this he questions the goldsmith but blames him for getting the bitten. He tries to blame the goldsmith for plotting to get the damages. This shows and exposes the class system that exists within Russia that how a committed officer changes his color when being informed the crime might be involving someone linked to a worthy local.  The Chameleon inside Otchumyelov doesn’t stop here but changes his color by referring to the idea that a noble person like a General would not own such an animal and he must reach to the real owner of the dog.  The Otchumyelov asks his subordinate to take the puppy to the house of General and ask about the ownership of dog.

    Otchumyelov maybe a chameleon but he knows he doesn’t want to offend the General and has made up a self-defense mechanism that he was trying to protect the dog.  The Chameleon inside him is reveled again when from the crowd the cook of General informs the dog doesn’t belong to the General. Otchumyelov reacts to it by calling the dog a menace but soon that is going to change as the same cook informs him that the dog belongs to the brother of General. Otchumyelov changes his colors again referring to the dog as a little pup now. He sends of the dog with the cook. All of this happens as Hryukin stands in cold with his swollen finger being the laughing stock of the crowd.  The final instincts of the Chameleon are revealed as Otchumyelov sings off by threatening the poor victim by saying;

        “I will make you smart!” (Chekov, 1891)

    This is said to reaffirm that Otchumyelov knows the reality that he has made himself to satisfy his ego that the goldsmith faked the incident. The Chameleon reveals the convenience how the human beings change according to their convenience and not being inclined towards the truth but what satisfies their egos. The story reveals the symbolic meaning of The Chameleon as a tool being used by people to judge different class of people differently showing that the worthy class is superior and must be treated differently.  Chekov has not shied from expressing his raw feelings about the human nature and has shown by the help of the police officers how human beings change their views and moral compass according to their needs.

    He tells how weak will be oppressed by the ones in power. The use of puppy is symbolic as it shows how the worthy’s dog is superior and free from mistake than a genuine victim. The twists about ownership reveal that the same dog maybe treated differently had he belonged to someone from the masses but he was allowed to leave and called little puppy as he belonged to someone related to the worthy person. The police officer acts like a Chameleon in this entire but leaves the scene without being ridiculed. Chekov has smartly in this story exposed the dual standards that existed in the Russian society.

 References of The Chameleon