9. The Beggar - Class 9 - Moments

Author: Anton Chekhov

Genre: Realistic Short Story

Source: Moments, CBSE Class 9

📝 Summary

"The Beggar" is a powerful short story by Anton Chekhov that highlights human compassion, the impact of dignity, and the potential for personal reform. The story follows Lushkoff, a beggar who tries to deceive a lawyer named Sergei by giving false stories about his past. Sergei catches his lies but chooses to help him by offering work instead of money.

Lushkoff reluctantly agrees to chop wood, though he is too weak and unfit for physical labour. Unknown to Sergei, it is his cook, Olga, who actually chops the wood for him while constantly scolding him and expressing pity. Her emotional engagement and silent support touch Lushkoff deeply. This compassion and constant exposure to honest labour gradually inspire a transformation in him.

Years later, Sergei meets Lushkoff again and learns that he has become a notary earning a decent living. Lushkoff credits both Sergei and Olga for helping him change his life, but especially Olga, whose silent sacrifice and moral support moved him deeply. The story beautifully conveys how empathy and quiet acts of kindness can lead to redemption and change.

👤 Character Sketches

Lushkoff: Lushkoff is a dishonest and weak man at the beginning, pretending to be a teacher or student to gain sympathy. He is physically frail and addicted to alcohol, but also sensitive to genuine kindness. Through the silent service and emotional impact of Olga’s actions, he reforms and becomes a responsible man. His transformation reflects the power of moral awakening and human dignity.

Sergei: Sergei is a rational and kind-hearted advocate who believes in reforming people through work, not charity. He exposes Lushkoff’s lies but chooses to help him by offering honest work. Though strict initially, Sergei represents practical compassion and plays a guiding role in Lushkoff’s reformation.

Olga: Olga, Sergei’s cook, is a silent hero of the story. She scolds Lushkoff but also chops the wood for him and sheds tears for his misery. Her quiet service and moral guidance are the true reasons behind Lushkoff’s transformation, though she never claims credit.

📚 Themes

✨ Literary Devices

📖 Title Justification

The title “The Beggar” focuses on the central figure of the story, Lushkoff, who begins as a dishonest beggar but transforms into a respectable man. The word "beggar" is symbolic of helplessness and degradation, yet the story shows that even a beggar can be redeemed with compassion and opportunity. The title also provokes thought about the causes of begging and the role society plays in lifting such individuals.

✅ One-Mark Questions

1. Who was Lushkoff and how did he earn a living in the beginning?

   → Lushkoff was a beggar who lied about being a student or a teacher to earn money through sympathy.
   

2. What work did Sergei offer Lushkoff? → Sergei asked Lushkoff to chop wood at his home instead of begging.

   
   

3. Why did Lushkoff initially agree to chop wood? → Lushkoff agreed out of shame and pride, not out of a desire to work.
   

4. What change did Sergei observe in Lushkoff during the furniture moving?

   → Sergei noticed that Lushkoff was sober and had stopped pretending to work, showing signs of improvement.
   

5. What confession does Lushkoff make at the end of the story? → Lushkoff admits that Olga chopped the wood for him and her kindness reformed him.

✅ Three-Mark Questions

1. How does Olga help in the transformation of Lushkoff?

Olga, the cook working at Sergei’s house, plays the most vital yet silent role in Lushkoff’s transformation. Though she scolds and taunts him for being a drunkard and lazy, she also secretly does his work, such as chopping wood, because she knows he is too weak to do it. Her actions reflect a combination of compassion and tough love. Lushkoff is deeply moved by her kindness and the fact that someone is silently helping him without expecting anything in return. This emotional impact motivates him to reform, stop drinking, and live honestly.

2. Why did Sergei continue to employ Lushkoff despite his lies?

Sergei was a perceptive and kind-hearted advocate who believed in reforming people through dignity and self-reliance rather than charity. Although he knew Lushkoff was lying about being a teacher or a student, he chose not to punish him. Instead, he offered him honest work—like chopping wood—so that Lushkoff could earn his bread through labour. Sergei’s practical approach, his belief in offering second chances, and his faith in the potential for change helped Lushkoff start on a new path. His trust and compassion played an important role in the man’s reformation.

3. What kind of life is Lushkoff leading at the end of the story?

By the end of the story, Lushkoff has completely turned his life around. He has become a notary—a respectable profession—after leaving behind his life of begging and alcoholism. He earns a regular and honest income, is clean and well-dressed, and appears confident and content. This change is a result of the support he received from Sergei and, more importantly, from Olga. Lushkoff admits that Olga’s silent sacrifice and moral strength touched his heart and inspired him to give up drinking and lead a dignified life. His transformation is a testament to the power of kindness.

🧠 Value-Based Question

Q. What does the story “The Beggar” teach us about the power of silent compassion?

Answer: The story shows that even small acts of kindness, done silently and without expecting recognition, can deeply influence and transform someone’s life. Olga, the cook, never claimed to help Lushkoff, yet her actions were the reason he changed. It reminds us that empathy, dignity, and emotional support are often more powerful than lectures or punishment in bringing about change in others.

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