Chekhov's Gooseberries

Gooseberries tells the story of two men, Ivan Ivanovich and his friend Burkin who after being stuck in a downpour seek shelter in their friend's barnhouse. In the company of his friends Ivan tells the life story of his brother Nikolay and the things he does to collect the money he needs to buy the farmhouse he always wanted and how it changes him when he finally buys it.

The story has four main characters; Ivan, Burkin, Alehin and Nikolay and two minor characters; Pelagea and the peasants. Burkin and Alehin are static and flat characters whereas Ivan and Nikolay are round and dynamic. Nikolay changes after buying his countryhouse and Ivan changes after visiting his brother at his countryhouse.

We get to see different conflicts throughout the story. We see environmental conflicts when it starts to rain which makes Ivan and Burkin look for a shelter. There's conflict between Nikolay and the peasant whom he treats very poorly. There's also conflict between Ivan and Nikolay in the way they view the world and we see that when the gooseberries tasted delicious to Nikolay but tasted sour and unripe to Ivan.

The main theme of the story is the quest for fulfillment and if there is something greater and more rational in life that happiness. Moreover, social injustice and the way people of great wealth treat less powerful people poorly.