Literary Criticism: Pyscho-analytic Approach

The Lottery Ticket  by Anton Checkov

“The Lottery Ticket” is a very interesting short story and one of the stories that leaves impression on me. The story tells about how we, people, become so selfish over earthly things to the extent that we gave birth to insecurity, hatred and evil-thoughts.

The said story was written by Anton Chekov; the characters in the story are Ivan Dmitrch and his wife Masha, the two represent people who try their luck thru lottery. And it can be observed thru psycho-analytic approach because the characters in the story have interesting personalities that are patterned wit human nature.

In this story, though, there is no accurate description about the two main characters, it seems to be that Ivan and Masha together with their children live simply in their abode, and contented with what they have. It implicitly describes that Ivan had no faith in lottery, while his wife, and appears to be one of the few people who tries their luck in lottery. But all things have changes when they, thought, won in the lottery; and started daydreaming of how they will spend the money. And such daydreaming a conflict arises, conflict between the internal and external behavior of the characters especially Ivan. Conflict because Ivan’s internal behavior is different from the way he act or do; his desires, needs was unfolded thru daydreaming, or internal monologue in the story. He lets his id take him over, which gave birth to ill-thoughts and selfishness; and it can be seen on the part where he thinks of enjoying a luxurious  vacation alone, and even think of re-marrying. But all their daydreaming were stopped and became shattered as reality slaps them with  the truth that they didn’t won, and all were just misconception.

Anton checkov is considered to be the master of short story and uses themes that related to everyday life. And this particular story, “The Lottery Ticket” hits the jackpot of awakening people of how money could change everything. Money is one of people’s weaknesses; and Anton uses money as his theme in this story. He provides concrete example of how people could change when they were influenced with money; he shows how money could make a person a monster. And he uses money to unfold the hidden desire, needs and motives of Ivan.

In my opinion, Anton Checkov uses money as his theme because he is fully aware of how money could drive people crazy, and want to wake people up about this.