Chekhov

The major difference between the two stories is that Chekhov uses a male main character where Oates's chooses to look at the story from the female perspective. This gives us two totally different points of view. Through Chekhov's version the reader can see the masculinity and confusion involved in the relationship from a man's perspective. Dmitry begins by describing women as "the inferior race" and then later in the story says this only to save face while drinking with friends, but thinks of her as above him. It shows the male confusion and struggle involved with realizing love and then finally the male's total sacrifice for this love. Oates on the other hand shows a typical woman filled with different emotions. Anna experiences guilt, lust, and at times even a wish for death. Oates simply shows a female insane because of confusion and a woman that wants certainty and love. Chekhov on the other hand shows a male that at first denies his capability of loving his mistress and then falling completely in awe with her. Although the two authors took a different approach, both did a wonderful job conveying the reality of a person's, no matter if it be male or female, inner struggle with a secret love.

The story ends with each of the main characters in the different stories finally finding peace. In both stories this peace is found when Anna/Dmitry realizes that they are husband and wife, even if not by law, they feel they are through their love. This is where the characterization of the two characters seems to be one in the same. Chekhov is no longer conveying Dmitry as a self gratifying male and Oates is no longer describing Anna has a helpless and lost female. Instead the characters are each shown finding that they have had the happiness they wanted all along without realizing that they do not need others to confirm their love.