The Duel by Anton Chekhov. Short summary

5 seconds

The official Laevsky is fed up with his lying life, his unfaithful concubine, and his boring job. Out of despair, he achieves a duel. Both opponents survive. Laevsky marries and takes his job.

1 minute

Ivan Andreevich Laevsky complains to his friend, the military doctor Samoilenko, about his personal life. Ivan has consorted with a married woman, and now realizes that there was no love. The doctor proposes marriage to his friend. The zoologist scientist von Koren and a young deacon dine with Samoilenko. The zoologist angrily criticizes the idle Laevsky. The whole town knows that his Nadya is dating the bailiff Kirilin and the son of the shopkeeper Achmianov.

Laevsky decides to flee to St. Petersburg. He asks Samoilenko for money for the journey. Nadezhda is afraid that they will find out about her betrayal. Ivan is nervous and, unable to restrain himself, he insults the doctor and von Koren. He accuses them of interfering in his private life. Koren accepts a challenge to a duel.

In the evening Achmianov’s son brings Laevsky to the house, where he finds Nadezhda and Kirilin. Laevsky does not sleep all night. He thinks of his worthless, deceitful existence. In a duel, both opponents miss. Laevsky marries Nadezhda and works day and night to pay off his debts.