Checkhov, in my opinion, uses the element of irony very well in this story. It is clear that Efimia has been with Andrei for a long time, due to their children. I believe that Efimia has not had any contact with her parents in these years, as Checkhov writes `his [Andrei] wife had given him letters at three or four different times, and had asked him to send them to the village, but important business had always interfered, and the letters had remained lying about unposted.` In this quote, I see Checkhov showing Andrei preventing Efimia from contacting here parents in an attempt to keep her isolated and under his control. I see this idea supported by another quote, as Checkhov writes “Andrei returned to his room to smoke until the next patient…
