How did the political problems influence Chekhov?

Question by Johnnie: How do you think the political problems in the last decade of the Czar’s reign influence Chekhov?
How do you think the political problems in the last decade of the Czar’s reign influence Chekhov’s, and his characters’, ideas on freedom, materialism (a preoccupation with material rather than intellectual or spiritual things), and personal sacrifice?
This is for my English class and we are reading a story called “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov who was Russian.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Ted H
The Bet was written in 1889, so its writing comes under the time of Alexander III.

Alexander III first shut the doors of his empire, promoting a strong nationalism through a renewed policy of Russification, the systematic erasure of all cultures but Muscovy Russian. He strengthened the internal espionage unit designed to hunt down and eliminate the radical groups he felt plagued his empire. He cared little about the effects of policies that delayed or reversed his father’s emancipation reforms. His policies had a negative effect on the economy, by reducing international exchange of both ideas and goods. Unfortunately for Alexander III and his administration, his draconian measures were successful in fomenting further resentment among the populous. Alexander III died in late 1894.
http://virtueofthesmall.com/old_sites/littlegreenpig/articles/RussiaDuringCheckhov/ (good link)

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