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The Lament - Anton Checkhov

 Question- Attempt a detailed character sketch of Iona.

Ans-

Iona is an old sledge driver who is the central character of the story. He has lost his son and mourning his death. Being all alone during his trying times, he now looks for a company, a soul to unburden the load weighing heavy on his heart. While he makes desperate attempts to share his grief,

several layers in his character get revealed. Some striking features in his character are as under:

(i) A Poor Miserable Soul: There is no doubt that besides being grief-stricken, Iona is a poor, miserable creature who despite his current suffering is forced to come out and work. When his son died the previous week, he had no one to comfort him. Therefore, a poor, despondent father that Iona is compelled to come on a wintry evening to earn some money.

(ii) Unaware of His Surroundings: Iona is so consumed in his grief that he is completely unaware of the surroundings. When the story begins, he is described 'all white like a ghost'. He sits alone in his horse-driven sleigh waiting for a fare. He is 'bent as double as the living body can be bent' which is a poor enough that he is both old and grievous. He is so plunged in the thoughts of his son that he is totally unaware of his surroundings, even the

snow.

(iii) A Humble, Kind Character: Iona is a humble, kind character who is desperate for human companionship as he grieves for his son. The army officer he meets first is all young and energetic but seems to have no interest in the story. Infact, when Iona cranes his neck to look at him to tell his tale of woe, he is met with harsh words. The officer prefers to shut his eyes and not be a part in his sorrowful tale.

Later when three men, two tall and thin, one short and hunchback get into his sledge, they come as revellers who are engrossed in merriment. When the hunchback pokes fun at his cap, Iona simply laughs. He only has kind words for everyone. Despite being hit at the neck or coughed at, the cab driver doesn't mind it. He is happy to have some company even if for a while. The proof of his kindness can conclusively be seen in the way when he ultimately looks for an animal's companionship due to his thirst for speech.

(iv) Naive to the Ways of the Practical World: The misery of a poor cabman is only heightened because he makes a mistake in looking for kindness, compassion and sympathy in the people around. He mistakes the crowd for a company. In the absence of family and close friends, the comfort he looks for is conversing with a stranger. But he is naive and impractical. He believes talking to people would alleviate his grief. His naivety is also exhibited when he accepts less fare from the three revellers who appear boisterous and unruly. He is satisfied as long as he gets some fare.

(v) Grief-stricken: An important trait which defines his personality and his conduct through the warp and woof of the story is his grievous nature. Mourning the loss of his son, he loses all purpose and meaning in his life. He finds a death-in-life existence. He has no mate, no companion. Thus, there is a strong desire to get into talking to someone. Everyone has a different way of grappling with the adversities in life. Some are silenced while others desperately hunt for a person who they can confide their pain in. May be, it is their way of recovering from the shock. However, one thing very striking and pronounced in his personality is the fact that he wishes to be heard for he is grieving and lamenting the loss of his son who left for his heavenly abode. quite soon.

(vi) Lacks the Ability to Deal With Pain: The pain and suffering Iona goes through after his son's death is all due to the fact that he lacks preparedness. It seems he was never prepared for the adversity that hits him hard. He, like any other father, cannot imagine that the son could go before

him to the grave. Here, his inability to deal with pain gets magnified. He yearns for some human company. He waits endlessly for his passengers/fare. He mistakes the people in the world for kind hearted souls but later his myth is shattered and he realizes how heartless and feelingless people might be. His inability to deal with-pain makes him the victim of humiliation. The misery he is subjected to at the hands of the passengers and the others is enough to discomfort or affect people but not him.

Iona is undoubtedly a miserable, sorrowful character who remains firm and steadfast in the display of emotions. He makes several unsuccessful attempts to strike a conversation but fails every time. The artificiality and superficiality of the world is something he cannot relate with. He appears more phantom-like in the beginning. The colour white describes the darkness and gloominess that has sunk deep in his heart. Only nature seems to be in synchronisation with the emotions running deep within him. Therefore, Iona is portrayed a grievous, mournful character who has a single desire to be heard or listened to. "Thirst for speech' prompts him everytime to talk which results in disastrous and humiliating encounters with the fares he meet that evening. He is a character which arouses pity in the readers and Anton Chekhov needs to be credited for his timeless classic like this which is relevant even in times of today.

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