The Beggar
The Beggar by Anton Chekhov shows how kindness, more than charity or scolding, can reform a man's life. The page gives a clear summary, the theme, the characters and exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall how Lushkoff changes through the story.
- Understand the theme of compassion and work.
- Describe Lushkoff, Sergei and Olga.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary
Lushkoff, a beggar, approaches a lawyer named Sergei, claiming to be a poor educated man — once a teacher — who has fallen on hard times. Sergei, however, recognises him as a liar who had earlier told a completely different sob story, and scolds him for begging through lies. Instead of giving money, Sergei offers Lushkoff work: chopping wood. Though weak and clearly unused to hard labour, Lushkoff agrees out of shame and chops the wood badly. Sergei continues to give him various odd jobs over time, and eventually helps him find proper work. Years later, Sergei meets Lushkoff again and finds him transformed into a respectable man with a steady job as a notary. Lushkoff then reveals the truth: it was not really the wood-chopping that saved him. Sergei's cook, Olga, used to do most of the chopping and other work for him, all the while scolding him but also pitying him, and it was her compassion and kind words that touched his heart and set him on the path to a better life.
Theme
The story's themes are the power of compassion and the dignity of honest work. While Sergei's offer of work and his scolding play a part, it is the quiet kindness and pity of Olga that truly reform Lushkoff. The story shows that gentle compassion can change a person more deeply than charity or harsh words, and that work can restore dignity.
Characters
Lushkoff is a beggar and habitual liar who is reformed and becomes a respectable notary. Sergei is a lawyer who refuses to give money but offers work and the chance to change. Olga, Sergei's cook, is the quiet heroine whose compassion and kind-hearted scolding truly transform Lushkoff's life.
About the author
Anton Chekhov was a great Russian writer of short stories and plays, admired for his deep insight into human nature. In this story he gently reveals that it is compassion, often unseen, that has the greatest power to change a human heart.
Key definitions
- Beggar
- A person who lives by asking for money; Lushkoff at the start.
- Notary
- A respectable legal official; what Lushkoff finally becomes.
- Compassion
- Sympathy and care for others, shown by Olga.
- Reform
- To change for the better, as Lushkoff does.
Solved examples
Q1. Why does Sergei refuse to give Lushkoff money?
Solution: Because he recognises Lushkoff as a liar begging through false stories.
Q2. What work does Sergei give Lushkoff?
Solution: Chopping wood, and later other odd jobs.
Q3. Who really reformed Lushkoff?
Solution: Olga, the cook, through her compassion and kind words.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the wood-chopping alone reformed Lushkoff (it was Olga's kindness).
- Confusing Sergei (lawyer) with Lushkoff (beggar).
- Forgetting that Lushkoff was at first a liar.
- Missing the theme that compassion changes people most.
The Beggar — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
The Beggar was written by:
Practice questions
Short answer
Why does Sergei not give money to Lushkoff?
Because Lushkoff is a liar begging with false stories.
What work does Lushkoff do?
Chopping wood and other odd jobs.
Who truly reformed Lushkoff and how?
Olga, the cook, through her compassion and kind words.
Long answer
How does Sergei respond to Lushkoff's begging, and what does he offer instead of money?
When Lushkoff the beggar approaches Sergei, he claims to be a poor, educated man — a former teacher — who has been driven to begging by misfortune. Sergei, however, remembers having seen this same man before, telling an entirely different hard-luck story, and so he realises that Lushkoff is a liar who begs by deceiving people. Angered by this dishonesty, Sergei scolds him sharply for lying and begging instead of working. Yet rather than simply turning him away, Sergei decides to give Lushkoff a chance to earn an honest living: he offers him work, asking him to chop wood. Although Lushkoff is weak and clearly unaccustomed to physical labour, he agrees out of shame and sets to work, though he does the job poorly. Sergei continues to provide him with various odd jobs and eventually helps him find proper employment, giving the beggar a path away from his dishonest life.
Who really brought about Lushkoff's transformation, and what does this reveal about the power of compassion?
Although Sergei believed that giving Lushkoff work had reformed him, the truth, revealed years later, is quite different. When Sergei meets Lushkoff again and finds him a respectable notary with a steady job, Lushkoff confesses that it was not really the wood-chopping that saved him. The real cause of his transformation was Sergei's cook, Olga. Whenever Lushkoff was given work to do, Olga would actually do most of the chopping and other tasks for him; but more importantly, she would scold him for his idleness and dishonesty while also showing him genuine pity and kindness. Her compassion and her caring words touched Lushkoff's heart deeply and awakened in him the desire to become a better man. This reveals that compassion has a greater power to change a person than charity or harsh punishment alone. It was not money, nor even the work itself, but Olga's quiet, heartfelt kindness that truly reformed Lushkoff's life.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why was Olga's kindness more effective than Sergei's scolding or charity?
Because her genuine compassion touched Lushkoff's heart and made him want to change from within, whereas scolding or money could only address his behaviour on the surface.
Why does Sergei's plan still 'work' even though he was wrong about the reason?
Because his offer of work brought Lushkoff into contact with Olga, whose compassion reformed him; Sergei's good intention set the change in motion, even if the true cause was different.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Author: Anton Chekhov; the beggar is Lushkoff, a liar.
- Sergei recognises his lies, refuses money, and offers work (chopping wood) and odd jobs.
- Years later Lushkoff is a respectable notary.
- He reveals the cook Olga did the work and, through her compassion and kind words, truly reformed him. Theme: compassion and dignity of work.
Key takeaways
- Compassion changes people more than charity or scolding.
- Honest work can restore dignity.
- Olga's quiet kindness reformed Lushkoff.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote The Beggar?
Anton Chekhov.
What does Sergei offer the beggar?
Work instead of money.
What is the theme?
The power of compassion and the dignity of honest work.