Who Was to Blame? Page #2

"Who Was to Blame?" is a short story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov that delves into themes of guilt, responsibility, and the complexities of human relationships. The narrative revolves around a tragic incident in which a man is killed by a train, prompting a discussion among the townspeople about who is at fault. Through their varying perspectives, Chekhov explores the intricacies of blame, societal norms, and the human tendency to evade accountability. The story highlights the moral ambiguity in assessing guilt and the ways in which individuals rationalize their own actions in the face of tragedy.

								

hand. . . . After the fourth mouse my uncle flew into a rage, kicked the
kitten, and said:

"Take the nasty thing away! Get rid of it! Chuck it away! It's no
earthly use!"

A year passed, the thin, frail kitten had turned into a solid and
sagacious tom-cat. One day he was on his way by the back yards to an
amatory interview. He had just reached his destination when he suddenly
heard a rustle, and thereupon caught sight of a mouse which ran from a
water-trough towards a stable; my hero's hair stood on end, he arched
his back, hissed, and trembling all over, took to ignominious flight.

Alas! sometimes I feel myself in the ludicrous position of the flying
cat. Like the kitten, I had in my day the honour of being taught Latin
by my uncle. Now, whenever I chance to see some work of classical
antiquity, instead of being moved to eager enthusiasm, I begin
recalling, ut consecutivum, the irregular verbs, the sallow grey face of
my uncle, the ablative absolute. . . . I turn pale, my hair stands up on
my head, and, like the cat, I take to ignominious flight.
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