TWO WRONGS MAKE ROMANCE

Abstract

In Anton Chekhov's short story, The Lady with the Dog, the main characters, Gurov and Anna, fall in love while trapped in unhappy marriages. Their story isn't just about cheating, it is about how people deal with strong outside forces like society's rules, unfair gender roles, and their own feelings of guilt and confusion. This article looks closely at how Gurov and Anna struggle with both their personal choices and the expectations placed on them by the world around them. Even though they are not dramatic or rebellious characters, their quiet love becomes a way of fighting back against a life that feels dishonest and empty. Chekhov shows that real emotions can exist even in situations that society sees as wrong, and that even ordinary people can face powerful emotional battles. By studying the story through a close reading method and using ideas from literature, this article explores how the characters’ feelings grow and change over time. Gurov starts to question his life and how he sees women, while Anna carries deep shame for going against what society expects of her. Their love does not fix everything, but it helps them understand themselves better. Chekhov does not give the story a clear or happy ending. Instead, he leaves the characters in a space full of uncertainty, which makes the story feel more real. This shows that love and happiness can be difficult to achieve when people are forced to follow strict rules.