Chameleon: Summary

Anton Chekhov

Ochumelov, a police inspector in this story is walking through a marketplace when “all of a sudden the sound of a voice came to his ears”. After following the voice he discovers that it is Khryukin, who has come by the lumber yard to pick up wood. 

Khryukin claims to have been bitten by a stray dog and demands compensation and that the dog be shot. Ochumelov, now under the eye of an immense crowd of onlookers, immediately agrees with the complainant, pronouncing, “it’s time something be done about gentleman who are not willing to obey the regulations!”. But when someone in the crowd who has come to see what is going on suggests that the dog is the General’s, Ochumelov changes his attitude, now blaming Khryukin for the incident. 

Another onlooker then tells Ochumelov that the dog is in fact not the General’s, and again he changes his attitude, claiming that “the General’s dogs are expensive…and this one- just look at it! Ugly, mangy cur!”. Ochumelov goes on to change his mind every time someone suggests something different about the incident, only in order to protect what will be good for his self. He is worried only about his image as a public figure, each time making his decision based on how he thinks the crowd will perceive him. Ochumelov is the perfect embodiment of human injustice and hypocrisy. 

After, the story goes on to figure out whose dog it is and it’s revieled that it’s the generals brothers. Being friends with the general, the inspector got the dog back to its owner.

Sources: http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/70/anton-chekhov-and-the-development-of-the-modern- character