Why did Gerasim drown his dog? - briefly
Gerasim drowned his dog out of mercy and to prevent it from suffering further due to its advanced age and severe illness.
Why did Gerasim drown his dog? - in detail
The decision of Gerasim to drown his dog is a poignant and complex moment in Anton Chekhov's short story "Death of a Government Clerk." This act, while seemingly cruel, is deeply rooted in the themes of compassion, mercy, and the inevitable cycle of life and death that permeate Chekhov's work.
Gerasim is a humble servant to Ivan Dmitrich, a government clerk who is terminally ill. Throughout the story, Gerasim displays an extraordinary capacity for empathy and understanding towards his ailing master. This compassion extends beyond human beings; it includes animals as well. When Ivan Dmitrich's dog becomes increasingly frail and suffers from convulsions, Gerasim decides to end its life mercifully.
The act of drowning the dog can be seen as an extension of Gerasim's deep respect for life in all its forms. He does not want the dog to continue suffering in pain. Instead of allowing nature to take its course, which might involve a prolonged and agonizing death, Gerasim chooses to intervene out of compassion. This act is not one of cruelty but rather a profound expression of mercy and kindness.
Moreover, Chekhov uses this scene to highlight the universality of suffering and the indifference of nature towards it. The dog's fate serves as a stark contrast to Ivan Dmitrich's own struggle with illness, underscoring the theme that all life is subject to the same cruel realities of pain and death. Gerasim's action emphasizes the idea that sometimes, the most compassionate thing one can do is to put an end to unnecessary suffering.
In conclusion, Gerasim drowns his dog not out of malice but out of a deep sense of mercy and compassion. This act underscores Chekhov's exploration of the human condition, where the boundaries between life and death, kindness and cruelty, are often blurred.