“A NINCOMPOOP”, by Anton Chekhov
Articulation. Assertiveness. Teeth, claws and a nincompoop.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
“If You Can Think and Speak and Write, You Are Absolutely Deadly.” – Jordan B Peterson
Today, I share an utterly important message on assertiveness. I do this by summarizing and then elaborating my reflection on the short story, “A NINCOMPOOP”, by Anton Chekhov.
Summary: A NINCOMPOOP
The story begins with the narrator discussing with Julia Vassilyevn—his children’s governess—her monthly salary. The narrator was assertive and incessantly conjured up reasons–many, if not all, of which were unwarranted–to reduce Julia’s salary. Julia’s feeble attempts to rebuke were to no avail. Eventually the originally promised 40 rubles was reduced to only 11, in the face of which Julia merely said, “Merci” to the narrator. The narrator was caught off guard. He inquired why she’d thanked him in spite of his manipulative condescension; only to discover that JV had previously been treated even more unreasonably: some of her employers did not even care to pay her. As such, 11 rubles—an outcome of having been reduced from 40–sufficed to satisfy her.
The narrator wondered how it was “possible in this world to be without teeth and claws - to be such a nincompoop”. He was ultimately dumbfounded by “how easy it (was) to crush the weak in this world.”
Reflection
For the longest of times I was disapproved of by many around me for cultivating an assertive approach to various facets of my life. It should be noted that I have always been agreeable and I severely dislike conflicts, often avoiding them even when they are warranted. I also recognize the importance of remaining tactful. But, by the same token, I have learnt and realized the importance of speaking up when necessary; not in a confrontational or hostile manner, but standing my ground unless I am convinced otherwise. Of course, in the meantime, I listen intently to the opposite party so as not to allow my ego to blind myself from the truth. Nevertheless, in my teenage years, I was told that no one, especially in the workplace, would be willing to negotiate; that I am to submit to authority no matter the circumstances; that obedience is a virtue that increases the likelihood of elevating one’s career whereas any quality approximating the opposite is negative.
Fortunately, things have changed and I am relieved to know that assertiveness is and should be adopted. Ironically, some of those who had discouraged me from standing my ground are the same individuals who have sought my advice in being assertive but reasonable in the face of negotiations.
The narrator is right. We should live and develop ourselves such that we have “teeth and claws” at our disposal, so that we are ourselves dangerous predators. This is not so that we can go on to manipulate others as the narrator experimented on Julia Vassilyevn. Rather, it is for the purpose of being able to defend ourselves in the face of the evil others, who possess equally polished “teeth and claws”. It is for the purpose of staving off unnecessary anxiety, because we know that we are strong and able to protect ourselves. It is for the purpose of feeling sufficiently confident such that we can stand up straight with our shoulders back. It is for the purpose of being sufficiently competent and articulate to negotiate and grapple with the difficult others whom we will inevitably encounter in our lives, especially during times when we are left alone, unprotected by our loved ones. It is for the purpose of standing our ground when needs be. It is for the purpose of procuring what we truly deserve.
Fortunately or not, we live in a world where evil lurks omnipresently. The solution to this is not to view ourselves pitiable; or to shake our fists resentfully at our imperfect world; or to remain protected in our familial bubble eternally; or to remain merely docile, thinking it a moral virtue to “differ from the monstrous majority”.
No.
We must–not should or can, but must–equip ourselves so that we are able to be fit inhabitants of the world. Should we not, we will be taught the consequences in the form of being victims to grave manipulation and exploitation. It is, I believe, intuitive that anyone in the right mind would prefer to be able to protect not just ourselves but also the ones around us, who matter to us; to by-the-by, be qualified to be a force of goodness to facets of the world which are distal to us and not just within our proximal reach.
Chekhov has painted the picture vividly enough. It is now up to us to respond to the world independently.