Sun - “Happiness”
Chekhov writes, “An immense crimson sun came into view surrounded by a faint haze...The silvery wormwood, the blue flowers of the pig's onion, the yellow mustard, the corn-flowers—all burst into gay colours, taking the sunlight for their own smile." Sun is emblematic of happiness for it elicits joy in the plants. Personification of plants, by alluding to their smile, underscores the happiness which is attributed to the sun's streaks. Its warmth brings cheerfulness in the plants. Without the sun, the plants would be absolutely gloomy.
Wail - “The Witch”
Chekhov writes, “Raissa cried for a long time. At last she drew a deep sigh and was still. The storm still raged without. Something wailed in the stove, in the chimney, outside the walls, and it seemed to Savely that the wailing was within him, in his ears.” The wailing denotes grief which is attributed to his wife’s involvement with evil. Raissa is enduring sorrow due to his wife's evil involvement with deny him peace of mind. His wife's supernatural charm cannot diminish the anguish he is experiencing.
Soul - “Peasant Wives”
Dyuda asks, "The little chap will be your son, I'm thinking?" Traveller responds, "No; adopted. An orphan. I took him for my soul's salvation." Alluding to his soul surmises that the traveller is convinced that he will be redeemed due to adopting the orphan. Moreover, the traveller is convinced about the reality of the soul which could be doomed if he is not involved in charitable acts.
“Evil One” -“Peasant Wives”
Matvey Savitch recounts, "a year had not passed before the Evil One, the enemy of all mankind, confounded me. I began to notice that any day I didn't go to see her, I seemed out of sorts and dull. And I'd be continually making up something that I must see her about." The 'Evil One" connotes love or Eros. Savitch's closeness with Mashenka tempts him to fall in love with her. He deems their love evil because Mashenka is married although her husband is not present. Savitch’s happiness lies in seeing Mashenka often for he loves her and feels that she is a component of his existence.
Womankind - “Peasant Wives”
Matvey Savitch narrates, “From womankind comes much evil into the world and every kind of abomination. Not we sinners only; even the saints themselves have been led astray by them. Mashenka did not try to keep me at a distance. Instead of thinking of her husband and being on her guard, she fell in love with me. I began to notice that she was dull without me, and was always walking to and fro by the fence looking into my yard through the cracks.” The Love Instinct governs Mashenka’s actions. She too is besotted by Savitch that she looks for openings to behold him. Savitch feels that Mashenka tempts him in the same way as the biblical Eve led her husband astray. Perhaps, if Mashenka had rejected Savitch, their love would have died eventually.
