A Pink Stocking

‘The Pink Stocking‘ by Anton Chekhov is a short story that unfolds on a dreary, rainy day with Pavel Petrovitch Somov, feeling bored and restless, pacing in his study. His wife, Madame Somov, is described as a pretty little lady wearing a light blouse and pink stockings, busily writing a letter to her sister Varya. Curious and looking for a distraction, Somov asks to read the letter and, while initially disinterested, he becomes increasingly concerned and confused as he progresses through the pages. Upon finishing the letter, he reacts with shock and disbelief, flinging the sheets on the table and uttering that the content is ‘beyond anything‘ and ‘positively incredible.‘ The story hints at a marital dynamic filled with secrets and perhaps suggests that Madame Somov has written something unexpected or alarming, leaving both the character and the reader with a sense of perplexity and intrigue.