NCERT English Class 9th – The Beggar Detailed Summary
Introduction
The Beggar is a famous story written by Anton Chekhov.
The story tells us how kindness, sympathy, and honest work can completely change a person’s life.
Detailed Summary
The story begins when a lawyer named Sergei meets a poor beggar outside his house. The beggar is wearing torn clothes and looks weak and hungry. He asks Sergei for money and says that he was once a school teacher who lost his job because of false accusations.
While listening to him, Sergei suddenly remembers seeing the same man earlier in the street. At that time, the beggar had claimed that he was a university student who had been expelled from college. Sergei realizes that the man is lying.
Sergei becomes angry and scolds him for cheating people through lies. He tells him that begging dishonestly is shameful. Feeling ashamed, the beggar finally tells the truth. His name is Lushkoff. He says that he used to sing in a Russian choir, but he lost his job because of his drinking habit. Now he has no work and begs for survival.
Although Sergei is upset, he also feels pity for him. Instead of giving him money, Sergei decides to help him become independent. He offers Lushkoff some work and asks him to chop wood.
Lushkoff agrees and follows Sergei to the woodshed. There, Sergei’s cook Olga becomes angry when she sees the weak and lazy beggar. She scolds him badly. However, she is actually kind-hearted and feels sorry for him. Seeing that he is too weak to chop wood properly, she secretly chops the wood herself while crying over his miserable condition.
Lushkoff continues visiting Sergei’s house regularly and does small jobs like:
chopping wood,
shoveling snow,
cleaning carpets, and
arranging furniture.
Sergei pays him for the work. Slowly, Lushkoff starts changing. He stops drinking and begins to live honestly.
After some time, Sergei helps him get a job as a copyist in an office.
Two years later, Sergei meets Lushkoff again outside a theatre. Now he is well dressed, healthy, and respectable. He tells Sergei that he earns a good salary and is living a better life.
Sergei feels proud that his advice helped reform the man. But Lushkoff reveals the real truth. He says that it was not Sergei’s lectures that changed him. It was Olga’s kindness and compassion. She used to cry for him, encourage him, and secretly do his work herself. Her goodness touched his heart deeply and inspired him to leave alcohol and start an honest life.
In the end, the story shows that love and kindness can transform even a hopeless person.
Themes of the Story
1. Kindness and Compassion
Olga’s sympathy changes Lushkoff’s life completely.
2. Importance of Honest Work
The story teaches that hard work gives dignity and self-respect.
3. Human Transformation
A person can improve if given support and encouragement.
4. Truth vs Lies
Lushkoff suffers because he lies to people for money.
Character Sketch
Lushkoff
A poor beggar
Addicted to alcohol
Lies for survival
Later becomes honest and responsible
Sergei
A lawyer
Strict but helpful
Wants the beggar to work honestly
Olga
Sergei’s cook
Kind and emotional
The real reason behind Lushkoff’s change
Moral of the Story
Kindness can change a person’s life.
Honest work is better than begging.
Sympathy and encouragement can reform people.
Important Exam Points
Author: Anton Chekhov
Beggar’s real name: Lushkoff
Sergei offers him work instead of money.
Olga secretly chops wood for him.
Lushkoff later becomes a copyist.
Olga’s kindness reforms him completely.
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