This beautiful, brief portrait is one of Chekhov’s best stories.
Bishop Pyotr is someone who has “risen above his station,” transcending his modest roots. He is a good man, caring, modest, and cautious.
There is not much in the way of plot. His mother comes to visit him and he is filled with joy; he falls ill and he is cared for by his loyal attendant. When he dies, it seems as if the entire world has forgotten him, save for his poor mother.
It’s a gentle, quiet narrative, as modest as the title character.
“The Bishop” was written late in Chekhov’s life. It is the work of a mature author who isn’t concerned with plot or even event. It’s all about creating, in an incredibly economical way, a rich psychological portrait of a man.
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Chekhov often focused his gaze on hypocrites and bullies. Much less often–but not never–he wrote admiringly of good men leading honest lives. One such portrait is “A Day in the Country.” Not only does this story feature a decent and caring man, Terenty, but it also treats the rural poor with a respect that is almost never found in his stories. Terenty and Bishop Pyotr are probably the kindest of all of Chekhov’s characters.
A Chekhov Circus 