Oysters (short story)

"Oysters" is a short story by Anton Chekhov, published in 1884. The story explores themes of poverty, hunger, and social inequality through the eyes of a young boy and his father begging on the streets of Moscow.

The narrative centers on the boy's intense, consuming hunger and his naive understanding of the word "oysters." He mistakenly believes they are a cheap, readily available food that will satiate his gnawing starvation. His father, a former intellectual reduced to penury, exploits this misunderstanding to elicit sympathy and money from passersby. He repeatedly points out the boy's "desire" for oysters, playing on the perceived exotic nature of the food to garner attention.

The story culminates in the boy finally being given an oyster. His initial revulsion at its appearance and taste, starkly contrasting with his idealized image, underscores the disillusionment and harsh realities of his situation. The oyster, instead of being a source of pleasure, becomes a symbol of the cruel deception and the vast gap between the boy's desires and the actual circumstances of his life. The father's actions can be interpreted as both a survival tactic and a moral compromise. "Oysters" is considered a poignant commentary on the societal indifference to suffering and the corrupting influence of poverty.