Chekhov, Anton, CHEHK awf, ahn TAWN (1860-1904), was a Russian playwright and short-story writer. His works show the stagnant, helpless quality of Russian society, especially the rural landowners, in the late 1800's. Most of his characters are decent and sensitive. They dream of improving their lives, but most fail, victims of their sense of helplessness and uselessness. Scholars believe Chekhov probably was criticizing the backwardness he saw in Russian social and political life under the czars. But he never preached at his readers or audiences, preferring to present highly individualized characters with specific problems.