(256 words) Loneliness is a heavy burden, which not everyone can bear. Most of the people need support and understanding, like Jonah Potapov, the protagonist of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's story “Tosca”. If we often think about our perception of loneliness, then the feelings of another person hardly concern us. But, despite the brevity and conciseness, the works of A.P. Chekhov is always given such food for thought, and we can imagine ourselves in the place of someone who is much worse than us.
In the story "Tosca" the writer tells about the hard life of a simple cabman, forcing the reader to feel his fate to the core. After the recent death of his son, Jonah seeks support and sympathy from the people, but instead faces rudeness, indifference, and contempt. The driver is tormented by boundless mental pain, his heart is broken. The author is even surprised that such a large, comprehensive sadness fit into a small figure, covered with snow. As a defenseless child, he tries to discern warmth and attention in people, but in vain. Only the old faithful horse is next to the owner in this difficult period of life, and Jonah turns the soul in front of her. Indeed, among people he is so alone. Longing consumed the hero, but did not blacken the soul, did not turn it into one of those indifferent and callous riders. He is still kind and understanding, therefore he is rejected in a cruel society. Jonah Potapov - the embodiment of the image of a small man, unnecessary and lonely in a big city.
A.P. Chekhov makes the reader not only feel the pain of Jonah, but also think about his own attitude towards people. Sometimes we pass by someone else’s misfortune, we are lazy to share a piece of kindness with others. The writer conveyed to us all the hopelessness and versatility of human longing. No wonder he was called an expert on human souls.
