The Lady with the Pet Dog is a very unique fiction story originally written by Anton Chekhov a Russian writer born 1860.

Joyce Carol Oates was an American writer who was raised in upstate New York.  Also a writer who likes to write from a realistic point of view. In 1972 Oates revised the short story The Lady with the Pet Dog making it American and more modern. She does so by changing the setting to the United States. The dialogue is simpler. Also the time in which the story takes place is different. This is obvious with simple things like car verses a carriage, airplane verses a traditional train and telephone verses a letter or telegraph. Unlike original version by Chekhov, Oates writes from the women’s perspective. She tells what Anna thinking and what she felt. Little is told of what the lover thinks and his life with his children. In Oates version the story starts off with the affair already in existence. The lover is never given a name and Anna is never given a last name. Similar to Chekhov concealing the name of Anna’s city in order to protect her identity. Both are still unhappy with their spouses. In the original Anna is unsure if he is a member of the Government Council or served on the Zemstvo Council. In Oates more modernize version Anna is familiar with everything about her husband. She knows he works at a plant. He talks to her about everything his job, friends, family etc.

This story starts off in the concert hall Anna sees her lover but they never exchange words only glances unlike in the original version. Later he calls her on the phone and they make plans to meet her. Instead of introducing the characters to each other at the beginning of the story she starts with the affair and lets Anna flashback to the day they met. She was in Nantucket visiting her sister her lover was on the beach with his blind son and a small dog. Instead of a white Pomeranian the dog was a small golden retriever. She was in Nantucket visiting with her sister. He lived just three houses down from Anna. His wife was away on business. They began to talk shortly afterwards he began to sketch a series of pictures of Anna on a notebook he had brought with him. Using only a piece of charcoal. While he was sketching her pet dog came and sat by her he began to sketch a portrait of her and the dog. When he was done he allowed her to choose the one she like best. Anna chose the one on herself with the pet dog. In the original version Anna does not notice her lover first, she does not pursue him the lover makes the first attempt to try and meet. Anna never lays eyes on any on his children. In Chekhovs version she is named the lady with the pet dog because of the pet she has accompanying her. In Oates version at the end of the story Anna contemplates suicide. She can’t stop seeing her lover but at the same time she blames him for her misery. She resent her lover and herself for being married to one man and loving another. He is sure of his love for Anna and is ready and willing to marry her. She refuses and decides to take her life to end the unhappiness and pain in her life. All of a sudden she gains a certain sense of thankfulness and gratitude. She is grateful to have him in her life no matter were they have to meet. I am unsure if they decided to get married or just continue the affair. In the original they decide to continue the affair but both are unsure of what they are going to do.