Comment on the behavior of Popova in relation to the condition of women in Russian society in the drama The Bear.

In Anton Chekhov’s play, Elena Ivanovna Popova has recently lost her husband and decides to shut herself away from the world as a sign of her deep mourning. In many ways, this position is false because she knows he was unfaithful to her. She seems to be more concerned about the impression she is creating of the loyal wife than about facing her true feelings toward her late husband.
Popova’s reverie is interrupted by Gregorii Stepanovich Smirnov, who is in search of having a debt repaid. Initially, she sticks with her position of social propriety, as befits her widow status. Smirnov goads her by mocking her emotional female nature, echoing popular beliefs of the day about women’s innate differences from men. He further challenges her with a stereotypical symbol of male honor—the duel.
In emphasizing this vehicle for dispute resolution, Chekhov calls attention to the idea that women were not expected to defend their honor. Popova’s acceptance of his offer stimulates his love for her, demonstrating that not all men adhered to the same views of female roles.