June Taraschuk
English 102, Introduction to Literature
Fall 1996

The poem "Eleanor Rigby," written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, has a common theme with Anton Chekov's short story "Misery." They present to the reader the failure of the main characters to make any significant contact with other people. This failure results in an overwhelming sense of despair and loneliness.

In both of these works the main characters are faced with a problem they need to resolve. Their attempts to solve these problems provide a common ground that can be used to examine the success or failure of their efforts. The story "Misery" introduces Iona Potapov, a cab driver, who has just had his son die and has no one with whom he can share his grief. The poem "Eleanor Rigby" presents two characters. The first is Eleanor who craves companionship; the second is Father McKenzie who wants to win souls for God.

In both pieces there is a failure of the main characters to reach out in a manner that would bring a resolution to their problems. This invites the question, why do they fail? Part of the solution to this question lies in how the characters are presented to the reader. In "Misery," Iona tries to communicate to someone the depths of his grief, but sadly fails. The image formed is of a man, totally absorbed by his grief, crushed by the weight of his despair, to the extent that he is oblivious to the snow and deepening twilight. "Iona Potapov, the sledge-driver, is all white like a ghost. He sits on the box without stirring, bent as double as the living body can be bent." (pg. 30) In "Eleanor Rigby," Eleanor is presented as someone lost in her own fantasy. She never attempts to reach out to anyone, preferring to wait for someone to reach her. "... lives in a dream. Waits at "the window..." (pg. 425) When "Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear, No one comes near." (pg. 425) is held against the fact that Eleanor died in the church, it becomes apparent that Father McKenzie is so absorbed with trying to save souls that he fails to see the people who need him.

The next important examination hinges on what causes the failure of any attempts they make. Iona makes totally inappropriate choices of people to confide in. First he speaks to a military officer, who is in a hurry and not inclined to listen to any tale of death. He initially asks why the son died, but when he hears what Iona has to say indicates the conversation is over. He does this by closing his eyes after admonishing Iona to drive on. Iona's next attempt is equally futile. He tries to tell some revelers of his grief. They, however, are more interested in continuing with their good time than with hearing his problems. "And Iona turns round to tell them how his son died, but at that point the hunchback gives a faint sigh and announces that, thank God! they have arrived at last." (pg. 33) Finally, he tries to talk to a young cabby at the station whose only desire is to get a drink of water then go to sleep. "The young man has covered his head over and is already asleep." (pg.34) Eleanor Rigby, as was previously noted, made no attempts to solve her dilemma. Her dream appears to be her desire to be married. This is gleaned from the line, "Picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been," (pg. 425) However, she is waiting and seems to lack the ability to initiate any positive course of action. Father McKenzie really wants to save people, but fails to see the very people he should save. He spends long hours trying to write the perfect sermon that will be meaningful to someone, yet does not even notice Eleanor's need for companionship. The very person who most needed to be saved goes to the grave without his even being aware of her as a person. "Father McKenzie, Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave, No one was saved." (pg. 425)

The final point to be examined is the lack of any previously established support system. Iona has no one to talk with because his wife has died prior to the begining of the story. This is revealed when Iona tells the revelers "The only wife for me now is the damp earth...The grave that is..." (pg. 33) His daughter is separated from him by distance, "He still has his daughter Anisya in the country..." (pg. 34) His only remaining close personal contact, his son, has died. He has lost everyone who could possibly help him resolve his grief. There is no reason that is presented for Eleanor's lack of any significant other in her life. There is the feeling that Eleanor is an elderly single woman who may have stayed at home with her parents until life passed her by. However, no specific details are given as to why she is alone. On the other hand Father McKenzie chose his life knowing that he would not have a family for support. He probably did not choose the parish he was assigned to. This parish appears small, poor, and lacking in interest. There is only one priest so he has no one with whom he can talk when the service is over. He really tries hard to reach someone, "Writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear, No one comes near." (pg. 425); however it appears that he is preaching at them, not to them, and so no one feels touched in any way by what he says.

In both works the settings contribute to the sense of despair. "Misery" is set at twilight with darkness rapidly approaching. It is cold and snowing, making Iona an island of misery in a frozen ocean. The people around him are involved with life, while he is alone and absorbed by death and grief. "Eleanor Rigby" revolves around an empty church. There are few things that feel colder or more alone than an empty church, except perhaps an unmourned grave. Eleanor dies in the church and then is buried in just such a grave. "Eleanor Rigby Died in the church and was buried along with her name, Nobody came." (pg. 425)

These two pieces of literature cause the reader to grieve for the characters presented. The obvious suffering they endure when they fail to make anyone realize their pain, forces the reader to acknowledge their existence. As the poem so aptly expresses, "All the lonely people, Where do they all come from? All the lonely people, Where do they all belong?" (pg 425)