As readers, we assume that a story has to end a certain way in order to truly understand what happens. However, this should not be the case. The reason is that as we read we focus on what is happening in the story so we can understand it. So by doing so, we should be able to recognize what will happen in the end, as in the case of Gooseberry, because we are so focused on these details. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay When it comes to gooseberries, Anton Chekhov creates this ending by giving us details about what Ivan will do in the near future. Although he does not specifically say what Ivan will do, Chekhov still implies that Ivan will do something that will change his life. The reason we know this is because Ivan tells Aliokhin at the end of the story to "do good", that is, to help other people. In this way we perceive that Ivan is aware of what he must do to become a better person. Furthermore, before falling asleep, he asks God to forgive him for his actions. Ivan knows he has done terrible things in his life and that is why he is trying to change for the better. The reason he knows this is because he sees that his brother is living a life that he once lived too, and because of that, terrible things are happening around him. For example, when Nicholai's wife died, Nicholai never thought that he was responsible for her death, even though he would keep her half-starved just so he could save money to buy a farm. Because he is so caught up in trying to achieve this goal, Nicholai becomes so oblivious to the people around him who are struggling. Therefore, at the moment when Nicholai does these things, Ivan is aware of the decisions he will make for the time being, because he does not want to continue to be like Nicholai. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Ultimately, as readers, we should stop having this mindset that a story has to end a certain way in order for us to truly understand what happens. The reason is that if additional information is added to stories where the ending is unfamiliar, that information becomes irrelevant. For example, in Gooseberry, we know that Ivan will try to become a better man even though he doesn't specifically say so at the end. The reason we know this is because Chekhov hints at it throughout the story. Therefore, it is not necessary for Chekhov to end the story with information we already know.