Ironical functions of Shakespearian allusions in ''A boring story'' by Anton Chekhov

Drawing attention to the ironic subtext, the authors analyze the main, in their view, function of allusive references in Anton Chekhov's A Boring Story. Allusions help to overcome monological first person narration, which conveys the protagonist's worldview. It is shown that in full compliance with Chekhov's Note Books entry “A professor's opinion: not Shakespeare, but the comments on him are the thing” Shakespearean references help to reveal the failure of the vital position, opinions and beliefs of the protagonist.