As readers, we assume that a story must end a certain way for us to truly understand what is happening. However, this should not be the case. The reason is that as we read, we focus on what is happening in the story so that we can understand it. So, in doing so, we should be able to recognize what is going to happen in the end, like in the case of Gooseberries, because we are so focused on those details. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay As for Gooseberries, Anton Chekhov creates this ending by providing us with details of what Ivan is going to do in the near future . Although he does not specifically say what Ivan is going to do, Chekhov implies that Ivan is going to do something that will change his life. The reason we know this is because Ivan tells Alyokhin at the end of the story to "do good", like helping others. By saying this, we can perceive that Ivan is aware of what he needs to do to become a better person. Furthermore, just before falling asleep, he asks God to forgive him for his actions. Ivan knows that 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 too once lived, and because of that, terrible things are happening all around him. For example, when Nicholai's wife died, Nicholai never thought that he was responsible for her death, even though he kept her half-starved just so he could save money and buy a farm. Because he is so busy trying to achieve this, Nicholai becomes so oblivious to the people around him who are struggling. So when Nicholai does these things, Ivan is aware of the decisions he's making at the moment, because he doesn't want to continue to be like Nicholai. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Ultimately, as readers, we should stop having this mindset that a story has to end a certain way so that we can truly understand what is happening. The reason is that if additional information is added to stories with unfamiliar endings, that information becomes inconsequential. For example, in Gooseberries, we know that Ivan is going to try to become a better man even if it is not specifically said at the end. The reason we know this is because Chekhov alludes to it throughout the story. So Chekhov doesn't need to conclude the story with information we already know..