WHAT IS CHEKHOV’S GUN?

“Chekhov’s Gun” is a storytelling principle named after the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, who famously said, “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don’t put it there.”

Ernest J. Simmons, (1903–1972)^[10] writes that Chekhov repeated the same point, which may account for there being several variations.^[11]

• “One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn’t going to go off. It’s wrong to make promises you don’t mean to keep.”^[12][13][14]
  (Here the “gun” refers to a monologue that Chekhov deemed superfluous and unrelated to the rest of the play.)
• “Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first act that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third act it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there.” — Sergius Shchukin (1911) Memoirs.^[15][3]

In storytelling, Chekhov’s Gun refers to any element introduced into a narrative that must have a purpose or significance later in the story. This could be a character, an object, a location, or any other element that is mentioned or shown in the story. The principle suggests that if something is introduced into the story, it should serve a purpose and not be a meaningless detail.

The purpose of Chekhov’s Gun is to ensure that every element of the story is meaningful and contributes to the overall narrative. It helps to create a sense of cohesion and purpose in the story and avoids unnecessary distractions or plot holes. By introducing elements that have a clear purpose, the story becomes more focused and engaging for the audience.

For example, if a character in a movie is shown wearing a distinctive piece of jewelry, the audience may assume that it has some significance later in the story. If the jewelry is never mentioned again or doesn’t play a role in the plot, it can be seen as a wasted opportunity or a distraction from the main story. Therefore, adhering to Chekhov’s Gun principle, the jewelry should have some significance to the story, such as being used as evidence in a crime or being a symbol of a character’s personality.

Overall, Chekhov’s Gun is a valuable principle for writers and storytellers to keep in mind when crafting their narratives, as it ensures that every element of the story is meaningful and contributes to the overall narrative.