Fat and Thin by Anton Chekhov is in the genre of a short story. The setting of the story is during the Tsarist period in Russia. The story takes place at Nikolaevsky railway station. It is here that the fat man, Mischa, unexpectedly comes across Porfiri, thin man. Porfiri is in the company of wife and their son (Chekhov, 1883). The two were high school friends long ago, and they start their conversation by informally greeting each other. The discussion about their life and career comes in, and the fat man happens to be in a higher rank compared to the thin man, though both are government officials. The thin man changes the way of conversing and addresses the fat man with too much respect. The thin man becomes formal, submissiveness that makes the fat man uncomfortable bidding a goodbye.

The story consists of four characters, with main characters being a fat and thin man. These two have different personalities and behaviour. The fat man is portrayed as a wealthy yet humble person who is unwilling to withstand too much respect from his former schoolmate, which makes him leave. He is a good listener as he gives an ear to the thin man. On the other hand, the thin man is depicted as a person who respects and values social status more than a person's character. He treats his old schoolmate with too much respect instead of allowing a comfortable and friendly talk. Porfiri is humble and ready to submit to authority. Porfiri's wife and son are minor characters in the story as they have accompanied him for a journey.

The author brings out several themes in this short story. For instance, change is portrayed. The two men meet after a very long time, and too much has changed about them; one is thin, and the other is fat (Chekhov, 1883). Their status has changed with one having gained too much wealth and rose in social class than the thin man. Change is seen in the way the two behave. Unlike in their old ways of high school, the fat man is now treated with the respect due to his achievements. The size of their bodies and their description brings about the theme of appearance. Social status comes out through the differences in their accomplishments and the respect the fat one has attained from the thin man. Being separated for a long time portrays the gap and separation that occurs in society. Reunion is brought out when these two people meet unexpectedly after a long period.

The author uses imagery when he describes the appearance of these two people, thin and fat. A picture of the two at a railway station and change of conversation after revealing their careers can be created. Chekhov uses paradox when these two friends meet and greet each happily on for a change to come in when the thin man realizes that his friend was a senior official. The thin man seems unhappy and discontented with his position and thus, treats his friend as a superior rather than a friend. It is ironical for the fat man to get uncomfortable when addressed with respect due to his status because most people would want that respect and honour. The story's climax is when the thin man realizes that the fat man was in a higher rank than him.

He changes their conversation to a formal one something that makes the fat man uncomfortable and bids goodbye.