Criminal Plot and Judicial Rhetoric in the Works of A. P. Chekhov: The Relationship between Linguistic Features of a Literary Text and the Criminal Law Aspect

The purpose of this scientific article is to study the specifics of the reflection of criminal plots and elements of judicial rhetoric in the artistic work of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. The main attention is paid to identifying the interrelationships between the linguistic features of the Chekhov text and the criminal law aspects of the situations depicted. The article analyzes how the author's manner of presentation, the use of linguistic means and stylistic techniques contribute to the creation of an image of crime and procedural reality, forming a unique interpretation of legal concepts and legal norms in the literary realm of Chekhov's works. The article highlights the role of biographical context in Chekhov's criminal-themed works, the significance of his trip to Sakhalin Island to study the Russian criminal justice system in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the reflection of Chekhov's individual perception of the legal worldview, which encompasses all branches of law. The article concludes that Chekhov's diverse artistic techniques and linguistic devices in his criminal stories and novels help to explain the conceiving of crime, portray the characters' personalities and motivations, and delve into the types of crimes committed, while also emphasizing the inevitability of punishment through moral or legal judgment.