'A Slander' by Anton Chekhov is a short story that explores the themes of class and conflicts.The initial conflict between Ahineev and Vankin was the confusion between a fish and a kiss. This raises a question that drives the plot further which is whether he kissed Marfa or not? This leads to the dispute between both of them. After the incident, Ahineev develops an internal conflict that people are spreading the rumors around to defame him. He is paranoid about his so-called reputation being damaged by Vankin which resulted in a clash between both. Chekhov suggests here the class divide in the Russian society and the hollowness of upper-class society to maintain the artificial image of their individual self.
