Anton Chekhov, the famous russian playwright and revolutionary short
story writer, wrote a story called "Gusev" in 1890. An online copy of
the story can be found here:
http://www.eldritchpress.org/ac/jr/158.htm
Here is the summary from that same website:
"The story is set in a ship's infirmary where five soldiers and
sailors are returning to Russia after serving in the Far East. One of
them, Gusev, served as an orderly. He is content to do his duty and
get by. His delirious dreams are filled with images of his family's
farm. He is concerned that if he does not make it home, the farm will
fail and his parents will be thrown into the streets.

He makes kind overtures to another patient, Pavel Ivanych, who
responds angrily. Pavel Ivanych considers himself a realist, a
truth-teller, and a member of the revolutionary intelligentsia. He
ridicules Gusev's optimistic good nature. Where Gusev is blind to the
oppression he has suffered, Pavel Ivanych denounces injustice wherever
he sees it and has a reputation for being a troublemaker. Even as his
illness advances, Pavel Ivanych protests. He refuses to believe that
he can die like the others; indeed, he insists that he is improving.
Nonetheless, he dies.

Gusev grows worse, too. He feels an insatiable yearning for something
that he cannot define. Shortly afterward, he, too, dies and is buried
at sea. The story closes with a description of his body descending
through a school of fish while a brilliant sunset shines above."

I am writing a paper on Gusev and am having a hard time discovering
what Chekhov's message is.

Several thematic ideas include the role of the government in
subjugating the will of the people, whether one of the two central
characters has the better outlook on life, a desire for freedom,
resignation or acceptance of death, nature as a beautiful yet
indifferent force, and the human condition.

Through my research into critical analyses I believe Chekhov favors
the character Gusev, who is a peasant with odd superstitious views. 
He seems to take his viewpoint at the end of the story with the
imagery displayed in the clouds.

Yet, and most importantly, he derides Gusev for having only a vague
dismay at his oncoming death.  Historically, Chekhov wants Russians to
have a "desire to desire."  I believe this may be key to understanding
his message in the story.

Please give me a decent thesis in a line or two about what Chekhov's
point is here in this story.  The actual story itself is only apx 15
pages in my small print copy and should be easy for you to
read/research.  Does Chekhov support one character over the other or
neither?  Is he a social reformer?  The thesis does not have to be THE
definitive thesis but it should be textually supportable.

Thank you for your help.