Why are Anton Chekhov’s short stories known for focusing on character rather than plot?

Anton Chekhov’s short stories are renowned for their focus on character over plot because he employed a clinical, observational approach to literature that prioritized the revelation of human nature over complex narrative structures.12

Rather than constructing elaborate events, Chekhov concentrated on the "apparent trivialities" of daily life. He believed that life is lived in ordinary moments, and he sought to lay bare the secret motives and inner lives of his characters through a deceptively simple technique. In his fiction, little may happen in terms of external action, but much is revealed about the quality of his characters' lives.123

This method allowed him to avoid the "stifling intellectual conformity" of political tendentiousness, instead using meticulous observation and broad sympathy to explore diverse points of view. By eschewing obtrusive literary devices and well-plotted events, Chekhov created a unique, often haunting atmosphere that emphasizes psychological veracity and the complexities of the human experience.213