"No author has created with less emphasis such pathetic characters as Chekhov has"

Vladimir Nabokov's evaluation of Anton Chekhov's writing style, encapsulated in the quote "No author has created with less emphasis such pathetic characters as Chekhov has", highlights the subtlety and nuance with which Chekhov portrays his characters and their circumstances. Nabokov, understood for his own rich and detailed prose, recognizes in Chekhov a mastery over understatement that still powerfully conveys the pathos of human experience.

Chekhov's characters typically exist in the quiet desperation and subdued turmoil of daily life. Rather than depending on overt dramatization or overstated psychological display screen, Chekhov employs a minimalist approach to character advancement. This technique permits the underlying sadness, isolation, and prevented goals of his characters to emerge naturally, without the need for emphatic narration. Thus, the "less emphasis" that Nabokov refers to highlights the subtlety and restraint in Chekhov's storytelling-- qualities that welcome readers to engage deeply with the text and draw their interpretations from the nuanced interactions and circumstances portrayed.

This understated portrayal adds to the "worthless" nature of Chekhov's characters. Here, "pitiful" should be comprehended as conjuring up pathos, rather than recommending weak point or contemptibility. Chekhov's characters are usually regular people caught in the grips of their average yet exceptionally affecting lives. Their battles are not dressed in grand tragedy but are quietly poignant, inviting readers to assess the human condition's fundamental intricacy and melancholy.

In essence, Nabokov's quote encapsulates the distinct craft of Chekhov, whose capability to evoke empathy and self-questioning lies in his deliberate restraint. Through his fragile touch, Chekhov uses a mirror to the mundane yet exceptionally resonant aspects of life, exposing the complex layers underneath the surface of apparently simple existence. By doing so, Chekhov challenges readers to find the remarkable within the regular, positioning him as a master of subtle yet impactful literary expression.