Question #2
I would have appreciated "The Lady with the Pet Dog" more if Chekhov had showed the character's being penitent for their "sins" or suffering the consequences of their actions. It's not right for our society to be reading this story of an adulterous affair and realize these characters lives are much better for it.
Question #3
I don't believe Chekhov necessarily wants the readers to sympathize with Gurov as much as simply to understand his motives. Using a limited third person point of view, the narrator is detached from any opinion or judgement and has a very nonchalant way of telling the story. This unbiased way does affect the readers' opinion of Gurov as no judgements are made against him, influencing the reader to keep an open mind and sympathize with his motives.
I actually disagree (respectfully, of course) with your notion that we need to see them punished. I don't think he was trying to make that point, or glamorize cheating and extramarital affairs. He clearly paints an inter struggle for both of them, collective and individually. It's apparent that they DO suffer loses of some kind. However, the fact that he purposefully leaves out that stage of dealing with the consequences of their actions, and jumps to their happy ending together, I don't think there was supposed to be a moral of any kind. It's definitely left up to you what you take away from the story.
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