The main events in the play The Cherry Orchard. A.P. Chekhov "The Cherry Orchard": description, characters, analysis of the play. Why did Chekhov call The Cherry Orchard a comedy?

The Cherry Orchard is a social play by A.P. Chekhov about the death and degeneration of the Russian nobility. It was written by Anton Pavlovich in last years life. Many critics say that it is this drama that expresses the writer's attitude to the past, present and future of Russia.

Initially, the author planned to create a carefree and funny play, where the main driving force of the action would be the sale of the estate under the hammer. In 1901, in a letter to his wife, he shares his ideas. Previously, he had already raised a similar topic in the drama "Fatherlessness", but he recognized that experience as unsuccessful. Chekhov wanted to experiment, not to resurrect plots buried in desk. The process of impoverishment and degeneration of the nobles passed before his eyes, and he watched, creating and accumulating vital material to create artistic truth.

The history of the creation of The Cherry Orchard began in Taganrog, when the writer's father was forced to sell the family nest for debts. Apparently, Anton Pavlovich experienced something similar to the feelings of Ranevskaya, which is why he so subtly delved into the experiences of seemingly fictional characters. In addition, Chekhov was personally acquainted with the prototype of Gaev - A.S. Kiselev, who also donated the estate in order to improve his shaky financial situation. His situation is one of hundreds. The entire Kharkov province, where the writer had visited more than once, became shallow: the noble nests disappeared. Such a large-scale and controversial process attracted the attention of the playwright: on the one hand, the peasants were freed and received the long-awaited freedom, on the other hand, this reform did not add prosperity to anyone. Such an obvious tragedy could not be ignored, the light comedy conceived by Chekhov did not work out.

The meaning of the name

Since the cherry orchard symbolizes Russia, we can conclude that the author devoted the work to the question of her fate, as Gogol wrote Dead Souls for the sake of the question “Where does the troika fly?”. In fact, this is not about selling the estate, but about what will happen to the country? Will they sell it, will they cut it down for profit? Chekhov, analyzing the situation, understood that the degeneration of the nobility, the supporting class for the monarchy, promises trouble for Russia. If these people, called by their origin to be the core of the state, cannot be held responsible for their actions, then the country will go to the bottom. Such gloomy thoughts lay in wait for the author on the reverse side of the topic he touched upon. It turned out that his heroes were not laughing, just like himself.

The symbolic meaning of the title of the play "The Cherry Orchard" is to convey to the reader the idea of the work - the search for an answer to questions about the fate of Russia. Without this sign, we would perceive comedy as a family drama, a drama from private life, or a parable about the problem of fathers and children. That is, an erroneous, narrow interpretation of what was written would not allow the reader to understand the main thing even in a hundred years: we are all responsible for our garden, regardless of generation, beliefs and social status.

Why did Chekhov call The Cherry Orchard a comedy?

Many researchers really classify it as a comedy, since along with tragic events (the destruction of an entire estate), comic scenes constantly occur in the play. That is, it cannot be unequivocally attributed to a comedy, it is more correct to classify The Cherry Orchard as a tragic farce or tragicomedy, since many researchers attribute Chekhov's dramaturgy to a new phenomenon in the theater of the 20th century - anti-drama. The author himself stood at the origins of this trend, so he did not call himself that. However, the innovation of his work spoke for itself. This is now recognized as a writer and introduced into the school curriculum, and then many of his works remained incomprehensible, as they were out of the common rut.

The genre of The Cherry Orchard is difficult to define, because now, given the dramatic revolutionary events that Chekhov did not find, we can say that this play is a tragedy. An entire era dies in it, and hopes for a revival are so weak and vague that it’s somehow impossible to even smile in the finale. An open ending, a closed curtain, and only a dull knock on wood is heard in my thoughts. This is the impression of the performance.

main idea

The ideological and thematic meaning of the play "The Cherry Orchard" is that Russia is at a crossroads: it can choose the path to the past, present and future. Chekhov shows the mistakes and failure of the past, the vices and predatory grip of the present, but he still hopes for a happy future, showing the sublime and at the same time independent representatives of the new generation. The past, no matter how beautiful it may be, cannot be returned, the present is too imperfect and miserable to accept, so we must put all our efforts into ensuring that the future lives up to bright expectations. To do this, everyone should try right now, without delay.

The author shows how important the action is, but not the mechanical pursuit of profit, but the spiritualized, meaningful, moral action. It is about him that Pyotr Trofimov speaks, it is him that Anechka wants to see. However, we also see the pernicious legacy of past years in the student - he talks a lot, but did little for his 27 years. Nevertheless, the writer hopes that this age-old slumber will be overcome on a clear and cool morning - tomorrow, where the educated, but at the same time active descendants of the Lopakhins and Ranevskys will come.

Theme of the work

The author used an image that is well known to each of us and understandable to everyone. Many have cherry orchards to this day, and then they were an indispensable attribute of every estate. They bloom in May, beautifully and fragrantly defend the week allotted to them, and then quickly fall off. Just as beautifully and suddenly fell the nobility, once a support Russian Empire mired in debt and endless controversy. As a matter of fact, these people were unable to justify the hopes placed on them. Many of them, with their irresponsible attitude to life, only undermined the foundations of Russian statehood. What should have been a centuries-old oak forest was just a cherry orchard: beautiful, but quickly vanished. Cherry fruits, alas, were not worth the place they occupied. This is how the theme of the death of noble nests was revealed in the play "The Cherry Orchard".
The themes of the past, present and future are realized in the work thanks to a multi-level system of images. Each generation symbolizes the time allotted to it. In the images of Ranevskaya and Gaev, the past dies, in the image of Lopakhin the present is in charge, but the future is waiting for its day in the images of Anya and Peter. The natural course of events acquires a human face, the change of generations is shown on concrete examples.
The theme of time also occupies an important place. His power is devastating. Water wears away a stone - and so time erases human laws, destinies and beliefs into powder. Until recently, Ranevskaya could not even think that her former serf would settle in the estate and cut down the garden, which was passed down by Gaev from generation to generation. This unshakable order of the social order collapsed and sunk into oblivion, in its place capital and its market laws hoisted up, in which power was provided by money, and not by position and origin.

Issues

The problem of human happiness in the play "The Cherry Orchard" is manifested in all the fates of the characters. Ranevskaya, for example, experienced many troubles in this garden, but she is happy to return here again. She fills the house with her warmth, remembers her native lands, nostalgic. She is not at all worried about debts, the sale of the estate, the inheritance of her daughter, after all. She is happy with forgotten and re-experienced impressions. But now the house has been sold, the bills have been repaid, and happiness is in no hurry with the advent of a new life. Lopakhin tells her about calmness, but only anxiety grows in her soul. Instead of liberation comes depression. Thus, that for one happiness is misfortune for another, all people understand its essence in different ways, which is why it is so difficult for them to get along together and help each other.
The problem of preserving memory also worries Chekhov. People of the present ruthlessly cut down what was the pride of the province. Noble nests, historically important buildings, perish from inattention, are erased into oblivion. Of course, active businessmen will always find arguments to destroy unprofitable junk, but historical monuments, monuments of culture and art, which the Lopakhins' children will regret, will perish so ingloriously. They will be deprived of ties with the past, the continuity of generations, and will grow up as Ivans who do not remember kinship.
The problem of ecology in the play does not go unnoticed. The author claims not only the historical value of the cherry orchard, but also its natural beauty, its importance for the province. All the inhabitants of the surrounding villages breathed these trees, and their disappearance is a small ecological catastrophe. The area will be orphaned, the gaping lands will become impoverished, but people will fill every patch of inhospitable space. The attitude to nature should be as careful as to a person, otherwise we will all be left without a home that we love so much.
The problem of fathers and children is embodied in the relationship between Ranevskaya and Anechka. You can see the estrangement between family members. The girl regrets the unlucky mother, but she does not want to share her way of life. Lyubov Andreevna indulges the child with gentle nicknames, but cannot understand that in front of her is no longer a child. The woman continues to pretend that she still does not understand anything, so she shamelessly builds her personal life to the detriment of her interests. They are very different, so they do not make any attempts to find a common language.
The problem of love for the motherland, or rather, its absence, is also traced in the work. Gaev, for example, is indifferent to the garden, he cares only about his own comfort. His interests do not rise above consumer ones, so the fate of his home does not bother him. Lopakhin, his opposite, also does not understand Ranevskaya's scrupulousness. However, he does not understand what to do with the garden either. He is guided only by mercantile considerations, profits and calculations are important to him, but not the safety of his home. He clearly expresses only love for money and the process of obtaining it. A generation of children dream of a new garden, they don't need the old one. This is where the problem of indifference comes into play. Nobody needs the Cherry Orchard, except for Ranevskaya, and even she needs memories and the old way of life, where she could do nothing and live happily. Her indifference to people and things is expressed in the scene where she calmly drinks coffee while listening to the news of the death of her nanny.
The problem of loneliness torments every hero. Ranevskaya was abandoned and deceived by her lover, Lopakhin cannot improve relations with Varya, Gaev is an egoist by nature, Peter and Anna are just beginning to get closer, and it is already obvious that they are lost in a world where there is no one to give them a helping hand.
The problem of mercy haunts Ranevskaya: no one can support her, all men not only do not help, but do not spare her. The husband drank himself, the lover left, Lopakhin took away the estate, her brother does not care about her. Against this background, she herself becomes cruel: she forgets Firs in the house, he is nailed inside. In the image of all these troubles lies an inexorable fate that is merciless to people.
The problem of finding the meaning of life. Lopakhin is clearly not satisfied with his meaning of life, which is why he evaluates himself so low. This search only awaits Anna and Peter ahead, but they are already winding, not finding a place for themselves. Ranevskaya and Gaev, with the loss of material wealth and their privileges, are lost and cannot find their bearings again.
The problem of love and selfishness is clearly visible in the contrast of brother and sister: Gaev loves only himself and does not particularly suffer from losses, but Ranevskaya searched for love all her life, but did not find it, and she herself lost it along the way. Only crumbs fell to the lot of Anechka and the cherry orchard. Even loving person can become selfish after so many years of disappointment.
The problem of moral choice and responsibility concerns, first of all, Lopakhin. He gets Russia, his activities are able to change it. However, he lacks the moral foundations for realizing the importance of his actions for his descendants, realizing the responsibility to them. He lives by the principle: "After us - even a flood." He does not care what will be, he sees what is.

Symbolism of the play

The garden is the main character in Chekhov's play. It not only symbolizes estate life, but also connects times and epochs. The image of the Cherry Orchard is noble Russia, with the help of which Anton Pavlovich predicted the future of the changes that awaited the country, although he himself could no longer see them. It also expresses the author's attitude to what is happening.

Episodes depict ordinary everyday situations, "little things in life", through which we learn about the main events of the play. Chekhov mixes the tragic and the comic, for example, in the third act Trofimov philosophizes, and then absurdly falls down the stairs. In this one can see a certain symbolism of the author's attitude: he ironically over the characters, casts doubt on the veracity of their words.

The system of images is also symbolic, the meaning of which is described in a separate paragraph.

Composition

The first step is exposure. Everyone is waiting for the arrival of the mistress of the estate Ranevskaya from Paris. In the house, everyone thinks and talks about his own, not listening to others. The disunity, located under the roof, illustrates the discordant Russia, where such dissimilar people live.

The plot - Lyubov Andreeva enters with her daughter, gradually everyone learns that they are threatened with ruin. Neither Gaev nor Ranevskaya (brother and sister) can prevent it. Only Lopakhin knows a tolerable rescue plan: to cut down cherries and build dachas, but the proud owners do not agree with him.

Second action. As the sun sets, the fate of the garden is once again discussed. Ranevskaya arrogantly rejects Lopakhin's help and continues to do nothing in the bliss of her own memories. Gaev and the merchant constantly quarrel.

Third act (culmination): while the old owners of the garden are having a ball, as if nothing had happened, the auction is going on: the former serf Lopakhin acquires the estate.

Fourth act (denouement): Ranevskaya returns to Paris to squander the rest of her savings. After her departure, everyone disperses in all directions. Only the old servant Firs remains in the packed house.

Chekhov's innovation as a playwright

It remains to add that the play is not without reason beyond the understanding of many schoolchildren. Many researchers attribute it to the theater of the absurd (what is it?). This is a very complex and controversial phenomenon in modernist literature, the debate about the origin of which continues to this day. The fact is that Chekhov's plays can be classified as a theater of the absurd for a number of reasons. The lines of the heroes very often have no logical connection with each other. They seem to be turned to nowhere, as if they are spoken by one person and at the same time talking to himself. The destruction of dialogue, the failure of communication - this is what the so-called anti-drama is famous for. In addition, the alienation of the individual from the world, his global loneliness and life turned into the past, the problem of happiness - all these are features of the existential problem in the work, which are again inherent in the theater of the absurd. This is where the innovation of Chekhov the playwright in the play The Cherry Orchard manifested itself, and these features attract many researchers in his work. Such a “provocative” phenomenon, misunderstood and condemned by public opinion, is difficult to fully perceive even for an adult, not to mention the fact that only a few who were attached to the world of art managed to fall in love with the theater of the absurd.

Image system

Chekhov does not have telling surnames, like Ostrovsky, Fonvizin, Griboedov, but there are off-stage characters (for example, a Parisian lover, Yaroslavl aunt) who are important in the play, but Chekhov does not bring them into "external" action. There is no division into good and bad characters in this drama, but there is a multifaceted character system. The characters in the play can be divided into:

on the heroes of the past (Ranevskaya, Gaev, Firs). They only know how to waste money and think, not wanting to change anything in their lives.
on the heroes of the present (Lopakhin). Lopakhin is a simple “muzhik” who got rich with the help of labor, bought an estate and is not going to stop.
on the heroes of the future (Trofimov, Anya) - this is the younger generation, dreaming of the highest truth and the highest happiness.

The characters in The Cherry Orchard are constantly jumping from one topic to another. With visible dialogue, they do not hear each other. There are as many as 34 pauses in the play, which are formed between many "unnecessary" statements of the characters. The phrase is repeatedly repeated: “You are still the same”, which makes it clear that the characters do not change, they stand still.

The action of the play "The Cherry Orchard" begins in May, when the fruits of the cherry trees begin to bloom, and ends in October. The conflict does not have a pronounced character. All the main events that decide the future of the heroes take place behind the scenes (for example, the sale of the estate). That is, Chekhov completely abandons the norms of classicism.

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"The Cherry Orchard" is a lyrical play by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov in four acts, the genre of which the author himself defined as a comedy.

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The success of the play, written in 1903, was so obvious that on January 17, 1904, the comedy was shown at the Moscow Art Theater. The Cherry Orchard is one of the most famous Russian plays created at that time. It is noteworthy that it is based on Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's own painful impressions of his friend A.S. Kiselev, whose estate was also auctioned off.

An important thing in the history of the creation of the play is that Anton Pavlovich Chekhov wrote it already at the end of his life, being seriously ill. That is why the work on the work progressed very difficult: about three years passed from the beginning of the play to its production.

This is the first reason. The second lies in Chekhov's desire to fit into his play, intended for staging on the stage, the whole result of reflections on the fate of his characters, the work on the images of which was carried out very scrupulously.

The artistic originality of the play became the pinnacle of the work of Chekhov the playwright.

Step one: meeting the characters in the play

The heroes of the play - Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich, the maid Dunyasha, the clerk Epikhodov Semyon Panteleevich (who is very clumsy, "22 misfortunes", as those around him call him) - are waiting for the mistress of the estate, the landowner Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna, to arrive. She is due to return after a five-year absence, and the household is in turmoil. Finally, Lyubov Andreevna and her daughter Anya crossed the threshold of their house. The hostess is incredibly glad that she has finally returned to her native land. Nothing has changed here in five years. Sisters Anya and Varya are talking to each other, rejoicing at the long-awaited meeting, the maid Dunyasha is preparing coffee, ordinary household trifles make the landowner tender. She is kind and generous - and to the old lackey Firs, and to other household members, she willingly talks with her own brother, Leonid Gaev, but her beloved daughters evoke special quivering feelings. Everything, it would seem, goes on as usual, but suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, the message of the merchant Lopakhin: "... Your estate is being sold for debts, but there is a way out... Here is my project..." , after cutting it out. He claims that this will bring a considerable income to the family - 25 thousand a year and save him from complete ruin, but no one agrees to such a proposal. The family does not want to part with the cherry orchard, which they consider the best and to which they are attached with all their hearts.

So, no one listens to Lopakhin. Ranevskaya pretends that nothing is happening and continues to answer nothing. meaningful questions about a trip to Paris, not wanting to accept reality as it is. Again, a casual conversation starts about nothing.

Entered Petya Trofimov, former teacher the deceased son of Ranevskaya Grisha, at first unrecognized by her, with his reminder causes tears in his mother. The day is ending... Finally, everyone goes to bed.

Action two: there is very little left before the sale of the cherry orchard

The action takes place in nature, near an old church, from where you can see both the cherry orchard and the city. There is very little time left before the sale of the cherry orchard at auction - literally a matter of days. Lopakhin is trying to convince Ranevskaya and her brother to rent the garden for summer cottages, but no one wants to hear him again, they hope for the money that the Yaroslavl aunt will send. Lyubov Ranevskaya recalls the past, perceiving her misfortunes as a punishment for sins. First, her husband died from champagne, then Grisha's son drowned in the river, after which she left for Paris so that memories of the area where such grief happened would not stir her soul.

Lopakhin suddenly opened up, talking about his difficult fate in childhood, when his father “did not teach, but only beat him while drunk, and everything with a stick ...” Lyubov Andreevna invites him to marry Vara, her adopted daughter.

Enter student Petya Trofimov and both daughters of Ranevskaya. Trofimov and Lopakhin start a conversation. One says that “in Russia, very few people are still working”, the other calls to evaluate everything that is given by God and start working.

The attention of the conversers is attracted by a passerby who recites poetry, and then asks to donate thirty kopecks. Lyubov Andreevna gives him a gold coin, for which her daughter Varya reproaches her. “People have nothing to eat,” she says. “And you gave him the gold…”

After Varya leaves, Lyubov Andreevna, Lopakhina and Gaev Anya and Trofimov are left alone. The girl confesses to Petya that she no longer loves the cherry orchard, as before. The student argues: “... To live in the present, you must first redeem the past ... by suffering and continuous work ...”

Varya is heard calling for Anya, but her sister is only annoyed, not responding to her voice.

Act Three: The Day the Cherry Orchard is for Sale

The third act of The Cherry Orchard takes place in the living room in the evening. Couples dance, but no one feels joy. Everyone is depressed about looming debt. Lyubov Andreevna understands that they started the ball quite inopportunely. Those in the house are waiting for Leonid, who should bring news from the city: whether the garden has been sold or the auction has not taken place at all. But Gaev is still no and no. The family is starting to get worried. The old footman Firs confesses that he does not feel well.

Trofimov teases Varya with Madame Lopakhina, which irritates the girl. But Lyubov Andreevna really offers to marry a merchant. Varya seems to agree, but the catch is that Lopakhin has not yet made an offer, and she does not want to impose herself.

Lyubov Andreevna is experiencing more and more: whether the estate has been sold. Trofimov reassures Ranevskaya: "Does it matter, there is no turning back, the path is overgrown."

Lyubov Andreevna takes out a handkerchief, from which a telegram falls, in which it is reported that her beloved has fallen ill again and calls her. Trofimov begins to argue: “he is a petty scoundrel and a nonentity,” to which Ranevskaya replies with anger, calling the student a klutz, a clean-cut and a funny eccentric who does not know how to love. Petya is offended and leaves. A roar is heard. Anya reports that a student has fallen down the stairs.

The young lackey Yasha, talking with Ranevskaya, asks to go to Paris if she has the opportunity to go there. Everyone seems to be busy talking, but they are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the auction for the cherry orchard. Lyubov Andreevna is especially worried, she literally cannot find a place for herself. Finally, Lopakhin and Gaev enter. It can be seen that Leonid Andreevich is crying. Lopakhin reports that the cherry orchard has been sold, and when asked who bought it, he answers: “I bought it.” Ermolai Alekseevich reports the details of the auction. Lyubov Andreevna sobs, realizing that nothing can be changed. Anya consoles her, trying to focus on the fact that life goes on, no matter what. She seeks to inspire hope that they will plant "a new garden, more luxurious than this ... and a quiet, deep joy will descend on the soul like the sun."

Action four: after the sale of the estate

The property has been sold. In the corner of the children's room are packed things ready for pickup. Peasants come to say goodbye to their former owners. The sounds of cherries being cut down can be heard from the street. Lopakhin offers champagne, but no one except Yasha, the footman, wants to drink it. Each of the former residents of the estate is depressed by what happened, family friends are also depressed. Anya voices her mother's request that, until she leaves, they do not cut down the garden.

“Really, is there really a lack of tact,” says Petya Trofimov, and leaves through the hall.

Yasha and Ranevskaya are going to Paris, Dunyasha, in love with a young lackey, asks him to send a letter from abroad.

Gaev hurries Lyubov Andreevna. The landowner sadly says goodbye to the house and garden, but Anna admits that it begins for her new life. Gaev is also happy.

Governess Charlotte Ivanovna, leaving, sings a song.

Simeonov-Pishchik Boris Borisovich, a neighbor-landowner, comes into the house. To the surprise of everyone, he repays both Lyubov Andreevna and Lopakhin. He tells the news about a successful deal: he managed to lease the land to the British for the extraction of rare white clay. The neighbor did not even know that the estate was sold, so he is surprised to see the packed suitcases and the preparations of the former owners for departure.

Lyubov Andreevna, firstly, worries about the sick Firs, because it is still not known for certain whether he was sent to the hospital or not. Anya claims that Yasha did it, but the girl is mistaken. Secondly, Ranevskaya is afraid that Lopakhin will never make an offer to Varya. They seem to be indifferent to each other, however, no one wants to take the first step. And although Lyubov Andreevna makes the last attempt to leave young people alone to solve this difficult issue, nothing comes of such an undertaking.

After the former mistress of the house looks longingly at the walls and windows of the house for the last time, everyone leaves.

In the bustle, they did not notice that they locked up the sick Firs, who mutters: “Life has passed, as if it had not lived.” The old lackey does not hold a grudge against the owners. He lays down on the sofa and passes into another world.

We bring to your attention the story of Anton Chekhov, where, with the subtle and inimitable irony inherent in the writer, he describes the character of the main character - Shchukina. What was the peculiarity of her behavior, read in the story.

The essence of the play "The Cherry Orchard"

It is known from literary sources that Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was very happy when he came up with the name for the play - The Cherry Orchard.

It seems natural, because it reflects the very essence of the work: the old way of life is changing to a completely new one, and the cherry orchard, which the former owners valued, is ruthlessly cut down when the estate passes into the hands of the enterprising merchant Lopakhin. The Cherry Orchard is a prototype of old Russia, which is gradually disappearing into oblivion. The past is fatefully crossed out, giving way to new plans and intentions, which, according to the author, are better than the previous ones.

On our website) take place in an old noble estate, which belongs to Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya. The estate is located not far from the big city. Its main attraction is a huge cherry orchard, which occupies almost a thousand acres. Once this garden was considered one of the most remarkable places in the province and brought a lot of income to the owners. It is even mentioned in encyclopedic dictionary. But after the fall of serfdom, the economy in the estate was upset. There is no demand for cherries that are born only once every two years. Ranevskaya and her brother, Leonid Andreevich Gaev, who lives here on the estate, are on the verge of ruin.

The first act of The Cherry Orchard takes place on a cold May morning. Ranevskaya and her daughter Anya are returning from France. In the estate, where cherries have already blossomed, her eldest (adoptive) daughter Varya (24 years old), who manages the household in the absence of her mother, and the merchant Yermolai Lopakhin, the son of a serf, a grasping man who has become very rich in recent years, are waiting for her.

Lyubov Andreevna and Anya arrive from the railway station, accompanied by Gaev, who met them, and a neighbor, the landowner Simeonov-Pishchik. The arrival is accompanied by a lively conversation, which well describes the characters of all the characters in this Chekhov play.

"The Cherry Orchard". Performance based on the play by A.P. Chekhov, 1983

Ranevskaya and Gaev are typical inactive aristocrats, accustomed to living without labor in a big way. Lyubov Andreevna thinks only of her love passions. Her husband died six years ago, a month later the boy-son Grisha drowned in the river. Having taken most of the estate's funds, Ranevskaya left to console herself in France with her lover, who shamelessly deceived and robbed her. She left her daughters on the estate with almost no money. 17-year-old Anya came to her mother in Paris only a few months ago. Foster Varya had to manage the incomeless estate herself, saving on everything and making debts. Ranevskaya returned to Russia only because she remained abroad completely penniless. Her lover squeezed everything he could out of her, even forced her to sell a dacha near Menton, while he himself remained in Paris.

In the dialogues of the first act, Ranevskaya appears as a woman, exaggeratedly sensitive and vulnerable. She loves to show kindness, giving generous tips to footmen. However, in her random words and gestures, spiritual callousness, indifference to loved ones slips every now and then.

To match Ranevskaya and her brother, Gaev. The main interest of his life is billiards - he now and then sprinkles billiard terms. Leonid Andreevich likes to make pompous speeches about “bright ideals of goodness and justice”, about “public self-consciousness” and “fruitful work”, but, as you can understand, he does not serve anywhere and does not even help young Vara manage the estate. The need to save every penny makes Varya stingy, preoccupied beyond her age, like a nun. She expresses a desire to leave everything and go wandering through the splendor of the holy places, however, with such piety, she feeds her old servants with one pea. Younger sister Varya, Anya, is very reminiscent of her mother in her inclination to enthusiastic dreams and isolation from life. A friend of the family, Simeonov-Pishchik, is the same ruined landowner as Ranevskaya and Gaev. He is only looking for where to intercept a loan of money.

A peasant, poorly educated, but businesslike merchant Lopakhin reminds Ranevskaya and Gaev that their estate will be sold in August for debts. He also offers a way out. The estate is located near a big city and the railway, so its land can be profitably rented to summer residents for 25 thousand rubles of annual income. This will not only pay off the debt, but also make a big profit. However, the famous cherry orchard will have to be cut down.

Gaev and Ranevskaya reject such a plan with horror, not wanting to lose precious memories of their youth. But they can't think of anything else. Without cutting down the estate will inevitably pass to another owner - and the cherry orchard will still be destroyed. However, the indecisive Gaev and Ranevskaya evade ruining him. with my own hands, hoping for a miracle that will help them out in unknown ways.

Several other characters also participate in the dialogues of the first act: the unlucky clerk Epikhodov, with whom minor misfortunes constantly occur; the maid Dunyasha, who herself has become sensitive, like a noblewoman, from constant communication with the bars; 87-year-old lackey Gaeva Firs, dog-like devoted to his master and refusing to leave him after the abolition of serfdom; Ranevskoy's lackey Yasha, a stupid and boorish young commoner, who, however, was imbued in France with contempt for "ignorant and wild" Russia; superficial foreigner Charlotte Ivanovna, a former circus performer, and now Anya's governess. For the first time, the former teacher of the drowned son of Ranevskaya, the "eternal student" Petya Trofimov, also appears. The nature of this remarkable character will be outlined in detail in the following acts of The Cherry Orchard.

The theme of the idyllicly beautiful “noble nests” that is receding into the past is found in the work of various representatives of Russian culture. In literature, Turgenev and Bunin turned to her, in the fine arts - Borisov-Musatov. But only Chekhov managed to create such a capacious, generalized image as the garden he described became.

The extraordinary beauty of the blossoming cherry orchard is already mentioned at the very beginning of the play. One of its owners, Gaev, reports that the garden is even mentioned in the Encyclopedic Dictionary. For Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya, the cherry orchard is associated with memories of a bygone youth, of a time when she was so serenely happy. At the same time, the cherry orchard is also the economic basis of the estate, once associated with the suffering of the serfs.

"All Russia is our garden"

Gradually, it becomes obvious that the cherry orchard for Chekhov is the embodiment of all of Russia, which has found itself at a historical turning point. Throughout the entire action of the play, the question is decided: who will become the owner of the cherry orchard? Will Ranevskaya and Gaev be able to keep it as representatives of the ancient noble culture, or will it fall into the hands of Lopakhin, a capitalist of a new formation, who sees in him only a source of income?

Ranevskaya and Gaev love their estate and the cherry orchard, but they are completely unadapted to life and cannot change anything. The only person who is trying to help them save the estate, which is being sold for debts, is the rich merchant Yermolai Lopakhin, whose father and grandfather were serfs. But Lopakhin does not notice the beauty of the cherry orchard. He proposes to cut it down and rent out the vacant plots to summer residents. Ultimately, it is Lopakhin who becomes the owner of the garden, and at the end of the play, the sound of an ax is heard ruthlessly cutting down cherry trees.

Among the characters of Chekhov's play there are also representatives of the younger generation - this is Ranevskaya's daughter Anya and the "eternal student" Petya Trofimov. They are full of energy and, but they do not care about the fate of the cherry orchard. They are driven by other, abstract ideas about the transformation of the world and the happiness of all mankind. However, behind the beautiful phrases of Petya Trofimov, as well as behind the magnificent rantings of Gaev, there is no concrete activity.

The title of Chekhov's play is filled with symbolism. The Cherry Orchard is the whole of Russia in a turning point. The author thinks about what fate awaits her in the future.

The Cherry Orchard is the pinnacle of Russian drama at the beginning of the 20th century, a lyrical comedy, a play that marked the beginning of a new era in the development of the Russian theater.

The main theme of the play is autobiographical - a bankrupt family of noblemen is selling their family estate at auction. The author, as a person who has gone through a similar life situation, describes with subtle psychologism the state of mind of people who are forced to leave their homes soon. The novelty of the play is the lack of division of heroes into positive and negative, into main and secondary. All of them fall into three categories:

people of the past - aristocratic nobles (Ranevskaya, Gaev and their footman Firs);
people of the present - their bright representative merchant-entrepreneur Lopakhin;
the people of the future are the progressive youth of that time (Pyotr Trofimov and Anya).

History of creation

Chekhov began work on the play in 1901. Due to serious health problems, the writing process was rather difficult, but nevertheless, in 1903 the work was completed. The first theatrical production of the play took place a year later on the stage of the Moscow Art Theatre, becoming the pinnacle of Chekhov's work as a playwright and a textbook classic of the theatrical repertoire.

Play analysis

Description of the work

The action takes place in the family estate of the landowner Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya, who returned from France with her young daughter Anya. They are met at the railway station by Gaev (Ranevskaya's brother) and Varya (her adopted daughter).

The financial situation of the Ranevsky family is nearing complete collapse. Entrepreneur Lopakhin offers his own version of the solution to the problem - to divide the land into shares and give them for use to summer residents for a certain fee. The lady is weighed down by this proposal, because for this she will have to say goodbye to her beloved cherry orchard, with which many warm memories of her youth are associated. Adding to the tragedy is the fact that her beloved son Grisha died in this garden. Gaev, imbued with the experiences of his sister, reassures her with a promise that their family estate will not be put up for sale.

The action of the second part takes place on the street, in the courtyard of the estate. Lopakhin, with his characteristic pragmatism, continues to insist on his plan to save the estate, but no one pays attention to him. Everyone switches to the appeared teacher Peter Trofimov. He gives an excited speech dedicated to the fate of Russia, its future and touches on the topic of happiness in a philosophical context. The materialist Lopakhin is skeptical about the young teacher, and it turns out that only Anya is able to imbue his lofty ideas.

The third act begins with the fact that Ranevskaya invites an orchestra with the last money and arranges a dance evening. Gaev and Lopakhin are absent at the same time - they left for the city for auction, where the Ranevsky estate should go under the hammer. After a long wait, Lyubov Andreevna finds out that her estate was bought at the auction by Lopakhin, who does not hide his joy from his acquisition. The Ranevsky family is in despair.

The finale is entirely devoted to the departure of the Ranevsky family from their home. The parting scene is shown with all the deep psychologism inherent in Chekhov. The play ends with a remarkably profound monologue by Firs, which the hosts hastily forgot on the estate. The final chord is the sound of an axe. They cut down the cherry orchard.

Main characters

Sentimental person, owner of the estate. Having lived abroad for several years, she has become accustomed to a luxurious life and, by inertia, continues to allow herself a lot that, in the deplorable state of her finances, according to the logic of common sense, should be inaccessible to her. Being a frivolous person, very helpless in everyday matters, Ranevskaya does not want to change anything in herself, while she is fully aware of her weaknesses and shortcomings.

A successful merchant, he owes a lot to the Ranevsky family. His image is ambiguous - it combines industriousness, prudence, enterprise and rudeness, a "muzhik" beginning. At the end of the play, Lopakhin does not share Ranevskaya's feelings; he is happy that, despite his peasant origin, he was able to afford to buy the estate of the owners of his late father.

Like his sister, he is very sensitive and sentimental. Being an idealist and a romantic, to console Ranevskaya, he comes up with fantastic plans to save the family estate. He is emotional, verbose, but completely inactive.

Petya Trofimov

Eternal student, nihilist, eloquent representative of the Russian intelligentsia, advocating for the development of Russia only in words. In pursuit of the "higher truth", he denies love, considering it a petty and illusory feeling, which greatly upsets his daughter Ranevskaya Anya, who is in love with him.

A romantic 17-year-old young lady who fell under the influence of the populist Peter Trofimov. Recklessly believing in better life after the sale of the parental estate, Anya is ready for any difficulties for the sake of joint happiness next to her lover.

An 87-year-old man, a footman in the Ranevskys' house. Type of servant of the old time, surrounds with paternal care of his masters. He remained to serve his masters even after the abolition of serfdom.

A young footman, with contempt for Russia, dreaming of going abroad. A cynical and cruel person, rude to old Firs, disrespectful even to his own mother.

The structure of the work

The structure of the play is quite simple - 4 acts without division into separate scenes. The duration of action is several months, from late spring to mid-autumn. In the first act there is an exposition and a plot, in the second - an increase in tension, in the third - a climax (sale of the estate), in the fourth - a denouement. characteristic feature play is the lack of genuine external conflict, dynamism, unpredictable twists in the storyline. The author's remarks, monologues, pauses and some understatement give the play a unique atmosphere of exquisite lyricism. The artistic realism of the play is achieved through the alternation of dramatic and comic scenes.

(Scene from a contemporary production)

The play is dominated by the development of the emotional and psychological plan, the main engine of action is the inner experiences of the characters. The author expands the artistic space of the work by introducing a large number of characters who never appear on stage. Also, the effect of expanding the spatial boundaries is given by the symmetrically emerging theme of France, which gives arched form to the play.

Final conclusion

Chekhov's last play can be said to be his "swan song". The novelty of her dramatic language is a direct expression of a special Chekhovian concept of life, which is characterized by extraordinary attention to small, seemingly insignificant details, focusing on the inner experiences of the characters.

In the play The Cherry Orchard, the author captured the state of critical disunity of the Russian society of his time, this sad factor is often present in scenes where the characters hear only themselves, creating only the appearance of interaction.