Unique Style of Drama of Chekov
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On January 29, 1860, in Taganrog, Russia, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, was born, (Anton, p. 1). Though Chekhov wrote many one-act comedies and a significant number of short stories, it is for his full-length tragedies that Chekhov is considered ôamong the greatest dramatists of all time,ö (Anton, p. 1). While studying as a medical student at the University of Moscow, Chekhov began writing short stories. Influenced by vaudeville and French farces, Chekhov began writing one-act comedies. Eventually, he wrote the plays that stand among the finest dramas in theatre, Uncle Vanya, The Seagull, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. Chekhov hated that his plays were stylized for the stage by Constantin Stanislavsky. Chekhov maintained that his dramas were comedies, but Stanislavsky always focused on the tragic elements of his work. This critique will look at a number of ChekhovÆs works in order to demonstrate the dramatistÆs philosophy of life and his unique style of drama. Perhaps the best definition of ChekhovÆs dramatic style is best offered by the writer himself. He once wrote, ôAll I wanted was to say honestly to people: æHave a look at yourselves and see how bad and dreary your lives are!Æ The important thing is that people should realize that, for when they do, they will most certainly create another and better life for themselves,ö (Anton, p. 1). The works of Chekhov demonstrate this time and again. ChekhovÆs characters often seem u
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rifice her daughter in marriage to a man she does not love in order to gain economic security. She is insensitive to the needs of others, and while facing the mortgage crisis, she brags about her newest piece of jewelry, ôMama bought it for me. And you know, in Paris I went up in a balloon,ö (Chekhov, p. 68).
Clinging to the past aristocrat way of life, Madame Ranevsky refuses to build villas on the property, a suggestion of LopahinÆs. Madame Ranevsky cannot admit her life is sad and dreary, thereby losing the cherry orchard in the process. When Lopahin, a former servant, buys the orchard, she cannot stand that pain of what she views only as a cruel irony. With no hope in sight, she instead throws a ball and continues piling up debts while considering returning to her lover. When she leaves the orchard for the last time, we see she is still only concerned with herself, ôMy life, my youth, my happiness, good-bye! Good-bye!ö (Chekhov, p. 117).
Chekhov viewed The Cherry Orchard as more a comedy than tragedy. Most of the character do have strong comedic elements. Although they are sympathetically drawn, neither Ranevsky nor Gaev are serious people. Trofimov, who represents the future, is also comic, while Lopahin represen
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2166
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)
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