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A review by gnatsnotes
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
what a charming little play...! i picked this up without knowing at all what it was about, and it ended up being just my thing. in the cherry orchard, chekhov captures a brief moment in an extremely unique period of russian history after the emancipation of the serfs.
throughout the story, chekhov acutely displays the shifting class tensions through the characters in the play, and their perspectives on and roles in the sale of the titular cherry orchard. i found it extremely engaging to question how the different class statuses of the characters influence how they felt about the cherry orchard and what it represented.
indeed, class and social status and how that affects attitudes and actions is a theme intrinsic to this work. the conceit of the play is based on the fact that the formerly aristocratic, upper class characters of the story are unable to contend with their rescinding value/status in society, ultimately leading to their ruin. throughout the story, the lower class characters - or at least those who formerly served the noble characters - slowly attain power over lubov andreyevna and her family in both tangible (the purchase of the family's estate ) and less evident ways (trofimov's relationship with and influence over anya ). as a whole, this play effortlessly captures an extremely poignant and important period of social transition in russian history.
there is also something to be said about the comedy in this play… it didn’t catch on for me at first, but i will admit that by act three i was giggling at some of the jokes. 😳
ultimately, the cherry orchard is a very timely work, in the sense that it strikingly captures the exact moment in time within which chekhov was writing. honestly, this is why i love literature like this... it preserves a little piece of the past for the reader to engage with in the future, as well as holds up a mirror to society to interrogate and explore prominent social issues of the day. as a reader, it almost allows me to act as a voyeur into the lives of people in the past so i can see how others have lived - and even contrast this to my own time period to see how people have changed (or how they haven't!).
all in all, a delightful read. i would recommend this for anyone looking for a low commitment introduction to russian classic literature, or a manageable exploration of this small sliver of russian historyl
throughout the story, chekhov acutely displays the shifting class tensions through the characters in the play, and their perspectives on and roles in the sale of the titular cherry orchard. i found it extremely engaging to question how the different class statuses of the characters influence how they felt about the cherry orchard and what it represented.
indeed, class and social status and how that affects attitudes and actions is a theme intrinsic to this work. the conceit of the play is based on the fact that the formerly aristocratic, upper class characters of the story are unable to contend with their rescinding value/status in society, ultimately leading to their ruin. throughout the story, the lower class characters - or at least those who formerly served the noble characters - slowly attain power over lubov andreyevna and her family in both tangible (
there is also something to be said about the comedy in this play… it didn’t catch on for me at first, but i will admit that by act three i was giggling at some of the jokes. 😳
ultimately, the cherry orchard is a very timely work, in the sense that it strikingly captures the exact moment in time within which chekhov was writing. honestly, this is why i love literature like this... it preserves a little piece of the past for the reader to engage with in the future, as well as holds up a mirror to society to interrogate and explore prominent social issues of the day. as a reader, it almost allows me to act as a voyeur into the lives of people in the past so i can see how others have lived - and even contrast this to my own time period to see how people have changed (or how they haven't!).
all in all, a delightful read. i would recommend this for anyone looking for a low commitment introduction to russian classic literature, or a manageable exploration of this small sliver of russian historyl