English Literature GCE A/L Made easy-Drama: Anton Chekhov's
 

The cherry orchard - a comedy in four acts

About the author

Anton Paulovich Chekhov's (1860-1904) a famous short story writer and dramatist whose five major plays pedestaled him to popularity. Chekhov being a Russian and a grandson of a serf; trained as a doctor, devoted much of his time in writing.

Chekhov seems to be influenced by Maupasant. Exploring into the pattern of character and its psychological situation revealed through the behaviour pattern of a person; Chekhov was considered the best playwright who exposed the weaknesses of the society in the most appropriate and striking manner.

Konstantine Stainslovsky, a famous writer and "the founder of the Moscow Art Theatre" has lavishly praised the talent of Chekhov.

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"A realist where it is necessary and occasionally almost a naturalist" when exposing even the minute details of a character Chekhov has tried to set out the ideal characteristics which he wishes to highlight. He has employed his dramatic technique in such manner so as to entice even the foreign spectators who possess completely different traditions.

Chekhov's a genius at creating witty and ironic situations exposing the weaknesses of the society and simultaneously inviting the attention of the reader, spectator towards the majority of the people who are unaware of the fact that they have at least a fraction of the weaknesses exposed by the writer.

Thus bringing such characters to utter ridicule. The Nouveau rich theatre goers took delight in watching Chekhov's drama blessed with a simple language style; characters usually sympathetic; often sans a villain while he criticised the faults of the existing society and at the same time guiding the public in the right direction.

The Drama

A. P. Chekhov's Cherry Orchard has no "traditional plot or tidy conclusion. Very little happens in the "Cherry Orchard". The characters try to be satisfied with deceptive thoughts or motives of the future; becoming neither 'heroes nor villains'.

Cherry Orchard was written by Chekhov when the Aristocracy in Russia was waning in power, like in France (in the Tale of Two cities by Charles Dickens). A new class was rising "Gayev's mannerisms") Charlotte's tricks and Pischik's attempt to borrow money" invite the applause of the audience, though the characters do not indulge in creating funny situations. Ranaveskaiya, the owner of the Cherry Orchard, having lost her husband and son comesback from France remaining as "a sensitive and imaginative" woman.

Ranaveskaiya: Lord! there's mother walking through the Orchard in a white dress. It is her...." Gayev: where?

Ranaveskaiya: It's no one I only imagined it. Out there you see on the right by the turning to the Summer House, there's a small white tree and it's bending over --- it looks like a woman".

Ranaveskaiya's servant's caring and affectionate attitudes seem to be a pleasing aspect of the Life style that existed.

The Cherry Orchard has been mortgaged and awaiting sale. But Ranaveskaiya and Gayev fail to understand their real situation and living in imagination; is quite ironic and Ranaveskaiya's ridiculous behaviour pattern recalling to the past is a humorous situation. "The Nursery my dear - my beautiful room I used to sleep when I was little...."

Quite indifferent to the specific situation. Yet inviting the compassion of the spectators. Madame Ranaveskaiya and Pischik Gayov failing to meet with a solution to save the Cherry Orchard and Lopakhin, the son of a serf "a newly emerged capitalist" buying the Cherry Orchard. Getting uprooted from their social pedestal Yephidov, Charlotta Veria and Doonyasha are victimised.

The sound of the axe the symbol of misfortune awaiting amidst reliving the past, lingering in the past and their unsuitable behaviour pattern tend to create humour with a combination of sympathy from the audience.

Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialst Teacher Eng.Lit., St. Anne's College, Kurunegala.