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| The Cherry Orchard |
| 作者Author / Anton Chekhov 安東．契可夫 |
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The Cherry Orchard (1903)
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 General Introduction
Act I
Act III (1)
Act III (2)
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| General Introduction |
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Summary
"The Cherry Orchard" portrays the declining fortunes of the Ranevskys, a landowning family, who are about to lose their estate and their beloved cherry orchard. Poor management, neglect, and impracticality have brought the family to the point of bankruptcy, but no one is able to act to head off the disaster. The suggestion of the practical businessman Lopakhin that the family chop down the orchard and build houses on the land is met with horror. For the Ranevskys, the orchard represents the pleasant past, before the mysterious forces of the changing times threatened their idyllic existence. The estate is finally sold from under the hapless family. Lopakhin buys the land and proceeds to carry out his plan to destroy the orchard and erect houses. As the family sadly prepares to depart, the sound of an axe chopping down a tree is heard from offstage.
The play, regarded as one of Chekhov's finest dramatic works, is both a penetrating study of the changing of life in Russia at the end of the 19th century. The stage portraits the Ranevskys, with their inability to do anything to save themselves, and of Lopakhin the representative of a new rising class in society, are masterpieces of dramatic creation.
Performance Information & Influences
"The Cherry Orchard" was written in 1903. The Cherry Orchard opened at the Moscow Art Theatre on Chekhov's birthday, January 17,1904. It was forbidden by the censor in 1906. After 1917, however, it became, alone with Gorki's The Lower Depths, the most popular play in Soviet Russia. A gala performance was given by the Moscow Art Theatre on January 17, 1944(on Chekhov's birthday), at which time Eva Le Gallienne and Joseph Schildkraut were performing the play in New York. The Moscow Art Company performed it in the United States in 1923-1924, to a total of 244 performances, the Chekov record in the United States.
Ward Morehouse called "The Cherry Orchard" (January 26, 1944) "a play of inaction ... crowded with pauses, sighs, chuckles, and irrelevancies. There is incessant prattling by minor characters." Robert Garland felt the deeper impact of the play: "It is, fundamentally, one of the most skillfully contrived and most heart-breaking comedies in the modern theatre." In fact, there are many digressions in the play, that is, many of the characters in it would say something that could not respond to the former dialogue. Although it seemed that everyone did not notice others with their response, they could talk very smoothly. The play draws an interesting sociological picture of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. The old aristocracy and landowning gentry were becoming impoverished and many proved unable to cope with the changes taking place.
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| Act I |
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Plot
PROLOGUE
Madame Ravensky went to Paris with her daughter, Anya in order to get rid of her sorrow from losing her husband and son both of them died six years ago. And the family has financial problem now, they may have to sell their cherry orchard in order to pay the debt.
A, In the nursey, Lopahin and Dunyasha are waiting for Ranevsky to come back from the station. But the train was delayed.
B. After few hours, Ranevsky, Anya and Charlotts finally came home. Everybody was so excited about their coming home. And Anya started to talk about what happend in Paris to her sister, Varya.
C. Anya told Varya that mamma was still in a low spirits, because she sold her villa and there's nothing left! That means, they are broke. What they have now are the arrears on the mortgage. So the two girls are already conscious that cherry orchard will be sold sooner or later.
D. After Anya went to bed , Lopahin started to talk about the business of cherry orchard with Ranevsky and Gaen. Lopahin had the idea to let the cherry orchard on less for summary villas in order to pay the debt. But the cherry orchard must be cut down.
E. Ravensky and Gaev didn't accept this proposal and started to digreaa from this topic. Though Lophahin still tried to persuade Ravensky to let it on lease, she still had no interests to sell her cherry orchard. Since there's not conclusion about the orchard, Lopahin left and had her to think of it seriously.
F. Gaev doesn't want the cherry orchard to be sold, too. Therefore he had an idea to ask help from their rich aunt. Since it's not a good suggestion, Anya and Varya still felt better! All of the family want to keep the cherry orchard.
Vocabulary
1. nosegay (p.1338) n. A small bunch of sweet smelling flowers.
2. kvass n. A type of weak beer made in Russia.
3. propitious adj. Giving or indicating a good chance of success <~for something>; favorable.
4. befall v. Used only in the 3rd person, happen to.
5. adjoining v. Be next or nearest to and joined with something.
6. parasol n. A light umbrella used to give shade from the sun.
7. wearily adv. (p.1339) Weary adj. 1. Very tired, esp. as a result of effort or endurance; exhausted. 2. Causing tiredness or boredom. 3. Showing tiredness.
8. staggering adj. something that is staggering is very surprising; astonishing; shocking.
9. arrears (p.1340) n. Money that is owned and should have been paid earlier.
10. mortgage n. Agreement in which money is lent buy a building society, bank, etc for buying a house or other property, the property being the security.
11. brooch n. An ornament with a hinged pin and clasp, worn on women's clothes.
12. mincingly adv. Mince v. Walk or speak in an affected manner, trying to appear delicate or refined.
13. vexation (p.1341) n. 1. In the state of being worried or worried. 2. Something causing annoyance or worry.
14. shudder v. To shiver violently with cold, fear, etc; tremble, shaking.
15. billiards n. A game for two people played with cues and three balls on an oblong cloth-covered table.
16. patchouli n. 1. A fragrant plant grown in the Far East. 2. Perfume made from this plant.
17. knave (p. 1342) n. Dishonest man; man without honor
18. auction (p.1343) n. A method of selling things in which each item is sold to the person who offers the most money for it.
19. verandah n. (veranda) It means porch.
20. indignant (p.1344) adj. Angry and scornful, esp. at injustice or because of undeserved blame.
21. glutton n. 1. A person who eats too much. 2. A person always ready for more of something difficult or unpleasant.
22. extenuate (p.1347) v. Make wrongdoing less serious by providing an excuse.
23. I.O.U n. Abbreviation of I owe you. A signed paper acknowledging that one owes the sum of money stated.
24. conviction n. 1. If someone has conviction, they have been found guilty of a crime in a court of law. 2. A strong believe or opinion. 3. Great confidence in your beliefs or opinions.
Relationship of Characters
The kin relationship Gaev & Lyubov(brother & sister)
Lyubov & Anya(mother & daughter)
Lyubov & Varya(mother & adopted daughter)
Lyubov & Grisha(mother & son)
Lyubov & her old aunt( the countess)
The up coming marriage relationship
Dunyasha (the maid) & Epihodov (the clerk)
Varya & Lopahin (the merchant)
The business relationship Lyubov & Lopahin
Lyubov & Phishtchik (the landowner)
The master- servant relationship
Lyubov & Dunyasha Lyubov & Firs (an old valet)
Lyubov & Yasha (a young valet)
The teacher- student relationship
Charlotta (the governess) & Anya
Petya Trofimov (the tutor)& Grisha
The landowner-Pishtchik to Lyubov is like a burden.
The relationship between mother and daughter is close. The daughters are aware of the financial problem they have; as a result, they worry about their mother and try to console her.
The relationship between brother and sister is rather close, too. Though they will have arguments over trifle, by and large they seem to know each other well, and they will help each other when one is in need.
The merchant-Lopahin is not welcome by Lyubov and Gaev, for he tries to persuade them to sell the orchard. The relationship is not only involved in business but also marriage of Varya and Lopahin. It's quite ironic for the situation. Like one is going to marry her daughter to a man, who is a threat to your family.
The servants are loyal to their masters. Especially the old valet Firs. He is like an old father who takes care of everything in the house and he even forces Gaev to go to bed. Gaev listens to him just like a little boy who is being asked to go to sleep. Varya, Anya, and Dunyasha are more like sisters rather than the master and servant relationship. Dunyasha watches them grow up and knows them well, like a big sister always being around.
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| Act III (1) |
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Plot Structure & Analysis / Structure / Setting & Sound Effect / Characterization / Issue: Reality in Act 3 of Cherry Orchard
Plot Structure & Analysis（by Grace Huang）
In the party
1. Landowner (PIS) & Governess (CHA)
2. Student (TRO) & Madame Ranevsky (M.R.)
3. Anya & Post-office clerk
4. Varya & Station Master
5. Maid (DUN)
6. Old valet (FIRS)
7. Counting-house clerk (EPI)
8. Young valet (YAS)
9. Other guests
Appear later:
1. Merchant (Lopahin)
2. Brother of M.R. (Gaev)
Detailed structure
PIS vs. TRO: a conversation about horse and money
TRO vs. Varya: quarrelling
M.R. worried about the sale of the Cherry Orchard
CHA showed her cards tricks & ventriloquism in the party
PIS was attracted by CHA (because of these tricks)
M.R. worried about the sale again
TRO vs. Varya: quarrelling
M.R. vs. Varya: a conversation about Lopahin
EPI broke a billiard cue.
TRO told MR. that he teased Varya because she liked to worry about what's not her business.
M.R. worried again: wanted to scream, and do something stupid, etc.
M.R. told TRO that she could not live without the Cherry Orchard.
M.R. told TRO that she would let Anya marry him: take degree & make his beard grow.
M.R. thought she should go back to Paris. aAn argument between M.R. and TRO about love.
TRO was angry. When he left, he fell downstairs.
Firs said that:
In old days-generals and nobles came
Now- post-office clerk and station master
Someone in the kitchen said that the Cherry Orchard had been sold.
M.R. worried again. She would like to know to whom it had been sold.
If the house was sold:
Firs-anywhere
Yasha-liked to go with M.R. to Paris.
PIS borrowed 180 roubles from M.R.
DUN was in love with the post-office clerk
Varya vs. EPI: blame him (broke the cue, did not work, and entered like a guest)
EPI quarreled with Varya, and Varya tried to beat him with a stick.
Lopahin came back with Gaev.
Gaev cried, and Lopahin said that he had bought the house with 90,000 roubles.
Lopahin acted like a new owner.
M.R. cried and Anya comforted her by telling her that they would build another new one.
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Structure
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Setting & Sound Effect
setting
sound effects
1. P.1357
the Jewish orchestra is heard playing
Blues will talk about it in details later
2. P.1358
There is the sound of billiard being played in an adjoining room
People are still unware that the cherry orchard has been sold and and have fun
3. P.1359
A mysterious feminine voice which seems coming out of the floor
Charlotta is a ventriloguist
4. P.1362
The old stranger man in the kitchen was gossiping that the cherry orchard's been sold today
It is a presage ; a hint
5. P.1365
There is heard a knocking of balls and the voice of YASHA saying "Eighty-seven"
People are still unware that the cherry orchard has been sold and and have fun
6. P.1359
Charlotta claps her hands and people say "Bravo !"
Applauding for her tricks
7. P.1365
LAPAHIN jingles the keys
When noticing that the cherry orchard has been sold, VARIA flings the keys on the floor and goes out, which Shows that she is not the house wife anymore LAPAHIN picked the keys up, which means that he is the owner
8. P.1366
Music begins to play
It is a celebration for LAPAHIN that he is the new owner of Cherry orchard, which is ironic and sorrowful for LYUBOV That she has sunk into a chair and is weeping in bitterly
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Characterization
TROFIMOV
（by Claire）
1. He is a flighty and frivolous person and not solemn. In two respects, first (p.1358, Trofimov says that there really is something horsy about your appearance because Pishtchik says that his family derived from something about horse.) In fact, a real gentleman will not say that oh! Your appearance is like a horse! Ex: Prince Charles. Second (p.1358, 1360 Trofimov keeps teasing Varya "Madam Lopahin" because originally people think that Varya and Lopahin should be a couple. And even his words make Varya angry, he does not care. ) 2. He is not a thoughtful person. (p.1360 When Lyubow worries that whether the estate is sold or not, Trofimov does not comfort her patiently but just ask her to face the music cruelly. ) 3. On the other hand, you can say that he is a frank guy and always says what he wants to say.
Lopahin:
（by Joyce）
Lopahin appeared in the end of ActⅢ. When he came back to Lyubov's house with Gaev, he felt embarrassed but not for he had bought the cherry orchard. He felt embarrassed just because he was afraid of betraying his joy. When the outcome was made known-he himself bought the cherry, he started to be pleased with himself. He laughed, chuckled, stamped with his feet, smiled fondly, and all these movements showed how proud was Lopahin.
Our group members think that Lopahin had had an intention to buy the cherry orchard in the first beginning. However, he pretended to be kind to them and even tried to find a way (by selling out the cherry orchard to build villas instead) to pay their arrears. He urged Lyubov to sell it out, but surprisingly, he bought it for himself in the end. We also make a guess that Lopahin might do this to revenge on the Lyubov's family. He mentioned that his farther was a serf of Lyubov's father and grandfather. In the past, Lopahin's father had to work hard for them, he knew nothing and taught Lopahin nothing, only beat Lopahin with his stick when he was drunk. But Lopahin finally became the owner of the cherry orchard! Lopahin changed a lot from ActⅠto Act Ⅲ. He revealed his true character in the end of Act Ⅲ.
Anya
(by Rachel）
From the dialogue in this play, we could see that Anya is a girl who has a kind heart and often shows her concern to others. Though she is a young girl, she has a quite mature thought. She knows that no matter how bad situation one has encountered one has to fact the music. With this thought, she always has a great hope to the future. Because she understands that is life and it is no use living in one's own old memory. Therefore, she is not afraid of challenge and has a great confidence in the better future. Accepting the reality (whether bad or good), doing something useful for the future is her true believe. In addition, she is also a filial daughter who loves her mother very much and wants to take good care of her mother.
Varya
In this play we may find Varya is a girl who gets into a temper easily and it seems that she likes to blame at others. Though she is easily out of temper, she still has a kind heart. As a direct girl of her own opinion, she seems like to pretend to be a doughty girl also. Besides her doughty outward, however, she is very sensitive inner, which makes her easily being hurt and being moved to tears.
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Issue: Reality in Act 3 of Cherry Orchard
（by Blues）
What is the Reality in this play？When people worry about losing their homeland, will they party？What is the party represent for？If I didn't know how to protect my property, will I be in the mood for party? Will I talk about Nietzsche？ Will I play card tricks？I have too many questions in mind and I don't know what the answers are. But I will try my best to analyze the Act for you.
First, at Chekhov's time, the leading philosophers are Karl Marx, Nietzsche and Freud. Karl Marx's social revolution and Nietzsche's Nihilism are key influence in the socialism Russia. So when they gossip about Nietzsche, doesn't surprise me and I don't feel unreal. The card tricks and the Romance between two lovers seem not so practical for changing the fate of the cherry orchard, but the event well represent for the new generation's statues, the political change isn't my business, but my parents problem. And I don't have to respond for it.
Second, the play processing until two thirds, Trofimov told Madame Ranevsky "for once in your life you must face the truth! ". And Madame Ranevsky tried to face the crisis for the first time. Personally, I tend to interpret that Ranevsky is the symbol of Russia landlord class who doesn't want to change into the socialism society, they love the old days. So the following what Ranevsky said seems like a speech for the noble class against what Marx represent for.
Some people don't care about who is the owner（the governor), just like the working class people. And some people think love is more important than land（the ruler or the power）. So, in the play, at least three kinds of people exists and present three kinds of reality: nostalgia（unreal old lady）, romantic Nihilism（surreal young lovers）, and realism（realistic lower class）.
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| Act III (2) |
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Summary / Vocabulary / Setting & Sound Effect / Characterization / Reflections
Summary
In this act, the theme is greatly different from the first act. At the beginning of this story, people were all excited and nervous waiting for the coming of Lyubov. Lopahin was so excited to persuade her to sell the cherry orchard. Because of Lopahin's amazing behavior, buying the cherry orchard, he didn't need to persuade Lyubov to sell it any more but became the owner of the orchard. All the people were going to leave the place that they had lived for long. They were leaving away for different directions. Some went to Paris with Lyubov, Gaev was going to be a bank clerk and Varya was a housekeeper. In the latter part, they were indulged in gloom of leaving, though they were trying to comfort each other by saying that they were going to have new lives. Especially, when Lyubov said " We are going and not a soul will be left here.(p.1372)" and "Oh, my orchard!-my sweet, beautiful orchard! My life, my youth, my happiness, good-bye! Good-bye!(1373)", it strongly showed that she was very reluctant to leave. The only happy person was Lopahin because he urged people to leave for many times and though he was also going to leave but he would soon came back to build his visit villas. Moreover, in the beginning of this act Lopahin had a conversation with Trofimov. Outwardly, Trofimov was giving Lopahin advice and Lopahin was kind-hearted to give money to help him but actually they were arguing with each other. In the conversation, it showed apparently that Lopahin was teasing on Tropahin that he was only a poor student and Tropahin scorned Lopahin for a rich peasant. In this act, everyone was not happy about Lopahin's buying the cherry orchard and it told that he was ready to earn a lot of money by that. There was also sound of cutting off the cherry trees. The author wrote it seemingly to express they had to leave as soon as possible or it would make them more uncomfortable. The last thing was that after they were all gone, then Firs appeared lonely. According the words that Firs said, maybe it showed that the cherry orchard like him was going to be forgotten. And the cherry orchard was destroyed to be a visit villas.
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Vocabulary
1. audible (P.1366)
*Meaning: A sound that is loud enough to be heard.
*Origin: On the left the door is open, and from here the voices of VARYA and ANYA are audible.
2. fretting (P.1367)
*Meaning: It means that someone worry about something.
*Origin: I 've been wasting all my time gossiping with you and fretting with no work to do.
3. Profitable (P.1367)
*Meaning: An organization and practice makes a profit.
*Origin: You will take up your profitable labors again.
4. Stale (P.1367)
*Meaning: It has become boring because it is always the same.
*Origin: Do think of something newer than that-that's stale and flat.
5. nasty (P.1368)
*Meaning: If you described something as nasty, you mean it is unattractive, undesirable, or in bad taste.
*Origin: Take the nasty things!
6. bluntly (P.1368)
*Meaning: You will say something exactly what you think without trying to be polite.
*Origin: I am a peasant-I speak bluntly.
7. fluttering (P.1368)
*Meaning: If something thin or light, it moves up and down or from side to side with a lot of quick, light movements.
*Origin: It's like so much fluff fluttering in the air.
8. adjoining (P.1369)
*Meaning: If one room, place, or object adjoins another, they are next to each other.
*Origin: [From the adjoining room.]
9. irrevocably (P.1369)
*Meaning: Some decisions, actions or changes cannot be changed or reversed.
*Origin: When once the question was settled conclusively, irrevocably, we all felt calm and even cheerful.
10.estate (P.1369)
*Meaning: An estate is a large area of land in the country which is owned by a person, family, or organization.
*Origin: I can live there on the money your Yaroslavl auntie sent us to buy the estate with-hurrah for auntie.
11.freak (P.1370)
*Meaning: Someone is physically abnormal in some way.
*Origin: The freak of nature!
12.trotting (P.1370)
*Meaning: You move fairly fast at a speed between walking and running, taking small quick steps.
*Origin: I can't stay…I must be trotting on.
13.agitation (P.1370)
*Meaning: If someone is in a state of agitation, they are very worried or upset, and shoe this in their behavior, movements, or voice.
*Origin: What! [In agitation.] Why to the town?
14.anxiety (P.1371)
*Meaning: It is a feeling of nervousness or worry.
*Origin: My other anxiety is Varya. She is used to getting up early and working.
15.confess (P.1371)
*Meaning: You use expressions to apologize slightly for admitting something you are ashamed of or that you think might offend or annoy someone.
*Origin: I don't understand it myself, I confess.
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Setting & Sound Effect
Setting
We can see at the beginning, the scene description that there are neither curtains on the windows nor pictures on the walls. The furniture is piled up in the corner. These show a sense of desolation, as the description says. They also give the audiences a feeling of loneliness that nothing is going to remain there. People who have been living in the house are leaving, and things they have used are also going with them. The atmosphere of home has disappeared, and the house is going to become empty. The packed trunks and traveling bags waiting outside seem to hurry people. At the end, the scene description shows that the stage is already empty and returns to silence. It seems that all people and things have gone, and there is only their story remaining in the audiences' minds. Sound effects
Sound Effect
On pages 1368 and 1373, we can hear the stroke of an ax on a tree, which shows that trees are being cut down. Things in Cherry orchard are being moved away, destroyed and replaced. The sound of the ax on the tree seems to be the clock counting backwards and reminds people to leave quickly. The changing of the scenery also reminds the audiences the changing of society. Upper class people has been cut down and been replaced by the newly middle class people risen in a short time. The social class has been kicked out and has been cut down like the tree. Finally, the stage returns to silence. These give the audiences an impression that all people and things are gone, and their memories are gone with them.
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Characterization
Madame Ranevasky: As we know, she's the woman who spent her money senseless. She doesn't aware of his lack of money. Even it's needed to sell his villas to pay her debts, she still doesn't care. But actually, we think that she acknowledges her financial difficulties in her mind, but she pretends not to care about it because she doesn't want to face the cruel truth. According to what she says" it seems as though I have never seen before what the walls, what the ceilings in this house were like, and now I look at them with greediness, with such tender love."(p.1372) It reveals that she still has lots of memories of this Cherry Orchard, she doesn't want to sell, but she is forced to do so because of her debts. Besides, she says " We are going, and not a soul will be left here (p.1372) also shows her unwillingness to leave because she thought that the souls of the house will all gone with their left.
Lopahin: At the beginning, we think he is the man who always abases himself because of his family class. Through the whole play, he keeps on reminding his low social status, such as " why turn up your nose? I am peasant - I speak bluntly"(p.1368). It seems that he feels inferior to everyone in this play. Therefore, after he becomes rich, he is willing to give money to people who are considered to short of money by him, such as Trofimov:" Let me give you some money for the journey, if you need it.' We think it is kind of embarrassing for Trofimov and Madame Ranevasky's family because it seems that is is the only way which makes he become superior than the other people. He is the richest one among them. Somehow, we think it is his compensatory behavior toward them.
Firs: Although he doesn't appear for a long time in this act, but definitely, he plays an important role in this act-because he ends this ply. From what he says at the end of this play (p.1373), we think he's not only a responsible and loyal valet, but also a witness of history. He saw the family from strong to weak. This play ends with his feeling of his old ages, it also refers to the ending of this Cherry Orchard.
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Reflections
We think there are two main contrasts in this play. The first one is the contrast of social status, the second one is the contrast between past and now. In our opinion, we think this play is somewhat like the competition between royal class and general class. Through the description of the royal family's becoming weaker and weaker, we can know some further details about realistic world at that time from the play. In fact, the noble class is becoming weaker and weaker, but they can't face this truth, they still think they are in the front ranks. Although it can't be denied that they belongs to the royal status, the truth is still obvious - they don't have money, all they have are fame and royal name. They don't have something concrete, something can support their live. Al they want is to enjoy the life as what they did in the past, but they don't consider their situation and social changes. Their thoughts are actually far behind the real world. Secondly, it is the contrast between past and now. Undoubtedly, this family has a happy old life in the Cherry Orchard. After the Cherry Orchard is sold, they have to face a new life. Just as what Anya says " Good-bye to the old life!"(p.1373) and Trofimov says " Welcome to the new life!". And the most obvious expression is at the end of this play, what the Firs says, "Life has slopped by as though I hadn't lived. There's no strength in you, nothing left you, all gone! I'm good for nothing"(p.1373). We think Firs stands for the old times, the same as the Cherry Orchard. When the young people leave to chase for a new life, he will be forgotten, just as the old day, as the Cherry Orchard.
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International Dictionary of Theatre-1 Plays (p.123-25)
International Dictionary of Theatre-2 Playwrights (p.184-7)
Guide of Great Plays (p.142, p.147-8)
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