The Cherry Orchard: A Literary Analysis Of Anton Chekhov

Bilal Shamsi

32891111

April 7, 2014

A literary Analysis of Anton Chekhov

“The Cherry Orchard”

Anton Chekhov’s play the “Cherry Orchard” was his last play and is related to the era of Russia during the 1890’s and the 1900s. A Russia that was going through a transition form the classical tsarist era to an era of change (Ryfield 240). The Cherry Orchard is the main focus upon the play and creates a theme in which audiences who read or watch the play, wonder how long the ancient cherry orchard will last; due to plays uncertainty about it. A tree at which provided for the family for decades now just a symbol of old Russia (Ryfield 240). The symbolism and allusions at which Anton Chekhov describes in the play creates a mood at which each character seems to be representing the past, present and future (Ryfield, 242). Overall the play is full of twist in each act. The play can be described as a realist drama (Ryfield 240).

In this paper I will analyze the play “The Cherry Orchard” and will be looking at how Chekhov’s literary techniques create a focused theme at which Chekhov wants to get it across; that theme is change. What is so astounding is that there have been many interpretations of the Cherry Orchard in which some I have stumbled across that hint that Chekhov was actually showing the disrespect of the new generation or the “New formation” had for the old generation (Styan 195). I will be looking at these arguments as well but also showing how the symbolism techniques would influence many future writers in Russian literature. Though looking at arguments about the Cherry Orchard one example would be John Styan who on his essay about the play explains that the cherry orchard itself was the destiny of Russia. He includes by a...

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... . The Orchard and the charters relate to this course which we looked at many other writings in the course which all use imagery and descriotion of the setting to egt their point across. However I must admit I would wonder what Chechov would explain at what the future held in Russia after the revolution which took place after many years after his death. This was his last play and truly a play at which had meaning(book). It seemed that checkov liked the way that change was coming especially through the charcter Lopkin whom seemed to have a positive characteristic and the constant flashback of how his father was a peasant and how now he was a rich man. Even thought change was coming and it seemed to be great I just wonder and would like to end off to what Anton Checkov would of thought of the future of Russia through the Stalinist era and the time of the 5 year plan.