Symbolism in The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
analytical Essay
1577 words
Symbolism in The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
Mamma! Are you crying, mamma? My dear, good, sweet mamma! Darling, I love you! I bless you! The Cherry orchard is sold; it?s gone; its quite true, it?s quite true. But don?t cry, mamma, you?ve still got life before you, you?ve still got your pure and lovely soul. Come with me, darling, and come away from here. We?ll plant a new garden, still lovelier than this. You will see it and understand, and happiness, deep, tranquil happiness will sink down on your soul, like the sun at eventide, and you?ll smile, mamma. Come, darling, come with me!
The Cherry Orchard has been acclaimed as one of the greatest theatrical experiences of all time. It is clearly seen through the use of the more subtle, submerged, and persuasive techniques that he uses in writing this, his most famous play. The Cherry Orchard is important for three reasons: First, for its intrinsic textual richness, linguistic power and subtlety as a piece of dramatic prose; second, because of its crucial position in Russian cultural history as the culmination of all ?realist? nineteenth-century fiction and as the first classic of a new, arguably ?symbolist? or ?absurd? literature; third, because of its seminal role in the evolution of Twentieth-Century theater.
The plot structure in The Cherry Orchard is not as meaningful as the impact of events on the inner sensibilities of the characters. Chekhov divides his characters in The Cherry Orchard in a variety of ways so that the orchard and its sale take on different meaning for each of them. It is necessary then to examine the loss of the cherry through some of the major character; Yermolai Alexeyitch Lopakhin, Peter Trophimot, and Madame Ranevsky. When writing TCO he us...
... middle of paper ...
...and repression; by Lopakhin, the business man and spokesman for hard economic facts, the one who thinks of it primarily as a means to a wiser investment, and by Madame Ranvesky, who sees in it her childhood happiness; it is seen from these characters that are woven by their brilliant selection.
Thus, The Cherry Orchard is simplistic, yet complicated at the same time. It has poetic strength and is naturalistically composed, which makes it all the more controversial. The interweaving in the play, the relationships between one generation and another, between the sexes, and ranking of different social classes add to The Cherry Orchard?s interesting balance. It is not hard for one to see why The Cherry Orchard is considered to be Anton Chekhov?s greatest work, and why it shall remain a classic for many years to come.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the symbolism in the cherry orchard by anton chekhov.
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard is acclaimed as one of the greatest theatrical experiences of all time. it is important for its textual richness, linguistic power, and subtlety as a piece of dramatic prose.
- Analyzes how chekhov divides his characters in the cherry orchard in a variety of ways, examining the loss of the cherry through yermolai alexeyitch lopakhin, peter trophimot, and madame ranevsky.
- Explains that the cherry orchard was composed during the years 1903-1904 while chekhov was dying of tuberculosis. it was first produced on january 17, 1904 by the moscow arts theater, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his career.
- Analyzes how anton chekhov conceived the cherry orchard as a comedy, but had trouble persuading people it wasn't drama. the play aligns the action with time, from hopeful spring to despairing autumn.
- Opines that all of russia is our garden. the earth is great and beautiful; it is full of wonderful places.
- Analyzes how peter views the orchard as nothing but an image of slavery and repression. trophimof experiences the loss of privileged class being demoted to the whole russia people.
- Compares the views of lopahkin and trophimof according to their sex and social standings.
- Opines that if only their father and grandfather could raise from their graves and see the whole affair, how their flogged and ignorant yermolai bought a property that hasn't its equal for beauty anywhere in the world!
- Explains that lopakhin is a self-made businessman who came along way from his childhood and family of being poor peasant.
- Analyzes how yermolai lopakhin and peter trophimof's views are similar in some retrospect. by sex, departure from the orchard means an assesment of marital needs.
- Opines that mankind marches possible on earth, and they march in the foremost ranks.
- Analyzes how trophimof refuses lopakhin's loan offer, which shows how the student?s youth and idealism are in pathetic contrast with
- Analyzes how madame ranevsky sees the orchard as an ambiguous and poetic symbol of any human life that is in a state of change.
- Narrates how they squandered money and married a man who made nothing but debts. the sick man tormented and wore down their soul.
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard represents an inextricable tangle of sentiments, which together compromise a way of life and an attitude to life.
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard is simplistic yet complicated at the same time. the interweaving in the play, the relationships between one generation and another, between the sexes, and ranking of different social classes add to its interesting balance.
Related
- analytical
- How does Anton Chekov use symbolism to comment on political and social changes in feudal Russia in “The Cherry Orchard”?analytical essayHow does Anton Chekov use symbolism to comment on political and social changes in feudal Russia in “The Cherry Orchard”?
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how anton chekov uses symbolism to comment on political and social changes in feudal russia in "the cherry orchard".
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard symbolises the past or the passing of time and illustrates the inability of the aristocratic class to maintain their stature and power.
- Analyzes how the intense emotional connection ranevsky feels towards the cherry orchard is contrasted by lopakhin's disregard for the family’s nostalgia.
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard conveys individual ideologies and different characters have different "memories" associated with it.
- Analyzes how the ranevsky family feels the financial consequences of the emancipation declaration of 1861. the orchard is representative of an easier age, reminiscent of a time without much struggle.
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard managed to encase memories in a very powerful manner, the variance in the memories just solidified the power of what it symbolised.
- Analyzes how the cherry orchard symbolizes the deterioration of an entire class, the class that madame ranevsky represents.
- Analyzes how the serf buying out the orchard from the noble family depicts the change of russian society and its ideals.
1044 wordsRead More - A Doll’s House and The Cherry Orchardanalytical essay...Russian society and social norms. The greatest reminder of this is found in the fact that Lopahkin, the man who Ranevsky once spoke to condescendingly, is now the family’s last hope for survival. Ironically enough, Lopahkin is often glancing at his watch, a reminder that time is changing, and a message that he, himself, is a testament to.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how henrik ibsen's a doll’s house and anton chekhov‘s the cherry orchard depicted the changing of cultures. both plays used contortive characters’ actions to speak about groups of people as a whole.
- Analyzes how henrik ibsen's commentary on 19th century marriage stereotypes created widespread uproar. in the play, nora and torvald are introduced to a young married couple.
- Analyzes how nora's bold act of insubordination subverted the concept of the woman being dependent upon and subordinate to the man.
- Analyzes how nora longs for the sense of empowerment that being a man entails.
- Analyzes how torvald lashes out at nora in the book's final pages, despite the benevolent nature of her crime. after receiving his amnesty, she is shocked and angered.
- Opines that they have waited for eight years and felt certain that the wonderful thing was going to happen at last.
- Analyzes how torvald responds, in accordance with popular male thinking, "no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves" and nora decides she must leave him.
- Analyzes how anton chekhov's the cherry orchard uses subversion techniques and insubordination to bring to light many prevailing social themes of late-19th century russia.
- Analyzes how lopahkin, a man whose father was once ranevsky’s serf, and dunyasha, his wealthy landowner, subvert the mold of the typical freed
- Analyzes how ranevsky's arrival shows the drastic changing of times in the way the servants treat their master.
- Analyzes how chekhov makes bold statements about the effects of the russian revolution on russian society and social norms.
- Analyzes how the subversion of perception and the insubordination of supposedly inferior characters in anton chekhov's the cherry orchard and henrik ibsen' a doll’s house have implications on the overall message of the play.
1506 wordsRead More - The Chrysanthemums Allegory Analysis Essayanalytical essayThe Chrysanthemums: Allegory Analysis In the short story by John Steinbeck, The Chrysanthemums, symbolism, allegory and foreshadowing flood the story from start to finish. Steinbeck’s chosen words to describe the setting, plot and conclusion allows readers to evaluate and analyze the story in many ways. The story begins by describing the setting as enclosed, gray and repressive. Elisa Allen is introduced as the central character of the story, onto which the symbolism and allegory mainly affect.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes john steinbeck's the chrysanthemums, describing the setting, plot, and conclusion as enclosed, gray and repressive, with elisa allen as the central character.
- Analyzes how steinbeck portrays the foggy, cold, and pot-like enclosed valley of salinas, where henry allen’s ranch is located.
- Analyzes how elisa allen is described as a willing, talented man. she maintains her garden and home perfectly structured, that every nit and corner she cares for reflect her skill and talent.
- Analyzes how steinbeck's the chrysanthemums uses literary techniques and male-dominated society to create a plethora of exegesis.
619 wordsRead More - YENTL, The Bashevis Singeranalytical essayA general air of superficiality invades the production. Why? Unless done with reality, the play loses its “tam” (Yiddish for taste), fringes on mockery of the way of life being depicted, and weakens the accomplishment of the author’s purpose.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the story of yentl, a girl whose father defies religious custom and teaches her to read and debate jewish law and theology.
- Analyzes how avigdor's friendship with her study partner and marriage to hadass set the story on a track of intrigue. orthodox judaism was practiced in the shetls of pre-world war ii eastern europe.
- Describes singer as a realist and writer of personal morality. singer lived for much of his formative years in poland/russian shtetl, and was well trained in orthodox judaism.
- Analyzes how yentl's modern thoughts led to his writing about what he referred to as "female homosexuality" and "transvestism." his true love for both avigdor and hadass blurs the lines between love of women for women and men for men.
- Compares singer's writing to sholem aleichem, who was the voice of the now gone life pattern of eastern european jews. singer was serious in his writing, rarely using humor and playful irony to gain his point.
- Analyzes how perlman shows carefree hand in developing the script. the cast mingles with the audience before the production starts, joking, and interacting, but ignores jewish tradition of men not touching or hugging women.
- Analyzes how therese anderger, ben melh, and rebecca gibel develop clear characterizations. dorothy silver adds the proper tone as yachna.
- Explains that the hebrew pronunciations should have been uniform to represent that these people are from the same place. the cast speaks in standard english, representing commonality of language, but one cast member uses an indefinable accent and overplays his part for laughs.
- Analyzes how the play loses its "tam" (yiddish for taste), fringes on mockery of the way of life being depicted, and weakens 's purpose.
676 wordsRead More - St. Petersburg: The Myth and the City Explained in Pushkin’s “The Bronze Horseman” and Gogol’s “Nevsky Prospect”analytical essayThe story opens with a larger picture of the life on Nevsky Prospect with all its richness and complexity. Then, in the second part, Gogol follows two characters who give readers insight into the detailed lives of the people who roam the city, enabling us to see the darkness behind the colorful picture painted in the first part. We experience the city in two ways: First as an onlooker, walking the streets and becoming familiar with the general city; then the view is shifted, and readers venture into its depths and watch how individuals lead their lives.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how pushkin's "the bronze horseman" and gogol’s “nevsky prospect” provide a deeper view into the history and lifestyle of st. petersburg.
- Analyzes how gogol follows two characters who give readers insight into the detailed lives of the people who roam the city, enabling us to see the darkness behind the colorful picture painted in the first part.
- Analyzes how st. petersburg is portrayed as a chaotic place made up of many different classes, professions, nationalities, all of which can be found on nevsky prospect.
- Analyzes how gogol portrays st. petersburg by going away from the nevsky prospect into the side streets and houses.
- Analyzes how the narrator tells us in the last paragraph of the story, "oh, have no faith in this nevsky prospect!... it is all deception, a dream, nothing is what it seems!"
- Analyzes pushkin's portrayal of st. petersburg as a city ripe with valiant history. the purpose of this city was to open russia to the western world.
- Analyzes how the poem progresses as the city becomes a gloomy place harboring mystery and misery.
- Analyzes the contrast between the grand city discussed in the introduction of the poem, and the ruin the strikes after the flood.
690 wordsRead More - Analysis of the Play, Paper Wheatanalytical essayThe many themes contained within the play are additional evidence that the play was constructed for a specific group of people who would find it entertaining. The role of cooperation and the formation of co-op’s in the mid-west are two of the central themes to Paper Wheat. In a scene entitled The Report in Act II, the audience listens to a monologue given by Ed Partridge in whi...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that not all plays are character-driven, in fact a great many aren't. paper wheat uses history, message, spectacle elements, and comedy to keep its audience engaged and entertained.
- Analyzes how paper wheat uses the history of its audience to keep them captivated.
- Explains paper wheat is a collective creation by 25th street house theatre, and opened in saskatoon, saskatchewan. the decision to open in the mid-west indicates the target audience.
- Analyzes how the play was constructed for a specific group of people who would find it entertaining. the role of cooperation and the formation of co-op’s in the mid-west are two of the central themes of paper wheat.
- Explains the importance of education, knowledge, survival, determination, and hard work to the farmers. they have worked hard to build their farms and cultivate their lands.
- Analyzes how the message of paper wheat becomes evident as the play progresses. a group of people move to canada for various reasons, basically to begin new lives.
- Analyzes the role of spectacle elements, such as song and dance, in engaging the audience. the wheat pool song, written in 1926, is used to arouse memories in the minds of audience members.
- Analyzes how dance is another element of spectacle used in the play to engage the audience’s interest. two tap dancers symbolically show the formation of the wheat pool in 1924.
- Narrates how the dance goes from slow and tentative to frenzied ending with the old-fashioned theatrical tam-ta
- Analyzes how paper wheat relies heavily on comedy to captivate the audience.
- Analyzes how the comedy throughout the play will focus on making fun of immigrants. another scene entitled "breaking the plow" illustrates this point.
- Analyzes how the overall success of paper wheat proves that getting to know and identify with the characters themselves is not really necessary for an audience to remain interested.
800 wordsRead More - Living Inside The Fence You Createanalytical essaySteinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums”. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama. 2nd ed. Ed. Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw, 2008. 459-466. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how elisa's unhappiness in her role as the wife of a cattle farmer is clear through s detailed diction. the vigor with which she does her chores and her gardening illuminate her energetic spirit
- Analyzes how elisa's life is collected, controlled, and clean while the tinker lives a life of careless freedom.
- Analyzes how elisa's demeanor changes when the repair man turns to her chrysanthemums. the more the man shows an interest in her flowers, the more she lets her true self show.
- Analyzes how elisa's inability to step beyond her boundaries leads to her unhappiness and feeling of entrapment in her feminine role.
- Analyzes elisa's reaction when she sees her flowers strewn on the side of the road. she is aware of her power as a female, but she doesn't mind vocalizing her strength and pride in powerful statements.
- Cites renner, stanley, and steinbeck, john. "the chrysanthemums" in modern fiction studies.
1169 wordsRead More - Steinbeck, John. “The Chrysanthemums” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V Roberts and Robert Zweig. 10th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2012. 416-422. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how women struggled with oppression and fought against sexist ideas in a male-dominated society. they sought equality amongst men and an identity outside of their family.
- Analyzes how the main character, mrs. louise mallard, weeps when she learns of her husband's untimely death in a railroad disaster. she is conflicted with the feelings and emotions that are "approaching to possess her."
- Analyzes how chopin expressed her idea that women do not need a husband to support them, and louise was free to live her own life.
- Analyzes how american author kate chopin was born during the peak of a women's rights movement in the mid-1800’s.
- Analyzes how susan glaspell takes on a more detailed writing approach to feminism in the story a jury of her peers.
- Analyzes how glaspell's a jury of her peers was based on an actual case in which a woman in rural iowa was accused of murdering her husband while he slept.
- Explains that glaspell and chopin were educated and independent women who advocated for equal rights of women in a patriarchal society. they were modernist literary writers who wanted to raise awareness of sexism and promote gender equality.
- Analyzes how john steinbeck's the chrysanthemums depicts the oppression of a woman being held back by her husband and the rudimentary idea that men know what women like.
- Analyzes how steinbeck grew up in the salinas valley, influenced by the oppression of immigrant workers, and became sympathetic to the woes and suffering of women during the time.
- Opines that the work of chopin, steinbeck, and others has inspired, influenced and prompted changes in how women are treated.
- Describes the works of kate hopin, edgar v roberts, and susan glaspell, "a jury of her peers" literature.
- Analyzes how harris, sharon m., and long, robert emmet, "kate chopin." magill's survey of american literature, revised edition (2006): 1-5.
1276 wordsRead More - Fear and Hope in Marigoldsanalytical essay“Marigolds” is about change. Collier chose a “fourteen-going-on-fifteen” (1) year old girl because the transition from childhood to adulthood adds layers of conflict to the story. The initially obvious conflict is that of the woman and child inside Elizabeth. She represents the child when she pulls up the marigolds: “The fresh smell of early morning and dew-soaked marigolds spurred me on as I went tearing and mangling and sobbing” (5). She (as the child) is struggling inwardly against being a woman. At the end of her rampage, she is “more woman than child” (1), and the child in her loses the battle. As a woman, she wins “a kind of reality which is hidden to childhood” (5). The second conflict is also symbolic. Elizabeth represents fear. She has the feeling that “ something old and familiar [is] ending and something unknown and therefore terrifying [is] beginning” (1). The marigolds represent hope. The reason for her “great impulse towards destruction” (4) was a combination of fear for the future and bitterness towards the past. In this conflict, fear wins because Miss Lottie “never [plants] marigolds again” (5). The third conflict is the most important. It takes place inside of Elizabeth and is also between fear and hope. At the end of the story, fear may win symbolically, but hope wins inside of Elizabeth: “In that humiliating moment I looked beyond myself and into the depths of another person. This was the beginning of compassion” (5).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how eugenia collier's "marigolds" is a memoir of an african-american girl living in the great depression. the story does not focus on the troubles society presents to the narrator, but rather the conflict within her.
- Analyzes how collier chose a "fourteen-going-on-fifteen" girl because the transition from childhood to adulthood adds layers of conflict to the story.
- Analyzes how collier uses age to create depth of conflict, but also uses elizabeth's attitude. by creating a pessimistic character, she shows that she is bitter and fearful.
- Analyzes how collier uses elizabeth's identity as a black girl in the great depression to give each protagonist symbolic or literal motivation.
- Analyzes how collier has crafted a unique main character to strengthen the theme. age, attitude, and identity all affected elizabeth's purpose.
657 wordsRead More - In a person’s lifetime, one is able to see the cause and effect the world around the individual has on one’s life. People are affected by the culture in which they live in and are affected by the history of their homeland. One can see these effects in the real world and in the fictional worlds of books, plays, and poetry. In the land of fiction, readers can find several examples of how a character’s psyche has been shaped by the culture and history that surrounds the character. One such example would be Madam Lubov Ranyevskaya from Chekhov’s famous play, The Cherry Orchard. One can see how her cultural and historical context has shaped her behavior, her relationships with those around her, and her family dynamics.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how a person's psyche has been shaped by the culture and history that surrounds them. madam lubov ranyevskaya from chekhov’s play, the cherry orchard.
- Analyzes how madam ranyevskaya's behavior is similar to that of a nave child, who has not had to experience the real world.
- Analyzes how the aristocratic class acted as though they were allergic to change and were completely unprepared for it.
- Analyzes how the relationship between the upper and lower classes was heavily strained by the greedy upper class.
- Analyzes how the characters show the friction between the two classes simply by how they act around one another.
- Analyzes how the family dynamics seen in the cherry orchard are heavily patriarchal, just as the society in russia was at the time.
- Opines that madam ranyevskaya was heavily influenced by her culture and the history of her class in her relationships with people, family, and how she acts in everyday life.
1330 wordsRead More