The Cherry Orchard Essay - 751 Words

Modernist Literature In the world of literature, modernism is represented by the moving away from traditional rules and practices, looking at man’s place in the world with a realistic view, and experimenting with form and style. Modernism focuses on the use of language and the function of the actual writing. Modernist literature moves away from Romanticism by exploring subject matter that in the past was viewed as boring and often pessimistic. Instead of using language that is poetic, the language used in modernist literature is explicit. Anton Chekhov’s â€Å"The Cherry Orchard† is an example of Modern literature because it tosses aside traditional structures and theatrical conventions. The play’s four act structure and the symbolism of†¦show more content†¦Chekhov also makes most of the action of a scene take place in one setting; this is quite different than how romanticism is written. This style can also lend itself to be viewed as â€Å"boring†. For exam ple, most of the first act takes place in the nursery. The experimentation with style and the portrayal of the characters’ reaction outside of the actual event make this play â€Å"Modernism†. A reoccurring theme of symbolism appears throughout â€Å"The Cherry Orchard†. The orchard itself is a symbol of each character’s place in life and therefore has a different meaning for each character. Some view the cherry orchard in a positive light while others view it as a negative. For example, the cherry orchard represents oppression to Lopakhin therefore when he buys it he says, â€Å"I have bought the property where my father and grandfather were slaves, where they weren’t even allowed into the kitchen† (38). For him this represents restoring honor to his family. The house and orchard itself also represent old Russia and the old way of life. For Madame Ranevsky, letting go of the orchard is also giving up on the values of the past and giving into a more materialistic society. This materialism is evident in Lopakhin’s desire to turn the land into villas in order to make a large profit. The final aspect of the setting is the neighboring town which represents the growing population and a society in transition. Society at that time was moving towards industrializationShow MoreRelatedThe Cherry Orchard2124 Words   |  9 PagesThe Cherry Orchard: Critical Analysis The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is about a Russian family that is unable to prevent its beloved estate from being sold in an auction due to financial problems. The play has been dubbed a tragedy by many of its latter producers. However, Chekhov labeled his play a farce, or more of a comedy. Although this play has a very tragic backdrop of Russia#8217;s casualty-ridden involvement in both World Wars and the Communist Revolution, the characters andRead MoreCherry Orchard Analysis1685 Words   |  7 Pagesobject, place, or memory. In The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekov, Madame Ranevsky owns an estate with a cherry orchard. However, following the death of her son and husband, she fled to Paris and abandoned the orchard for over five years. Eventually, she found her way back to the estate, but with a major problem; she cannot afford the mortgage and is at great risk of losing the estate for good. She is racing against the clock to find a solution to keep the orchard. By having L opakhin be a characterRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard By Anton Chekhov903 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Cherry Orchard† is a drama which contains a hint of comedy that originates from the country of Russia, by way of the author Anton Chekhov. The drama is centered around Russia’s popular form of slavery, which is the acquisition of a serf. Contrary to theatrical or modern conceptions of slavery, the contract between a serf and their owner could be dismissed on the grounds of buying your freedom. In correspondence with the history of Russia, Chekhov expands on the meaning of freedom by interpretingRead MoreChekhov s The Cherry Orchard756 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"I seem to have lost my sight†: Nobility’s Privileged Blindness in The Cherry Orchard In Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Lyubov Ranevsky loses her estate because she is unwilling to resort to commercializing it and renting it out. Ranevsky tells Peter Trofimov, â€Å"You see where the truth is, and where untruth is, but I seem to have lost my sight and see nothing†¦ because you’re young, because you haven’t had time to suffer†¦ You boldly look forward, isn t it because you cannot foresee or expectRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard By Anton Chekov1304 Words   |  6 Pagessuccessful citizens rising from the unknown to fame, or poverty to wealth shows the â€Å"common man† that if they desire a similar outcome, there exists a possibility of attaining a higher social status. Occasionally, as depicted in the play The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov, instances where honest means to attain fortune occasionally arise. By utilizing dialogue and direction, action, and images, he makes clear the dishonest motives of the character Lopakhin, especially within the third act. In orderRead MoreEssay about The Cherry Orchard2020 Words   |  9 Pages The Cherry Orchard: Critical Analysis nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is about a Russian family that is unable to prevent its beloved estate from being sold in an auction due to financial problems. The play has been dubbed a tragedy by many of its latter producers. However, Chekhov labeled his play a farce, or more of a comedy. Although this play has a very tragic backdrop of Russias casualty-ridden involvement in both World Wars and the Communist RevolutionRead MoreA. Chekhov - the Cherry Orchard Commentary4493 Words   |  18 PagesThe Cherry Orchard is Russian playwright Anton Chekhov s last play. It premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski. Chekhov intended this play as a comedy and it does contain some elements of farce; however, Stanislavski insisted on directing the play as a tragedy. Since this initial production, directors have had to contend with the dual nature of this play. The play concerns an aristocratic Russian woman and her family as they returnRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov987 Words   |  4 PagesAnton Chekhov, like Henrik Ibsen, is considered a prominent writer on culture and society. Chekhov’s works are noteworthy, in part, because of the lives they portray. In The Cherry Orchard, he writes of a world shackled by a caste system, and he exposes the need for reform. As the title states, the play is set in a cherry orchard. The play revolves around an aristocratic family and other minor characters, but the problem is the family is broke. Chekhov uses the symbolic characters’ memories as a wayRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters600 Words   |  3 Pages The Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters. The Cherry Orchard is a play about a family that is about to lose their home. The madam of the house came home from Paris to find her frivolous spending and her brothers in competence will cost them their inheritance. As well as their family home all they seem to want is to be happy. Their life goals seem to be to have love and not have to be peasants. Also they want to keep the family orchard as it is when splitting it up would save themRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard: the Past in the Present1925 Words   |  8 PagesThe Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is very much a play about the past. However, it is more specifically about breaking free from the past through change and acceptance. The consistent theme of memory in terms of both forgetting and remembering are evident throughout the play. The quote at the end of the play where Firs is forgotten and the cherry orchard is cut down is an important symbol of the past dying away and the characters moving on. Firs ends the play and he represents the past in both