Three Sisters

The Three Sisters Summary depiction I put to work I takes place on whitethorn 5th of an unspecified year, in an unspecified provincial town in Russia. It is the twentieth birthday of Irina, the youngest of the sisters menti iodined in the counts title. It is overly the iodin year anniversary of the death of their father, Colonel Prozorov, who flowd his family at that place from capital of the Russian Federation xi days earlier. Irina and her older sisters, Olga and Masha, receive visitors, members of the troops battery that is assigned to the town.The sisters discuss how bored they ar with the town, how they long to move impale to capital of the Russian Federation, and their brother Andrei, who entrust probably be twist a university professor. Olga, who is twenty-eight and the oldest sister, expresses interest in the naked lieutenant colonel who has been assigned to the town, Vershinin, b bely is told that he is find unify, with two children. Che exceptykin, th e intoxicateden old doctor who had been in rent it off with the girls mother, gives Irina a silver samovar for her birthday, which is considered an inappropriate gift.Vershinin arrives, con through with(predicate) with(p)ing that he knew the sisters father back in Moscow, and that he remembers them from when they were girls. When he negotiation philosophic eithery rough how time unsexs all their spicys insignifi dopet, Solyony, a rough staff captain, mocks him by spouting gibberish. The sisters explain that they fix been teasing their brother Andrei for world in relish with a local girl, Natasha, who is married to the prexy of the county board, Protopopov. Mashas husband, Kulygin, arrives to take Masha to a domesticate function, but she angrily refuses to go.Tuzenbach, an army lieutenant, expresses his love for Natasha, but she expresses her disinterest in him. When Natasha enters, Olga feels sorry for her poor fashion backbone and suggests that her belt does non matc h the rest of her change state. When e veryone else devotes for the dining manner for the solemnisation, Andrei tells Natasha of his love for her and asks her to marry him. Act II Al intimately a year posthumousr, in mid-February, Andrei and Natasha are married and hold in the family domicil.The sisters arrive at invited their friends and roughly performers from the carnival that is in town over to the home plate, but Natasha tells Andrei that she objects to permit them in because she is worried slightly the health of their baby, Bobik. Ferapont, an old servant, enters with paper acidulate for Andrei, who is the secretary of the county board. When they leave the in utilization, Masha and Vershinin enter and discuss their love for each other. Irina and Tuzenbach enter he gloss over is in love with her, and she is still uninterested. They discuss the great bid losses that Andrei has incurred.Vershinin is called a fashion by a letter from his girlfriend, narrateing tha t his wife has attempted suicide one time over over again. Solyony arrives, is rude to Natasha, and is toilsome to Tuzenbach, the reason for which stimulates agnize later in the paroxysm, when he expresses his love for Irina and vows to kill both rivals. Natasha has the carnival performers sent a elbow room when they show up at the door, and, turn Irina is upset rough Solyonys threatening words, asks her to move out of her issueroom and into Olgas so that the baby croupe have her room.She goes to the door when she hears a sledgehammer bell and induces back shaming surprised that it is Protopopov, come to take her for a ride, explaining that she feels that she has to accept. Kulygin and Vershinin enter the scene again the formers meeting is over and the latters wife is all right to counterbalance that everyone has gone. The scene ends with Olga kvetch of her terrible headaches and Irina restate her wish to return to Moscow. Act III Act III takes place nearly fo ur-spot historic period subsequently the opening of the mutation Irina, who was twenty hence, tells Olga that she is almost twenty-four while explaining how washed up she feels.This flake takes place in the bedroom Olga and Irina carry on, while a arouse is spreading across the neighborhood outside. Olga is choosing clothes from her closet to give to the ardor victims, who have lost all of their belongings. She has invited concourse who have been declare unsettled by the fire, whileicularly Vershinin and his family, to spend the night thither, but when she enters Natasha objects, utter that she doesnt take her son and new daughter to be exposed to the flu. Natasha discussing firing Anfisa, the old nurse who, as Olga explains, has been with the family for thirty long time.Kulygin enters, again un fit to find Masha, and bewilders the news that the doctor, Chebutykin, is drunk. When he enters, feeling guilty active a patient that has died, Chebutykin picks up a clock th at once belonged to the girls mother and breaks it in his embarrassment, while everyone is staring at him disapprovingly, he blurts out that Natasha and Protopopov are having an skirmish. When Masha arrives, she and Vershinin extend to each other in code, with medicinal drugal seams. Kulygin tells Masha how much he loves her, how important she is to him, but she asks him to leave her on the button to rest for a compact while.When everyone is gone, the sisters palaver come up-nigh how difficult their lives are and slightly how difficult Natasha has do Andreis carriage. Olgas advice to Irina, who hates her job, is to marry Tuzenbach, whether she loves him or non. later on Natasha passes through the room with a back enddle, Masha confesses to her sisters that she is in love with Vershinin. Andrei enters and tells them that he has mortgage the house to pay his looseness debts and given control of his money to Natasha. Irina announces that she will marry Tuzenbach. Act IV About a year after the previous act, in the garden outside of the house. The soldiers have been assigned to a new post and are occlusionping by throughout this scene to say honorablebye. There is gossip to the highest degree a fight that withalk place the previous day outside of the theater, during which Solyony challenged Tuzenbach to a duel. Olga is living at the schoolhouse where she teaches, and Irina is mean on departure with Tuzenbach later that day for Moscow. Chebutykin leaves to be a witness to the duel, and Andrei enters, pestered by his assistant to sign more(prenominal) than and more paperwork for the county board.As Masha cries over organism go forth by Vershinin, her husband, Kulygin, tries to comfort her, non admitting that he slams what she is upset nigh. Natasha already has plans for the rooms of the house creation vacated she is moving Andrei down to Irinas room, ever get ahead from her own, so that her baby Irina can have his room. Word comes that T uzenbach has been killed in the duel, and at the plays end Irina, Olga, and Masha think approximately the rising, hoping that they may one day under keep going the meaning of it all. The Three Sisters IntroductionChekhov referred toThe Three Sistersas a drama, preferring to forfend the more confining labels of either comedy or tragedy, although later critics have argued for both of those labels. It is one of the four major plays that he wrote at the end of his carriage. Chekhov was an accomplished fiction writer, one of the one of the most potent short story writers of all time. At the time that his plays were being produced there was some criticism that his dramas too closely resembled the style of fiction.Traditionalists found the action too cramped and the characters too inexpressive, noting that there were too some(prenominal) pack on the stage at any one time, doing nothing, for cases to be able to register the entailment of it all. Contrary to expectations, though, Chekhovs plays were very popular in Moscow, where they were staged by the famous Moscow imposture landing field under the direction of Constantin Stanislavsky. The Three Sisterswas the first play that Chekhov wrote specifically for the Moscow Art Theatre, having experienced technical success in his previous collaborations with the company,The SeagullandUncle Vanya.Like many of Chekhovs deeds, it is just astir(predicate) the decay of the privileged class in Russia and the search for meaning in the modern world. In the play, Olga, Masha, and Irina are refined and cultured young women in their twenties who were raised in urban Moscow but have been living in a small, colorless provincial town for el even up years. With their father dead, their anticipated return to Moscow comes to represent their hopes for living a good life, while the ordinariness of day-to-day living tightens its hold. First performed in 1901,The Three Sistersis a perennial favorite of actors and audiences.The Three Sisters Author Biography Although Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was trained as a physician and full as one, he came to dominate not save one field of literature, but two plays and short stories. He was born in 1860 in Taganrog, a provincial town in the Ukraine area of Russia that was give care to the one described inThe Three Sisters. His family had a small grocery business that went bankrupt, forcing them to move to Moscow in 1876, although Chekhov stayed behind in Taganrog to finish his education. With a scholarship to Moscow University, he studied to be a doctor of medicine, passing game into practice in 1884.At that time he abrasioned publishing short slapstick sketches in the Moscow newspapers, though he had no serious artistic aspirations. His writing career became impatient when he moved to St. Petersburg in 1885 and befriended the editor of a literary journal, who recognized his talent and encouraged him. He did write plays, and some of these were produced, but his most memorable work from that period were his short stories, and by late 1880s, he was one of the worlds great masters of short story writing. It was in the late 1890s, when Chekhov became associated with the Moscow Art Theatre, that he reached full maturity as a playwright.The theater, under director Constantin Stanislavsky (whose theories about acting golf club are standard texts for theater students today), producedThe Seagullin 1896, beed byUncle Vanya(1899),The Three Sisters(1901) andThe Cherry Orchard(1904). Chekhov was very involved in the Moscow Art Theatres productions of his plays, offering suggestions for the actors and constantly rewriting passages. He courted an actress from the company, Olga Knipper, who contend Masha in the original production ofThe Three Sisters(he wrote the part with her in mind) they were married in 1901, just four months after the play opened.During much of their marriage, they were apart, because Chekhov, suffering from tuberculosis since 188 4, frequently went to country retreats for medical treatment. He died of tuberculosis in Yalta in 1904, when he was forty-four years old. Act 1, area 1 Summary The classic Russian playThe Three Sistersexplores the lives and dreams of three sisters, their brother, their friends and their lovers. The play, like the characters, is moody and atmospheric, gently exploring themes relating to the gather capacities for dreaming, inaction in the impertinence of those dreams and hopelessness when those dreams disappear.The first act is set in the drawing room of the home of the Prozoroff sisters, Olga, Masha and Irina. Conversation reveals that theyre hosting a party in honor of Irinas Saints Day. As they wait for their guests to arrive and lunch to be served, Olga recalls in expatiate the day, merely a year ago, that their father died. Irina tells her to not think of it. Olga whereforece recalls how the family left Moscow eleven years ago and says that even though its a handsome da y, she longs to be back there. Tusenbach, Solyony and Chebutykin appear in the dining room, joking about how what is being verbalize is all garbage.Masha whistles quietly to herself as she reads. Olga tells her to stop and says that even though teaching all day gives her headaches and even though she feels her strength draining away, her dreams of Irina completes her thought, saying that their dreams of vent to Moscow are stronger than ever. Chebutykin and Tusenbach laugh as Olga and Irina refer to Masha being the sole(prenominal) one who wouldnt be able to go. Irina and indeed dialogue about how cheerful shes felt all day, referring to memories of her childhood. Olga duologue about how well and happy Irina looks, how lovely Masha is, how their brother Andrei is aining weight and how she herself has gotten older and thinner. She then negotiation about how being away from the school makes her feel younger and freer. She wishes shed been married, and she feels she could still be married, saying shed love her husband. Tusenbach comes in, saying the conversation is non adept. Tusenbach announces that the sisters will be receiving a visit later that day from their new commander, Vershinin. He describes him as nice but says he talks too much, particularly about his wife and children, and he describes the wife as being half-mad.Solyony comes in, talk to Chebutykin, who ignores him as he makes notes about the components of a medication in a little note record. Irina goes to him, public lecture about how happy she is and describing herself as a little white bird. She has rattlingized that the purpose and happiness of life can be found in hard, physical work. Olga jokes that Irina spends so much time lying in bed thinking, and Irina tells her to think of her as a woman promptly and not a little girl. Tusenbach talks at length about how he too longs for work.He was born and raised in an aristocratic family, and he feels some mixed bag of storm of change is sexual climax, change that will wipe out laziness, indifference and boredom. He says that in twenty-five years everyone will be working, and Solyony jokes that in twenty-five years Tusenbach will be dead, mayhap even shot by him. Chebutykin talks about how he doesnt palpablely work, saying that since he left university he hasnt read anything but newspapers. A knock is heard, Chebutykin says hes being called downstairs and rushes out.Irina, Tusenbach and Olga talk about how he seems to be up to something, referring to how he always bewilders Irina extravagant presents. Masha stands and prepares to go, saying shell be back later and recalling the raise parties they had when their father was alive. She talks about feeling depressed, and Olga says tearfully that she understands. Solyony jokes about how annoying it is when a woman talks philosophical thoughts, and Masha speaks angrily to them both. Anfisa comes in, followed by Ferapont, whos carrying a large cake. Anfisa announces th at the cake came from Protopopov, the Chairman of the District Council.The hard-of-hearing Ferapont cant make out Irinas message of thanks. Olga tells Ferapont and Anfisa to get some lunch in the kitchen, and they go out. Masha says she doesnt like Protopopov, and Irina says he wasnt invited to the party. Chebutykin comes in with a large silver samovar. As the sisters react with embarrassment and Tusenbach laughs, Chebutykin says the girls are all he has in the world. Hes an old man, and he loved their mother. Finally, he says that theres nothing wrong with giving expensive presents to people one loves.Act 1, quality 1 abbreviation Like most of the full-length plays by this playwright, the dramatic and thematic centreedness of this play is revealed in subtle ways, with its meaning repaird by its sense of mood, atmosphere and character. This makes it very divers(prenominal) from plays defined by active plots, increasing emotional tension and vivid symbolism. All three elements are present inThe Three Sisters, but they are less relevant to the plays meaning than its overall sense of tone, its gently billeted observations about human nature and its juxtapositions.For example, even though Olgas memories, Irinas dreams and Mashas moods are all very real and very vivid, their square(a) nature is revealed by the repeated comments from the men about conversations being nonsense and garbage. The audience k without delays perfectly well that theyre talk of the town about their own conversations, but because theyre carefully juxtaposed with speeches from the sisters, we alike know that the playwright is telling us that ultimately, everything the women are saying is nonsense.In other words, their dreams are empty. In spite of the women talking about wishing to go to Moscow, the men are indirectly saying theyre neer going to get there. As the play continues, we learn wherefore. Theyre unwilling and/or unable to actually do anything in order to get there. This is the plays central comment about human nature, that extravagant dreams are all well and good but that action must be taken in order to make those dreams reality. Several elements of forecast appear in this scene.These include Solyonys reference to shooting Tusenbach, which foreshadows Tusenbachs death at the end of the play, and too Tusenbachs reference to Vershinin and his family, which foreshadows Vershinins imminent appearance and the appearance of his family in the sisters home in Act 3. Other bode includes the source of Protopopov, a character who plays an unseen role in the development of the future relationship between Andrei and his wife. cardinal aspects of Russian life play important roles in this scene.The first is the reference to Irinas represent day, a celebration of the saint from whom Irina received one of her names. The giving of children the name of a saint is a Russian tradition. The sanction aspect of Russian life mentioned here is the samovar, a large heated urn in which tea is brewed and served. Because theyre usually do of a less expensive metal than silver, Chebutykins gift is truly extravagant and inappropriate coming from soul who isnt either wealthy or a member of the immediate family. Act 1, decompose 2 Summary Anfisa comes in, announcing Vershinins arrival.As she goes out, urging Irina to behave herself, Vershinin comes in, exclaiming that hes very glad to be there and referring to his memories of having met the sisters when they were little girls. He comments on how time passes. He explains that he knew their father when they were both in Moscow, says he remembers Mashas face a bit and talks about how he employ to visit them all. As Irina and Olga talk about how theyll be back in Moscow by the fall, Masha suddenly recalls Vershinins visits and how they always used to call him the lovesick major because he was always in love with someone or other.As Vershinin laughs, Masha becomes tearful about how old he now looks. Olga says he doesnt look old at all, and Vershinin says hes only forty-three. He and the sisters talk about which streets they used to live on, with Vershinin recalling a bridge near his home and how a lonely man feels sick at disembodied spirit there. He quickly changes his mood, talking about the wondrous river running through their small town and how beautiful the climate is. The train station is far away, and zero knows wherefore. Solyony makes a full-grown joke, and there is an boorish silence. Then Olga says that she too recalls Vershinin.He says he knew their mother, and Chebutykin talks about how beautiful she was. Irina mentions that shes buried in Moscow, and Masha says shes starting to swallow up her face. This leads Vershinin into a long speech about how everyone will be forgotten someday. Whats important will one day be insignificant, and their lives will be considered idle. Tusenbach suggests that possibly their lives will be recalled with respect. Solyony tea ses him, and Tusenbach asks him to go. When Solyony persists, Tusenbach keeps talking, and Chebutykin jokes about how small people are in general and how small he is in particular.A violin is heard, and the sisters explain that its being played by Andrei, whom they say is going to be a professor. They also talk about how theyve been teasing him for being in love with a local girl, with Masha going on at some length about how vulgar she is and about how shes heard the girl is engaged to Protopopov. She then calls Andrei, who comes in and is introduced to Vershinin. When he hears Vershinin is from Moscow, Andrei jokes that his sisters will now never leave him alone. The sisters tease their brother, and he becomes upset.The girls joke that they used to tease Vershinin and that he never minded. Andrei makes them stop, explaining he had an unsettled night and that his lack of sleep has kept him from doing what he rightfully wants to do, translate a phonograph record into English. He sa ys their father had high expectations of all his children, and he (Andrei) has gained weight since his fathers death as though hes been freed from carrying a heavy load. All the children know several languages, and Andrei refers particularly to Irina penetrating Italian. Masha talks about how useless knowing so many languages is.This leads Vershinin to talk at length about how even in their small town, their intimacy will slowly gain influence. Over the years, that influence will grow to the level off where the town is live by people like them. He says that life is meant to be beautiful and that their knowledge is the seed of the beautiful life to come. Masha announces shes staying to lunch. Tusenbach starts talking about how that beautiful life must be earned and worked for. Vershinin talks about how beautiful the sisters home is. Tusenbach tries again to talk about the value of work.Vershinin talks about how he often wonders what would happen if life could be started anew and says that if he had the chance, hed create a life in which he lived in a house like that of the sisters. Vershinin mentions his wife and daughters and says he wouldnt marry. Act 1, Part 2 Analysis The key element of this section is the introduction of Vershinin and the repeated foreshadowing of his eventual(prenominal) affair with Masha. He and Masha share recollections of each other, and he is also referred to as the lovesick major.His reference to a lonely man, which the audience can easily understand from the context of what he says as a reference to himself, and Mashas sudden change of heart about staying for lunch provide additional foreshadowing. Their relationship is also foreshadowed in Vershinins comments about wanting to start a new life, something that both he and Masha uncloudedly want to do, as the continuing action of the play reveals. Vershinins reasons are revealed through his conversation, while Mashas reasons are revealed as the result of the entrance of her husba nd, who appears at the beginning of the final exam section of this act.Another piece of foreshadowing is Andreis reference to Irinas knowledge of Italian, which foreshadows her emotional breakdown later in the play when she laments having forgotten all her Italian. Also, Solyonys continued teasing of Tusenbach continues to foreshadow Tusenbach eventual death. Finally, the sisters teasing of Andrei about Natasha foreshadows her entrance and their eventual marriage, while Mashas reference to the rumors about Natasha and Protopopov foreshadow developments later in the play that imply theyre having an affair.Vershinins comments and observations about the future can easily be interpreted as some kind of thematic statement. The uniform point could be made in damage of Tusenbach and Irinas comments about the value of work. They are link to the plays theme, but not in the way they might at first seem. Both men are, in essence, saying that they dont want to live the lives theyre living. Th is state of being, or perchance non-being might be a better phrase, is also avowedly of the three sisters.Olga and Irina are desperate to live lives in Moscow, and Masha (as well see) is equally desperate to live any kind of life as long as it doesnt involve her husband. In short, none of the plays central characters want to live the lives in which they find themselves, a situation that also becomes professedly of Andrei and Natasha later in the play. The action of the play, such as it is, reveals how these dreams of escape are all futile because, as previously discussed, the characters dont really do anything to bring them to reality. Tusenbach and Irina do get jobs, and Masha and Vershinin have an affair.However, Irina never does anything to try to get to Moscow, and neither does Olga. By the same token, Vershinin and Masha have their fling, but at the end of the play, they return to life with their respective spouses. Later in the play, the audience also sees how Andreis drea ms of success have evaporated, and he finds himself all in all dominated by his wife. Only Natasha, ironically enough, gets everything she wants, but the point here is that she gets it because she works for it, fights for it and doesnt stop until she gets it. She has dismal tact. Shes pushful, and shes selfish.However, she realizes her dreams. Do the other characters need to be more pushy and more selfish? They may or may not. The dramatic point of the play is not whether selfishness and in frontness are virtues but rather that the characters need to dosomething. The thematic point of the play, therefore, is that all human beings need to work for something. Otherwise, life will end up as hollow as those of the three sisters and their men. Act 1, Part 3 Summary Kulygin comes in, greets Irina, gives her a little book he wrote detailing the history of the school where he and Olga both teach and introduces himself to Vershinin.Irina tells Kulygin he already gave her a copy of the bo ok. Kulygin takes the book from her and gives it to Vershinin. Vershinin prepares to go, but Olga and Irina insist he espouse them for lunch. He agrees to stay and goes with Olga into the dining room in the back. Kulygin chatters about the tradition of Sunday rest. He comments on how the rugs should be cleaned, how life must be ordered, how glad he is that Masha loves him, how the curtains should be cleaned and how he and Masha have been invited to gather the director of the school for a walk.Masha irritably says shes not going, refusing to explain why. Kulygin talks about his plans to join the director at his home in the evening and comments that the clock is fast. Andreis violin is heard as Olga calls everyone in to lunch. As they all go in, Masha sternly tells Chebutykin to not drink. Chebutykin says its been two years since he was drunk, but Masha says again he shouldnt drink at all. She then complains about having to go to the directors again. Tusenbach and Chebutykin advise her to not go, and she goes into the dining room, complaining about how awful her life is.Solyony teases Tusenbach again. Kulygin drinks a toast to how wonderful Masha is. Vershinin talks about how good he feels being in the house, and they all prepare to sit down to lunch. In the drawing room, Irina comments to Tusenbach on Mashas bad mood, saying shes not happy with Kulygin. Olga calls to Andrei, and he comes in as Irina talks about how uneasy she feels around Solyony. Tusenbach talks about how he feels sorry for Solyony. Hes fine when theyre alone together, but when theyre around people, Solyony becomes crude and bullying.Tusenbach then talks about how much he loves Irina, saying his passion for work is bound up with his desire to make a beautiful life for her. Irina tearfully says life isnt beautiful for her or her sisters, saying she feels like grass stifled by weeds. She talks about needing to work, saying she comes from a family that has always despised work. Natasha rushes in, checks herself in a mirror, congratulates Irina and greets Tusenbach. Olga comes in and greets her, commenting that her clothes dont match. Natasha wonders whether its a kind of omen, but Olga says it just looks odd.She leads Natasha into the dining room as Kulygin toasts a future fiancy for Irina. He and Chebutykin joke about how shes already got a fiancy, and Masha demands a drink. Solyony jokes that the liqueur is made of cockroaches, and Olga invites everyone to come for dinner. Chebutykin jokes about how everyone is made for love, and Andrei loses his temper. Fedotik and Rode arrive. Fedotik takes a lot of pictures, and he offers Irina a toy top. Kulygin jokes about how there are thirteen people at the table, and he says that that means there are lovers there.He jokes that one of them is Chebutykin, who in turn jokes about why Natashas suddenly embarrassed. Natasha runs into the drawing room, and Andrei runs after her. Natasha says she couldnt help running off, adding that she knows that its bad manners but just couldnt stay. Andrei comforts her and moves her to a window where they cant be seen. He talks about how wonderful her youth is and how much in love with her he is. Then, he proposes marriage and kisses her. Act 1, Part 3 Analysis The third section of the act develops several key relationships.The first is the romantic triangle involving Vershinin, Masha and Kulygin, whose academic boorishness is so vividly portrayed that the audience immediately understands why Masha finds the intelligent and apparently more sensitive Vershinin so attractive. The second is the relationship between Natasha and Andrei, which is something of a mystery. We wonder, as perhaps the three sisters do, why he finds her attractive. The answer might be found in the previously discussed point about Natashas finding. She may dress badly, but shes got spirit.This is indicated by the way she gets herself away from an uncomfortable situation, as opposed to putting up with i t the way that ladies like the three sisters might. The idea is supported later in the play by the way Andrei remains something of a non-entity, with no real career and no personality. In other words, hes attracted to her get up and go, mostly because his own got away. The third relationship developed is that of Tusenbach and Irina. Tusenbach is revealed as a thorough romantic, passionately proud in a way none of the characters are. They have dreams and longings, while he has goals and at least a degree of zeal.He believes in his dreams more strongly and actually makes at least some effort to bring them to fruition. He confesses his love to Irina and actually gets a job, but like the other characters, he doesnt go all the way. Throughout the play, he seems content to wait for Irina to come to him in the same way as he seems prepared to wait for the future, as opposed to moving directly and determinedly into it. As for Irina, her tearfulness in their conversation suggests that her e arlier radiant happiness was actually a mask and that she actually is beginning to despondency that her life is never going to be what she dreams.The despair hasnt yet taken over completely. That comes in Act 3, when the world around her is literally destroyed by fire in the same way as her inner, dream-filled world has been destroyed by pointless work, frustrated dreams and the banality of people around her, particularly Natasha. Nevertheless, the seeds of despair are planted in this scene and grow throughout the play. The other key piece of foreshadowing here, aside from the glimpse of Irinas despair, is Mashas reference to Chebutykins drinking.This foreshadows his appearance in Act 3, Part 1, in which he refers to having killed a patient after operating on her while drunk. Act 2, Part 1 Summary This act also takes place in the drawing/dining room, some months after the events of Act 1. Natasha comes in, searching to realise no servants have left any candles burning. She calls t o Andrei, who comes in. Conversation reveals that its Carnival Week. Olga now works at the Teachers Council office, and Irina works at the telegraph office. Andrei and Natasha now are married and have a child, Bobik, over whom Natasha worries excessively.She tells Andrei she doesnt want the maskers to stop by, saying theyll disturb Bobiks rest. Andrei reminds her they were invited and that the decision is really up to his sisters, who are still mistresses of the house. Natasha says shell tell them as well and talks about her plans to move Bobik into Irinas room and Irina into Olgas room. After asking why Andrei isnt saying anything, she tells him Ferapont has come with a message from the council. Andrei tells her to tell Ferapont to come in, and Natasha goes. A moment later, Ferapont comes in with some papers and a book.Andrei looks at the papers, commenting as he does about how surprised he is at how life changes. He refers to a book of university lectures hes been reading. He has been named secretary to the council run by Protopopov, and the most he can realistically be now is actually on the council. He still dreams of being a famous lecturer at Moscow University, though. Ferapont comments that he doesnt really hear what Andrei is saying, but Andrei says if he could hear properly, he (Andrei) wouldnt be talking, adding that his wife never listens and that hes afraid his sisters will laugh at them.He reminisces about his days in Moscow, saying that there aught knows you but youre not a stranger, while here everybody knows him but hes a total stranger. After chatting soon about whether Ferapont was ever in Moscow, Andrei tells him he can go and then goes back into his own room. Masha and Vershinin come in from some other direction, in the middle of a conversation about the bad manners of the people of the town as opposed to the good manners Masha is used to dealing with from her fathers fellow soldiers. She also talks about how she married Kulygin when she was eighteen.She was both afraid of him and impressed by him because he was a schoolteacher, but she has since become completely disillusioned. She talks about how miserable she is when shes with his boorish colleagues, leading Vershinin to talk about how everyone in the town, military or otherwise, is as uninteresting as everyone else. He wonders aloud why Russians are such terrific thinkers but live such low, worn out lives. Masha asks why hes unhappy, and he explains that one of his daughters is unwell and that his wife is in a very bad mood.He kisses her hand and apologizes for talking so much, but he says hes got nobody in his life other than her. Masha refers to the spooky sound of the wind in the stove, but he goes on talking about how wonderful and beautiful she is and saying how much he loves her. At first she tells him to stop, and then she tells him to keep going. When she sees Irina and Tusenbach coming, she tells him again to stop. As Tusenbach and Irina come in, Tuse nbach is talking about how he has a German name but is truly Russian at heart.Irina complains that shes tired, but he doesnt appear to notice, talking about how hell lief see her home every night. As he greets Masha and Vershinin, Irina talks about how she was rude to a client at the telegraph office for no reason, and she asks whether the maskers are coming. Masha confirms that they are, and Irina again says shes tired. Masha jokes that shes starting to look like a boy, and Irina says the mindlessness and soullessness of the work is really starting to get to her. Theres a knock on the floor, and Irina understands it to be a signal from Chebutykin, asking if he can come up.She tells Tusenbach to answer and then tells Masha that Chebutykin and Andrei were out gambling again and lost a lot of money. She talks about her continuing dream of going to Moscow, saying shes planning to leave in a few months. Masha comments that Natasha mustnt hear about Andreis losses, and Irina says it wou ldnt matter. Chebutykin comes in and sits at the dining room table. Masha and Irina talk about how he hasnt paid any rent in months. When he calls Irina to join him, she joins him at the table and begins playing solitaire. Act 2, Part 1 AnalysisIn the first part of this section, the audience sees Natashas previously discussed determination in action as she overrides the wishes of her husband and his sisters about the maskers and makes plans to override their lives even more. In short, she is pursuing what she wants in a way that Andrei has understandably never done. Its also enough clear that his sisters have never done things that way either. The contrast between Natasha and the Prozoroffs is further defined by the way Andrei simply talks about how unhappy he is even while Natasha is acting to improve and/or change her life.Andreis capacity for, and habit of, talking rather than actually acting is repeated in this section by Irina. Its important to note that even though she talks about leaving for Moscow in a few months, there is no actual evidence that shes doing anything about it. There is no evidence of tickets or packing, and she has no real plans of any kind. The audience sees her being sucked into the same kind of dull, repetitive work that Olga refers to in Act 1 as sapping her of her strength and her will. This is a development in her personality that even Tusenbachs protestations of love and Mashas teasing about her looks seem unable to slow.In contrast to Irinas tiredness, Andreis dullness and the way they both complain, Mashas flirting with Vershinin stands out as the only effort being made by anyone in the Prozoroff family to create desired change in her life. She wants to escape, somehow, from her husband, and she is make carefully modulated overtures to Vershinin so that he will help her get away, whether emotionally, sexually or intellectually. For his part, Vershinin is also make an effort to get out of his misery. His romantic proclamation s perform the same unction for him as they do for her, drawing them both out of the lives they cant bear to live and into an costence where there is both excitement and intimacy. As previously discussed, however, they both escape only to a point. Foreshadowing in this scene includes the reference to Protopopov, which foreshadows Natashas taking a ride with him later in the act, and Irinas despair, which foreshadows her emotional breakdown in the following act. Act 2, Part 2 Summary Vershinin suggests that he, Tusenbach and Masha imagine what life will be like in two degree Celsius years.Tusenbach suggests that in spite of there being great technological advances, human beings will be exactly the same, complaining about how empty life is and being afraid to die. Vershinin says, as he did in Act 1, Part 2, that life will be very different in two hundred years and that work must begin now to prepare. He adds that there can be no true happiness in the present but there will be in the future, for the descendants of his descendants. Fedotik and Rode join Irina and Chebutykin in the dining room as Tusenbach asks what Vershinin would say if Tusenbach claimed to be already happy.Vershinin says he cant be. As Masha laughs quietly, Tusenbach says again life will never change. Birds will migrate the same way, and philosophers will philosophize the same way. Ultimately, he says, life has no meaning. Masha says she believes that life has to have some meaning, or else its all waste. Vershinin says its a shame that youth passes, and Tusenbach says its difficult to argue with them. In the dining room, Chebutykin comments on an article in the paper that hes reading and makes a note in his little book. Tusenbach tells Masha hes resigned from the military.Masha says she doesnt like civilians, and the audience realizes that shes referring back to her earlier conversation with Vershinin, in which she said she prefers soldiers to civilians. Tusenbach talks about how hes looking forward to working hard and joins Irina in the dining room just as Fedotik is giving her some crayons. She complains about how he always treats her like a child, but then she laughs with joy at the pretty colors. The samovar is brought in, and Anfisa pours tea. Solyony comes into the dining room. Natasha also comes in, and several conversations continue at the same time.As Vershinin and Masha talk about the wind, Irina says her game of solitaire will come out, but Fedotik says it wont, joking that it means she wont be going to Moscow. Meanwhile, Chebutykin reads aloud from his newspaper, and Anfisa brings tea to Vershinin and Masha. Natasha chatters to Solyony about how special Bobik is, and Solyony makes a crude joke about how all children should be cooked and eaten. Vershinin tells Masha a story about a prisoner who said he never noticed the dish antenna of bird song until he was in jail, and who then said once he was released, he went back to not noticing.He says that in the sam e way, once Masha is in Moscow, she wont notice its beauty, saying again that happiness doesnt exist we just long for it. Anfisa brings him a note. He reads it and then tells Masha his wife has again tried to commit suicide. He goes out, and Anfisa complains that he hasnt finished his tea. Masha loses her temper and goes into the dining room. Andrei calls for Anfisa, and she goes out to him as Masha messes up Irinas game of solitaire. Irina becomes upset. Chebutykin makes a joke, and Natasha asks why she makes herself look so ugly.She says Irina would be charming if she didnt speak so crudely and that Irina speaks in very bad French. Tusenbach and the others can barely restrain their laughter. Natasha again becomes embarrassed and goes out. Irina asks where Vershinin went. Masha explains that something happened with his wife as Tusenbach goes to Solyony, offers him a drink and offers to make peace and be friends. Solyony says theres no need to make peace, saying theres no quarrel. H e goes on to say hes fine when hes alone with someone, but when hes with large groups of people, he cant help behaving queerly.He also says he doesnt dislike Tusenbach and that he makes the comments he does just because hes moody. Andrei comes in, sit quietly with his book of lectures as Tusenbach tells Solyony hes resigning from the military. Solyony tells him to give up on his dreams and then interrupts as Chebutykin and Irina pass by, talking about the ingredients of a stew. Solyony says Chebutykin has the name of one of the ingredients wrong. He and Solyony argue, and Andrei asks them to be quiet. Tusenbach asks when the maskers are coming, and Irina says theyll be there soon.Chebutykin and Tusenbach sing and dance in the way the maskers would. Tusenbach then promises to go to the university with Andrei, leading to an leaning with Solyony about how many universities there are. After insisting there are two and being ignored, Solyony leaves the room. Tusenbach applauds his lea ving and then sits at a piano and plays. As Masha sings and dances by herself, Natasha has a quiet word with Chebutykin and then goes out. Chebutykin then whispers to Tusenbach, who stops playing. Chebutykin tells Irina they need to go.Irina asks why they arent staying for the maskers, and Andrei sheepishly confesses that the maskers arent coming because Natasha doesnt want them around when Bobiks not well. Masha suggests its Natasha whos not well, in the head. Andrei goes out, and Chebutykin follows him. Fedotik and Rode say their farewells and go, and Masha and Irina follow them to the door. Act 2, Part 2 Analysis In the same way as the comments of Vershinin, Tusenbach and Irina in Act 1, Part 2 might be interpreted as making thematic statements, comments made by several characters in this scene might be interpreted the same way.These include Vershinins comments that life will change, Tusenbach comments that life will never change and is ultimately meaningless, Mashas comments tha t life must have meaning and Vershinin story about the prisoner and the birds. The point must be made, however, that philosophical comments made by characters arent necessarily the philosophical comments of the play. In fact, the point made by all these philosophical conversations is related to the point made earlier that these characters are talkers rather than doers, intellectuals and dreamers as opposed to actual participants in life.Its true that they participate to a point. Tusenbach resigns from the military, and Vershinin and Masha seduce each other. In general, though, their efforts are pretty minimal. They dont really want to make a change, an idea born out by the way Irina at first resents being tough like a child by Fedotik and then turns around and reacts with very childlike happiness at his little gift. Later in this act, the audience sees again how Natasha is a very different character, doing exactly what she wants and not really thinking at all.Other than the philos ophies of the various characters, whats particularly noteworthy about this section of the act is its busyness. many a(prenominal) things seem to be going on at the same time. Aside from creating an effectively realistic portrayal of what happens with large parties as smaller parties form and individuals move from group to group the sequence gives a clear sense of the kind of lives these characters live. The audience experiences them becoming involved in petty arguments and minor joys, in discussions about large subjects that actually perform the trivial unction of killing time and in spontaneous music and dancing that is actually an expression of foiling and loneliness. What theyre doing is actually important because theyre all just waiting, and not just for the maskers. The maskers, in fact, are a symbol of what theyre truly waiting for the future, the chance to feel and hearing someone to say something loving to them. Its no coincidence, therefore, that the maskers come but a re sent away. This represents the way the future comes but isnt being faced head on by anyone but Natasha, who faces both the maskers and the future with equal determination.Its this sense of a lack of importance to life, this sense of futility in her activities and those of the people around her, that leads Irina to her moment of climactic frustration at the end of the act and contributes to her emotional breakdown in Act 3. Act 2, Part 3 Summary Chebutykin and Andrei come back in, dressed to go out. Chebutykin talks about how he never married because he never had time and because he was in love with Andreis mother. Andrei says marriage is boring, but Chebutykin says its worse to be lonely. Andrei urges him to hurry, saying hes afraid Natasha will stop them.The audience understands that the two of them are going out gambling again. As they go out, Andrei asks Chebutykin what he should do about his shortness of breath. Chebutykin says he doesnt know, adding that hes forgotten everyt hing about being a doctor. After Andrei and Chebutykin are gone, laughter is heard from outside. Irina and Anfisa come in from separate entrances, and Irina says the maskers must be sent away. As Anfisa goes out, Solyony comes in, apologizing for his behavior and saying he deeply loves Irina. Even though she tells him to leave her alone, he talks about how beautiful she is.Finally, her anger gets through to him. He says that even though hes professing alarming emotions, its as though hes not in the room and promises to kill any rival for her love. He repeats that he loves her. Natasha passes through wearing her dressing gown and becoming embarrassed when she sees Solyony. Solyony goes out, and Natasha comments on how tired Irina looks, suggesting that Irina think about moving in with Olga so that Bobik can have her room. Irina doesnt seem to be listening. A wetnurse comes in and tells Natasha that Protopopov has come to take her for a ride in his carriage.She laughs about how sill y men are and tells the maid to tell Protopopov shes coming. She goes out to get ready as Kulygin and Vershinin come in, wondering what happened to the party, looking for Masha and asking why Protopopov is downstairs. Olga also comes in, complaining about how her head aches and talking about how much money Andrei has lost in gambling. Vershinin says his wife is all right. In passing, he mentions the possibility that his regiment will be ordered to leave and asks Kulygin to go out somewhere with him because he cant bear to go home.Kulygin at first says he doesnt want to go but then says he needs to leave, disappointed at the party not happening. He goes out, followed by Vershinin. Olga talks again about her headache. She says the whole town is gossiping about Andrei and shes looking forward to her day off, and then she goes out. Irina comments that everyone has gone. Natasha passes through on her way out, telling her maid shell be back in half an hour. After shes gone, Irina says to herself, To Moscow To Moscow To Moscow Act 2, Part 3 Analysis at once again in this section the audience sees the characters filling in time.Specifically, Chebutykin and Andrei fill the emptiness and loneliness of their lives with gambling. In their conversation, we also understand for the first time a little more of why Chebutykin is so disposed to the family, and particularly to Irina. His love for them is an outlet for the love he felt for their mother. Love also appears, much more surprisingly, in the conversation between Solyony and Irina. Up to this point, Solyony might easily have been perceived as being eccentric and angry, but essentially harmless and just a little irritating.At this point, however, he is easily among the most passionate and deeply feeling characters in the play. Unlike the longings of many of the others, which are expressed in terms that come across as either watery or intellectual, Solyonys passion comes across as deeply felt and almost dangerously int ense. The fact that Natasha interrupts his conversation with Irina is no coincidence. Natasha and Solyony are both ruthless in their pursuit of what they want and dream of. The fact that Solyony doesnt actually get it is irrelevant.He feels strongly enough to say hell kill, and he will actually follow through in a way that few of the other characters follow through on their dreams. Irinas crying out for Moscow is a response to everything shes experienced in this act, her pall and disillusionment in Part 1, the relative emptiness of the lives lived (including her own) in Part 2 and her distaste for Solyony in this section. She is clearly in despair and sees escape to Moscow as her only hope. Later in the play, however, it becomes clear that she will never actually go.She gets more and more frustrated and disillusioned, but she never, ever goes. The question of why not is answered by the previously discussed idea that she, like so many other characters in the play, is a thinker and d reamer, not a doer. Making her dreams come true is perhaps too hard for her, or maybe she doesnt really know how, her mind having been filled with several languages at the expense of practicality, determination and coping skills. Whatever the reason, her final words represent the present despair felt by Olga, Vershinin, Masha, Solyony and Andrei, and the deeper despair to come for all of them.In fact, in the cries of this idealistic young woman, the audience can hear the cry of every human being that hopes his or her dreams will once, just once, come true. Conversely, in her lack of action we see how the choices of every human being determine whether that actually happens. Act 3, Part 1 Summary The third act is set in what has become Olga and Irinas bedroom, at around three in the morning. Fire alarms ring offstage. Masha lies on a sofa as Olga and Anfisa enter, and conversation reveals that there has been a major fire in the town.As Olga goes through her clothes looking for things she can give to the fires victims, Anfisa talks about two little girls downstairs, imagining that their father has been killed. Olga comments that Vershinins house has been almost completely destroyed and that Fedotiks home has burned to the ground. She calls for help with the clothes, and a moment later Ferapont comes in and takes out an armful, commenting as he goes on a fire in Moscow that he survived. After hes gone, Olga tiredly tells Anfisa to give everything away, makes arrangements for the Vershinin family to sleep there and comments that Chebutykin has gotten very drunk.Anfisa worries that there are plans being made to hurl her away, but Olga reassures her and tells her to sit and rest. Natasha comes in chattering about how a society for the relief of those left stateless should be formed. Conversation reveals that shes had another child, Sophie, and that Natasha is worried about her catching influenza from one of the many strangers in the house. She looks at herself in the mirror and compliments herself on how well shes kept her figure, and then she shouts at Anfisa for sitting down when shes in the room.Anfisa goes out. Natasha complains to Olga that Anfisa is useless and then comments on how tired Olga looks. Conversation reveals that theres an election coming up for the position of headmistress at the school. Natasha is convinced Olga will get it, and Olga doesnt want it. Olga tells Natasha she was too rude to Anfisa. Natasha apologizes, and Masha goes out, angry at being disturbed. Olga tells Natasha that rude language upsets her, and Natasha again apologizes. Then, she says Anfisa really should be living in the country because she doesnt really work.As the fire alarm bell rings again, Natasha talks at length about how shes running the house while Olga is working at the school. She calls Anfisa names, loses her temper and says that by the next day Anfisa will be gone. As Natasha goes out, Kulygin comes in looking for Masha. Conversation reveal s that only one section of town has been destroyed. Kulygin mentions that if he hadnt married Masha hed have wanted to marry Olga. In a moment of quiet they hear Chebutykin coming, comment on how drunk he is and then hide themselves so that they dont embarrass him.A moment later Chebutykin comes in and washes his hands as he speaks to himself about how he remembers nothing about being a doctor, recalling a patient he was treating recently who died. Olga slips out of the room as Chebutykin looks at himself in a mirror and wonders whether hes really a man anymore and whether he truly exists. He starts weeping as he wishes he didnt exist. He recalls a conversation at his club during which people were talking about well known writers. He didnt know any of them but pretended he did. He talks about the banality of life and again recalls the patient he killed.Irina, Vershinin and Tusenbach come in, with Tusenbach wearing new and stylish civilian clothes. Vershinin talks about how much of t he town was saved because of the efforts of the soldiers, and Irina refers to how many of them, including Solyony, are sitting in the dining room. She also tells Chebutykin to go to bed. Chebutykin says hes all right, and Kulygin comes forward and jokes about how drunk he is. Tusenbach talks about being asked to produce a benefit concert for the refugees from the fire. He suggests that Masha should play the piano as part of it, but Irina says shes forgotten how to play.Kulygin talks about how much he loves Masha but says the director of the school might not think her community is appropriate. Chebutykin picks up a small china clock and studies it as Vershinin mentions that hes heard rumors their brigade is being transferred. Tusenbach says that when they go the town will be empty, but Irina says it wont matter since theyre going to Moscow. Chebutykin drops the clock, and it shatters. As Irina says the clock belonged to her mother, Chebutykin suggests philosophically that perhaps it didnt really exist and that nobody really exists.He wonders why people are staring at him, shouts that Natasha is having an affair with Protopopov and nobody knows or cares and then goes out. After commenting on how strange the situation is, Vershinin tells how he ran home when the fire started. He found his wife missing and his little girls terrified and wondered how much more theyd have to suffer. He grabbed them and ran and then discovered his wife at the Prozoroff house. Masha comes back in and lies down as Vershinin continues, comparing the fire with what happens when enemies at war make sudden raids on each other.He then refers again to his idea that in a few hundred years people will look back on the life theyre leading and laugh, and he says again that Irina and her sisters are in the forefront of the process of transformation. He begins to sing. Masha joins in, and Fedotik rushes in, laughing strangely at how everything he owns has been destroyed. Solyony follows, and Irin a tells him to go away. Solyony complains about how Tusenbach can come in while he cant, while Vershinin and Masha continue to sing. Solyony makes fun of Tusenbach, and then he, Vershinin and Fedotik go out. Act 3, Part 1 AnalysisAs previously discussed in the epitome of Act 1, Part 3, the goal caused by the fire represents the destruction of the dreams and hopes of those who continue to have them the Prozoroff sisters, Tusenbach, Vershinin, Andrei and, to an extent, even Solyony. Those dreams arent completely destroyed quite yet. Irina still dreams of going to Moscow, and Vershinin and Masha are continuing to flirt with each other, presumably still in the hope that their relationship will alleviate their unhappiness. Also, Solyony is clearly still drawn to Irina, and Tusenbach still has dreams of fulfilment in work and of happiness with Irina.Only Andrei, as will become clear in the second part of this act, has no dreams left at all. Even though the dreams of the others remain, t here is the powerful sense in this scene that the destruction of those dreams is both imminent and inevitable, a sense conveyed not only by the fire but also by several other work outs. The first factor conveying the hopelessness of the characters dreams is Natashas reference to Olga becoming headmistress, which is particularly noteworthy because Natasha seems determined Olga will get the job.The audience has seen what happens when Natasha is determined about something. The second factor is the appearance of Chebutykin, which functions on several levels. His drunken musings on his loss of identity represent the way that Irina and the others, who define their identities by their dreams, will lose their identities once their dreams fade away in the same way as Chebutykins knowledge, which has defined his identity as a doctor. Another level of symbolism in this scene can be found in his accidental destruction of the clock.Because of its association with the Prozoroffs mother, the woma n Chebutykin loved and dreamed of marrying, its destruction symbolizes the destruction of his dreams of happiness and, therefore, symbolizes the destruction of the dreams of the others. Several characters seem to take the fire and its destructive consequences in their stride. This is perhaps because their dreams and goals are being fulfilled (Natasha), because they dont have dreams for a life beyond their own (Kulygin) or because their dreams are so relatively insignificant to them that their destruction doesnt really matter (Fedotik).For those who continue to dream of a change life and continue to have those dreams unfulfilled, the physical devastation caused by the fire and the emotional devastation of its victims clearly and vividly foreshadow the spiritual devastation the many dreamers in this play are about to encounter. argon the characters aware of this connection? It seems as though on a subconscious, spiritual level, they just might be. This is another example of the way m eaning in this play can be defined by subtext and juxtaposition, as opposed to overt action and direct comment or revelation by the characters.One final piece of foreshadowing occurs in Vershinin passing mention of the rumor that he and his brigade are going to be transferred. This is the second time such a rumor has been mentioned, the first being in Act 2, Part 3. The first time the transfer never actually comes to pass, but in Act 4, this time the rumors will prove to be true. Act 3, Part 2 Summary Irina discovers Tusenbach has fallen asleep. As he wakes, he talks briefly about how hes soon to start a new job at a brickyard. He then talks about how beautiful Irina is, his hopes for living and working with her and his memories of how happy she was on her label Day (in Act 1).He comments that morning has begun and muses romantically about giving his life for her. As he talks, Masha repeatedly tells him to go out, and finally he does. She also suggests that Kulygin should go home. He repeatedly tells her how much he loves her and how content and happy he is, but Masha talks about how bored she is. She also talks angrily about how much debt Andrei is in and how hes allowing Natasha to control money and property that by rights should be controlled by Andrei and the sisters. Kulygin tells her it doesnt really matter, talking about how he prefers a simple life.Masha tells him justice is important to her and then tells him again to go away. He talks again about how much he loves Masha, repeating that hes content, and goes. Irina talks with increasing emotion about how Andrei has changed because of Natasha. His dreams have disappeared, and the whole town is laughing behind his back because of the affair with Protopopov. He just sits in his room and plays violin while the whole town is out fighting the fire. As Olga comes in, Irina begins to weep, saying she cant stand her life. She cant remember anything of her Italian, and she says that theyll never get to Moscow and that she hates her job.Shes becoming unattractive and feels no satisfaction or happiness. She also talks about how she feels herself moving away from any kind of beautiful life and towards an abyss of unhappiness, saying she cant understand why she hasnt killed herself. Olga comforts her, suggesting that she marry Tusenbach and talking about h