Summary of Chekhov's Three Sisters by Chapters

Chekhov's play The Three Sisters, which was written in 1900, immediately aroused a lot of controversy and controversial judgments of critics. The work is still talked about, it is examined and interpreted in the spirit of modern trends.

Happiness is the basis of everything.

The summary of the "Three Sisters" can be put into several phrases. This is a play about a distant and almost unattainable happy future, which sisters dream of. They dream of bright days, but they do not make any effort to come. Their whole life passes in illusions and fantasies. As a result, there is complete disappointment.

This play rightfully takes a worthy place in the world of drama. "Three Sisters" are successfully staged in theaters of different countries. And in Japan, and in America, and in Europe, and in Australia, they know perfectly well who wrote The Three Sisters. Because the theme in this play rises eternal.

"Three sisters". Chekhov. Summary

The play takes place in a small provincial town, in the house of the Prozorovs. The main characters of the work are three sisters. Names of sisters - Irina, Maria and Olga.

The play begins with the birthday of her younger sister, Irina. She turns 20 years old. She anticipates positive changes and frankly says about it: "I do not know why it's so light in my soul ...". In autumn the family plans to move to Moscow. The sisters are sure that their brother Andrei will go to university. The general mood - lifting and joy, anticipation of good changes in life.

Apathy and disappointment

Summary of the "Three Sisters" in the second act. The mood is very different from the first. Here, optimism and joy are replaced by disappointment and disbelief in a good future. The tone of the narrative becomes minor. Andrei does not find a place for himself from boredom and boredom. He does not like his position. Being a secretary of the zemstvo board is so prosaic and banal. After all, he dreamed of a professorial career in Moscow.

The heroine Masha experiences a bitter disappointment in her husband. Previously, she considered him "terribly learned, intelligent and important", but now he is clearly bored with the company of his schoolmates.

I'm dissatisfied with Irina's work - the work on the telegraph seems to her to be unethical and not exalted at all.

Olga returns from the gymnasium - she is also not in the spirit, her head hurts.

In a gloomy arrangement Vershinin. He believes that there is no happiness in life, but there is only a monotonous work that does not bring satisfaction. And even Chebutykin, who is trying to sharpen and cheer up others, admits that "... loneliness is a terrible thing ..."

Anxious forebodings

It's been three years since Irina's birthday. The first action took place at noon, there were hopes of a change for the better.

The third action is preceded by remarks that an alarm is heard outside the scene - a fire broke out. In the house of the Prozorov people gather who are escaping from the fire.

Irina is disappointed and literally sobbing. She realizes that they will never leave for Moscow, that life goes on in the vanity of petty affairs. The work "Three Sisters" acquires a touch of tragedy and despair.

Masha thinks about the meaning of life: "Somehow we live our lives, what will be of us?" Andrei cries bitterly. He says that when he married, he believed that everyone would be happy.

But Tuzenbach feels the strongest disappointment. He admits that three years ago he seemed to have a happy life!

Chebutykin went into drinking. Breaking, uncertainty, loss of optimism - this is the summary of the "Three Sisters" in the third act.

Dreary autumn season

The mood of the heroes is also affected by the weather. Autumn comes, the migrating birds fly south , as if leaving this hopeless land. A artillery brigade departs from the city to another location. Officers before leaving come to say goodbye to the family of Prozorovs. And the city will become even more empty without this noisy company of young people.

Chekhov's play successfully conveys the general despondency of the protagonists thanks to the subtle remarks about the weather, about the departing birds, about the departing officers.

Masha decides to part with Vershinin. Yes, she was very fond of him, but now she is disappointed. Olga has already become the head of the gymnasium, but thoughts about Moscow do not leave her. She realizes that she will never be there.

Irina falls into despair. From despair, she decides to accept the offer of the hand and heart of Tuzenbach, who retired.

Chebutykin in emotion: "Fly, my darlings, fly with God!"

Broken dreams

The summary of The Three Sisters does not convey the pain and depth of despair that is present in the play. Each cue, every word testifies to the great internal tragedy that the heroes are experiencing.

Salty is in love with Irina, he deliberately quarrels with the baron, and then calls him to a duel and kills him.

Andrew is broken. He does not seek to change his life. He can only ask nowhere, why life is so gray, and people are so lazy and uninteresting.

Culmination of the play

Chekhov's play The Three Sisters is deeply tragic and desperate. Its culminating moment comes when the military leaves the city. The sound of a military march is heard in the air. And Olga sincerely says that, it seems, still a little bit, a little more, and everyone will know why they live, what is the destiny of everyone.

The curtain falls. The action was over. Nothing can be changed.

This is the summary of The Three Sisters. But the depth and magnitude of this literary work lies in the fact that for a long time after the play ends you can talk about the meaning of life, try to understand what the characters did not do when they made a mistake, why their lives went according to this scenario.

Causes of failure

If you ask critics to name the most desperate work in Russian drama, for sure many will sing "Three Sisters" (Chekhov). The summary of the play conveys the despair of the actors and the inability to change their destiny. The circumstances are such that the characters seem to fall into an invisible cage, from which it is impossible to get out. They are smart, talented, ambitious, they want to change the world, but something prevents them from moving and starting all over again. They are waiting for the circumstances to change, and do not make any effort to improve. They live in anticipation of change and do not want to turn off the beaten path. Because it's boring, even uninteresting, but it's so convenient. And you do not need to do any mental or physical movements.

The vulgarity of the philistine way is well described by Andrei. He argues that the city is already two hundred years old. And for two centuries people "... only eat, drink, sleep, then die ... others are born, and also eat, drink, sleep and, to not be stupid with boredom, diversify their lives with their nasty gossip, vodka, cards, litigation ..." "

Heroes blame others for their failures. But they themselves are not able to look at themselves critically. They think that they are worthy of a better share, but do not think that they themselves are mired in the vulgarity of the philistine world.

By and large they do not cause respect. There is compassion, but you want to push them sometimes, force them to break away from their small world and start acting.