The play "The Cherry Orchard": a summary and analysis

The work "Cherry Orchard" was created by Chekhov in 1903. This is a play about the decline of noble life in estates, about the imaginary and real masters of the Russian land, about the imminent renewal of Russia. Chekhov presented the obsolete past of Russia with the play The Cherry Orchard. The summary will follow below. First let's introduce the main characters:

Lubov Andreyevna Ranevskaya. Her own daughter Anya is 17 years old. Foster daughter Varya 24 years old. Brother Ranevskaya - Gaev Leonid Andreevich. Student Trofimov Petr Sergeevich. Governess Charlotte Ivanovna. Merchant Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich. Pomeshchik Semionov-Pischik Boris Borisovich. The maid Dunyasha. Yasha's young lackey. The old footman Firs. Contractor Semen Panteleevich Epiphodov.

"Cherry Orchard": a brief summary of the first action

Dawn. Outside the window is spring, blossoming cherry trees are seen. Only in the garden it's still cold, so all the windows are closed. Lopakhin and Dunyasha enter the room. They talk about the train, which was late. And Lopakhin is disappointed that he could not meet Love Andreevna, who recently lived abroad, at the station.

Then comes Epihodov, he recently made an offer to Dunyasha. Everyone hears how two crews arrived. The commotion begins. Included footman Firs, dressed in an old livery. And after him goes Ranevskaya, Gayev, Anya, Simionov-Pischik and Charlotte Ivanovna. Anya and Ranevskaya remember the past.

Then Anya converses with Varya. She talks about her trip to Paris. That she found her mother there without money, among strangers. But Ranevskaya did not seem to understand her position. She gives footmen a ruble for tea, they order the most refined and expensive dishes. But in fact, money was barely enough to get home. And now the estate must be sold, the auctions are scheduled for August.

"Cherry Orchard": a brief summary of the second action

Evening. Sunset. The action takes place at an abandoned chapel. Lopakhin is interested in the sites for dachas. He believes that the land should be divided into plots and leased. Only this will have to cut down the cherry orchard. But Ranevskaya and Gayev are against this, they call it vulgarity. Gaev dreams of some inheritance, about Yaroslavl aunt, who promised to give money, but how much it will be and when - is unknown. Merchant Lopakhin once again recalls the auction.

"Cherry Orchard": a brief summary of the third and fourth actions

A Jewish orchestra is playing. Around the dancing couple. Varya worries that the musicians were invited, but they have nothing to pay. Ranevskaya can not wait for her brother to come to the auction. Everyone hopes that he bought the estate for the money sent by his Yaroslavl aunt. Only she sent only fifteen thousand, and even the interest would not be enough. Gayev and Lopakhin returned from the bidding. Gaev cries. Ranevskaya learns that the garden was sold, his new master is Lopakhin. She almost faints. In the rooms there is little furniture, no curtains and paintings. There is a baggage. Lopakhin warns that in a few minutes you need to go. Gayev entered the bank. Ranevskaya goes to Paris on auntie's money, sent from Yaroslavl. Yasha is traveling with her. Gaev and Ranevskaya are suppressed, they say goodbye to the house. Anya thinks that her mother will return to her soon. And she will study at the gymnasium, go to work and help her mother. All go noiselessly and leave for the station. And only the forgotten Firs remained in a closed house. Silence. You can hear the sound of an ax.

"Cherry Orchard": analysis. Basic moments

The fact that Gaev and Ranevskaya is an obsolete past tells us a brief summary. The cherry orchard is dear to them as a memory of children's days, about well-being, about youth, about easy and elegant life. And Lopakhin understands this. He tries to help Ranevskaya, offering to rent out plots. There is simply no other way out. Only the lady, as always, is careless, she thinks that everything will somehow be resolved. And when the garden was sold, she did not long grieve. The heroine is not capable of serious experiences, easily passes from anxiety to cheerful animation. And Lopakhin is proud of the purchase and dreams of his new life. Yes, he bought the estate, but he was still a peasant. And the owners of the cherry orchard, though ruined, but they, as before, gentlemen.