The Cherry Orchard

The Cherry Orchard is a play that I always enjoy reading. It is one of my favorite Chekhov plays, as well as being the last one he wrote. It makes sense that this particular story would be the last one Chekhov would tell. The character often struggle with the memory, or lack thereof, of their past and it effects their present and future. Perhaps as Chekhov was writing this play, probably knowing he was going to die soon, was struggling with the same thing.

The character I have always found most interesting is Ranevsky. She is the character most constantly plagued with the memories from her past. It is easy to run away from your problems and for five years, that is what she did. After the death of her husband and son she couldn’t stay in Russia, so she fled to Paris. As the imminent sale of the orchard draws near, it seems brave as Ranevsky returns to Russia, but she will only leave once again at the end of the play. She is always running away from something, and the rest of the characters in the play don’t know how to handle her most of the time, but they still love her. The other characters are able to sympathize with Ranevsky because of the obvious tragedy in her life, but they can’t understand the way she is going about her life. Ranevsky is spending money as if it is no object, even though the estate is going to be sold and the family has no money. Ranevsky is a character who needs help but will never ask for it. I feel bad for her. Instead she constantly is fleeing wherever she is to find something better, but never finds it.