Symbolism_in__The_Cherry_Orchard_

A Symbol of Change Symbolism has played a vital role throughout history and in literature, and continues to do so today, as well as tomorrow. The Russian author Anton Chekhov makes excellent use of symbolism in his play, The Cherry Orchard, published in 1903. This play uses the powerful symbol of a cherry orchard, generations old, to symbolize the concept of change and human progress, common visions humankind shared at the turn of the century. Near the beginning of the play, the owners of an estate and cherry orchard in Russia return after having spent five years abroad in Paris. Upon their arrival, they begin to reminisce over everything, the nursery, the cherry orchard, a hundred year old cabinet, etc.. As things progress, it becomes known that the owners, members of the landed gentry, no longer have enough money to maintain their estate, so they intend to auction it off in order to pay off their debts. The peasant Lopahin suggests rather that auctioning off the entire estate, the orchard could be cut down to build summer cottages that could be leased. The owners, particularly Mme. Ranevskaya, opposed the idea, even though the cherry orchard was bringing in no profits. Lopahin asks once again the following day, but is ignored. The student Trofimov discusses philosophy with Mme. Ranevskaya, and tells every one of his dreams about humankind’s progress. A ballroom dance is held on the estate the day of the auction, and near the end, Lopahin returns and announces his purchase of the estate, and plans for building summer cottages. The play ends with everyone leaving. Amidst the confusion, however, the old manservant, Firs, is left behind and locked inside the house, where he dies while the cherry orchard is being cut down. The cherry orchard plays a vital symbolic role throughout the play, as it is a symbol of change and human progress. Chekhov makes it very clear that Russia is changing. How each of the characters react and interact with the cherry orchard helps better reveal Checkhov’s theme. Each of the characters general attitudes and reactions can be categorized into three main groups: the nostalgic and emotional, the indifferent, and the pioneers of change. The main characters that fall into the first group include Mme. Ranevskaya, Gayev, and Varya. Each of these characters primarily displayed nostalgic attitudes. In response to Lopahin’s suggestion of building summer cottages, Mme. Ranevskaya responds, “Cut down' My dear, forgive me, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. If there’s one thing that’s interesting—indeed, remarkable—in the whole province, it’s precisely our cherry orchard” (Act 1). Although the cherry orchard is no longer economically profitable, the orchard holds a deeper meaning to these characters who lived here since their childhood. Because of her unwillingness to change to the times, she loses her estate, but she and the others in this category are not portrayed as total losers. They still have enough money to live in Paris for a while, and one could argue that they are better off than those who are indifferent. Those indifferent to the fate of the orchard include Firs, Anya, and most of the household servants. They appear unaffected and unchanged through the sale of the orchard. Firs was indifferent even when he was freed after the emancipation of the serfs in 1861. He lived his life the same way regardless. As a result, he and the others like him lost nothing, and gained nothing of any significance. Firs’ last lines are “… They’ve forgotten me…. Never mind … Life has gone by as if I had never lived.… There’s no strength left in you, old fellow; nothing is left, nothing. Ah, you addlehead!” (Act 4). In contrast to these two groups are the enthusiastic pioneers, including Lopahin and Trofimov, whom embrace change. Lopahin, although a peasant, was excited to discover and adopt new ideas. This is seen in his eagerness to build and lease summer cottages on the land where the cherry orchard was. Whether the summer cottages were successful or not is uncertain, however, that is not the point. The point Checkhov was trying to make is that Lopahin was willing to embrace change. Lopahin took the biggest risk of everyone, but he also has the potential to gain the greatest reward. His reward begins just with the purchase of the estate when he states, “…if my father and my grandfather could rise from their graves and see all that has happened—how their Yermolay … has bought the most magnificent estate in the world. I bought the estate where my father and grandfather were slaves, where they weren’t even allowed to enter the kitchen” (Act 3). Trofimov is also a pioneer to change. While he may appear indifferent to the fate of the cherry orchard, he tells Anya, “All Russia is our orchard. Our land is vast and beautiful, there are many wonderful places in it.…” (Act 2). Trofimov also is a visionary and states several times the idea that “… Mankind is moving toward the highest truth, toward the highest happiness possible on earth, and I am in the front ranks” (Act 4). Trofimov appears the most revolutionary of everyone in the play, perhaps having the most optimistic outlook of the future. While Anton Chekhov paints a picture that change and human progress is a good thing, there is still a subtle hint that things may not be getting better. For instance, Anya tells her mother, “I’ll pass my high school examination, and then I’ll go to work and help you. ...we’ll read lots of books, and a new wonderful world will open up before us. …Mamma, do come back” (Act 4). Before the new wonderful world can be enjoyed, her mom will have to return from her affair in Paris. Also, as the cherry orchard is being cut down, Firs dies, and an eerie mysterious sound, “of a snapping string mournfully dying away” is heard. (Act 4). Is this an ominous omen of some future event'