Plays 52 - Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov

11. Three Sisters - Anton Chekhov

Three Sisters spans five years in the lives of the Prosorov siblings; Olga, Irena, Masha and Andrey, the son and daughters of a deceased Russian General. They dream of returning to Moscow, where they were born and grew up, and for now are stuck in the small provincial town where their father was stationed prior to his death. The play concerns itself with showing how youthful idealism and hopes wither and die in the face of small-town life.

It is a year since their father died and is also Irena’s birthday, and at 20 is the youngest of the three. Olga notes that Irena is finally looking happier yet Masha, seems distracted and frustrated. Masha married young, impressed as she was by Fiodor Koolighen, a man far older than she and a teacher. They all dream of returning to Moscow and they hope to do so by the Autumn. They receive a visit from the new brigade commander, Alexander Vershinin, who used to serve under their father in Moscow and who visited them when they were children.

Andrey is practicing on his violin in another room when his sisters call him in and begin teasing him, in a light-hearted way, about his apparent infatuation with a local girl, Natasha. Andrey hopes to become a professor in Moscow when they return and is translating an English text in preparation. Masha laments that all their education is for nothing in a town such as they are living in, yet Vershinin tells her that despite all the ignorance that surrounds them, they will have some influence on people, enough that in the future, the world will be a better place.

Irena speaks with much fervour about the value of work and tells of a revelation she had whereby real hard work was the only way to find meaning and purpose in life, and a lack of work leads to feelings of despondency and hopelessness. As the others make their way to the dining room to have lunch, Irena is alone with Baron Toozenbach, who declares his love for her, ignoring her apparent indifference and reluctance to hear it. Natasha then arrives and is greeted somewhat warmly by Olga, who criticises what she is wearing. Everyone sits down to lunch and Natasha is embarrassed by a teasing comment from Chebutykin, an old army doctor living with the family. Andrey goes over to comfort Natasha, whereby he declares his love and proposes to her.

In Act Two it is more than a year later, Andrey and Natasha are now married and have a young son; Bobik. Andrey confesses to Ferapont, a colleague of his from the local council, that he is incredibly bored with life. Ferapont is hard of hearing and is not aware of what Andrey is telling him, which is the reason for Andrey doing so, since he can air his true feelings without consequences. He still dreams of academic life despite the fact that the best he can hope for now is being the chairman of the local council. Baron Toozenbach tells everyone that he has resigned his commission and is no longer in the army, much to the dismay of the sisters. It emerges that Masha and Vershinin are having an affair, disillusioned as they are with their own marriages.

It is a carnival night and everyone is gathered at the Prosorov’s house in anticipation of a group of entertainers, although Natasha is set against it under the pretence that Bobik is unwell. Natasha seems to be slowly taking over the house, even though it is as much the sisters’ as it is Andrey’s. Much drink begins to flow and Natasha eventually calls a halt to proceedings. Everyone leaves, except for Irena and Soliony, an army Captain of irascible temperament. Soliony declares his love for Irena and tells her that if any other man does so that there will be trouble. Protopopov, the chairman of the County Council arrives and Natasha leaves with him for a drive in his Troika, the implication being that they are also having an affair.

The third act takes place a year or so later, and it seems a large fire has spread throughout the town. It is the early hours of the morning and everyone is rallying round at the Prosorov's house. It is rumoured that the entire brigade will be leaving the town at some point in the near future for either Poland or Siberia. The sisters' former nanny, Anfisa, expresses her anxiety that she will be ejected from the household due to her age and inability to work as hard as she used to. Olga calms her and allows her to rest, however, Natasha then enters and yells at Anfisa to stop sitting about and get out. Olga is disgusted by Natasha's behaviour, who is first apologetic, but then confronts Olga and tells her not to interfere in household matters, her business being at the school.

Masha tells her sisters that Andrey has run up debts through gambling, and has taken out a mortgage on their house, from which Natasha has taken all the money. She also confesses her love for Vershinin, and his for her, which Olga is clearly uncomfortable hearing. Andrey later confirms in an emotional confession that he is in debt by some thirty-five thousand roubles, and that he is dissatisfied with how his life has turned out. Irena, Masha and Olga are left alone towards the end of the scene and Irena tells the others of her despair and sense of hopelessness. Olga comforts her and tells her that she ought to marry Toozenbach, despite not loving him, since he is a decent and kind man. Irena agrees, on condition that they can then return to Moscow.

Act four takes place another two years later and the brigade are preparing to leave. Irena has a sense of foreboding regarding a falling-out that took place between the Baron and Soliony the previous night. Irena and the Baron are to marry and are moving to the local brickworks, where he will work and she will become a teacher, having recently qualified. Olga is now the headmistress of the school she taught at, despite her earlier reluctance. She now lives near the school and has provided Anfisa with a place to stay with her. Both Irena and Olga have now seemed to abandon any hopes of returning to Moscow.

It emerges that the Baron and Soliony are to engage in a duel, which was arranged after their earlier falling out. The Doctor is to attend, much to Andrey's disapproval, and he seems to have become rather apathetic. He tells Andrey, after he seeks his advice, that he should just leave his wife and children, and go as far away as possible. Toozenbach then talks with Irena and although he does not tell her directly about the duel, she is filled with a sense of foreboding and tells the Baron that she does not love him but respects and is fond of him. He then leaves, asking her to make sure a coffee is ready for him when he comes back.

Vershinin arrives to say goodbye, to Masha in particular, who is very distressed by his departure. Koolighen then comes out to comfort her, but does so in a very detached way; putting on a false moustache and mimicking a German teacher at his school. The doctor returns at this point, and tells them that the Baron has been killed by Soliony. Irena, in her distress, resolves that she will devote her life to teaching and will still leave as she planned to do with the Baron. The sisters are left alone once again, and wonder if they will ever understand their suffering and what it all means.