Uncle Vanya Anton Chekhov

1
Uncle Vanya Anton Chekhov

• ???? ???? -????? ?????

2
Context of the Play

• Uncle Vanya was written in 1897.
• Chekhov began writing the play in 1889, although
  it was called The Wood Demon. He returned to it
  in 1895, and began writing it as Uncle Vanya.
• Uncle Vanya allowed Chekhov to be recognised as
  a great dialogist as the play has lots of long
  conversations.

3
Characters

• Ivan Petrovich Voynitsky (Vanya)
• Vanya is the hero of the play. Critics have
  described him as a bitter, broken character after
  wasting his life on his brother-in-laws estate.
  He is obsessed with the life that he could have
  had, especially Yelena.
• Professor Alexander Vladimirovich Serebryakov
• Serebryakov is a failed scholar, who is made
  bitter by his old age, and reoccurring illnesses
  of rheumatism and gout. He is the brother-in-law
  of Vanya, and also Vanyas bitterest enemy.
• Yelena Andreevna
• Yelena is the professors wife, and has been
  described as the Russian equivalent of Greek
  Helen of Troy. Like other characters, she can be
  seen to be bitter as she abandoned a possible
  music career in order to marry the oold
  professor.

4
Characters

• Mikhail Lvovich Astrov
• Astrov is the doctor in Uncle Vanya.
  Chekhov included a doctor in almost everything
  that he wrote, and as in Uncle Vanya, the
  doctor is quite often the philosopher in the
  play. He too is obsessed with Yelena and her
  beauty and is always in deep thought.
• Sofya Alexandrovna
• Sofya (Sonya) is Serebryakovs daughter
  from his first marriage, and Vanyas niece. She
  is in love with Dr. Astrov but he does not return
  her feelings. Despite the fact that her name
  means wisdom Sofya is less of a wise character
  and more of a gentle one.

5
Characters

• Maria Vasilevna Voynitskaya
• Maria is Vanyas mother. She is accepting
  of her old age yet continues to live her life to
  the full. Throughout the play, she seems
  fascinated with the doctor.
• Ilya Ilich Telegin
• Telegin is nicknamed Waffles in the play
  because of his spotty face. He is an impoverised
  landowner, who works on Serebryakovs estate.
  Telegin offers comic relief in the play as he is
  a melodramatic character, and often seems
  pathetic in all areas of his life.
• Marina Timofeevna
• Marina is a kind, old, devout nurse. She
  offers advice to most of the characters in the
  play and can be seen as the most religious
  character.

6
Synopsis

• Professor Serebryakov and his beautiful wife
  Yelena have left St. Petersburg and settled on
  the family's remote country estate, where Sonya,
  the Professor's daughter from his first marriage,
  and her Uncle Vanya have worked for years to
  support their patriarch. The couple's arrival
  sends the estate into chaos, disrupting the daily
  routines of country life and sparking passions.
  Triangles of tension develop as the characters
  struggle with their frustrated desires and
  disillusionment. Vanya and his friend Astrov, the
  local doctor, vie for Yelena's attention, while
  Sonya and Yelena find themselves irresistibly
  attracted to Astrov.

7
Themes

• The main themes are
• Idleness and the effects of it. (Wasting Life)
• Regret at previous life choices.
• Resentment of others.

8
Photos.