The Cherry Orchard | Themes
The Cherry Orchard is about an aristocratic family that is unable to prevent its beloved estate from being auctioned off. More symbolically, it is about the growth of the middle class in Russia and the fall of the aristocracy. The once-wealthy family's estate and beloved orchard is purchased by a man who once served as a serf on the estate. Though Chekhov intended the play as a comedy, most productions emphasize the tragedy of the events. Mrs. Ranevsky and her family are unable to find a way to succeed within the new social order of Russia, while Lopakhin profits from the business...
[The entire page is 1322 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
- The Cherry Orchard: Introduction
- The Cherry Orchard: Summary
- The Cherry Orchard: Anton Chekhov Biography
- The Cherry Orchard: Themes
- The Cherry Orchard: Style
- The Cherry Orchard: Historical Context
- The Cherry Orchard: Critical Overview
- The Cherry Orchard: Character Analysis
- The Cherry Orchard: Essays and Criticism
- The Cherry Orchard: Compare and Contrast
- The Cherry Orchard: Topics for Further Study
- The Cherry Orchard: Media Adaptations
- The Cherry Orchard: What Do I Read Next?
- The Cherry Orchard: Bibliography and Further Reading
- The Cherry Orchard: Pictures
- Copyright
Related Topics
Tell a friend about The Cherry Orchard at eNotes.
