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Im a bit confused about the plot of Chekhov play ' The Seagull'
can any one help??

Hi binkz 

In The Seagull, a work that the author himself claimed contained ‘‘five tons of love,’’ is a play about a very human tendency to reject love that is freely given and seek it where it is withheld. Many of its characters are caught in a destructive, triangular relationship that evokes both pathos and humor. What the characters cannot successfully parry is the destructive force of time, the passage of which robs some, like Madame Arkadina, of beauty, and others, like her son Konstantine, of hope.

Sorin was a high official in the Russian government but has since retired to the country.  He hates the country and in order to entertain himself he fills his home with guests.  His Nephew, Konstantine Gavrilovich also known as Kostya or Treplev, lives with him.  Treplev is in love with Nina.  Nina is a neighbor who is starring in Treplev’s play. The Play, a naturalistic characterless new form, is a fiasco.  Arkadina, Treplev’s mother, is a prominent Russian actress who is realizing she is past her prime.  She mocks the show because, according to Treplev, she is jealous of Nina. As things unfold we see the number of unhappy people inhabiting the stage. Medvendenko is a poor school teacher who is desperately in love with Masha and travels to the estate daily in order to see her.  Masha’s lives there because her father, Shamrayev, manages Sorin’s estate. Masha herself expresses that she does not love Medvenenko, but instead is hopeless for Treplev.  Now to recap Medvenenko loves Masha who loves Treplev who loves Nina and, as if Chekhov had to prove that he could in fact fit even more unrequited love in a script, Nina loves Trigorin.  Trigorin is an estimed writer who has come to the estate with Arkadina.  And yes they are apparently romantically involved.  Now to pile one more twist onto things there is the case of  Polina and Dorn.  Dorn is Sorin’s doctor and Polina is Shamrayev’s wife.  These two have been having a  fling of sorts for many years. 

Now that I hope you understand the relationships between these characters let me explain the meat of the story.  Over the coming days there is a lot of inactivity.  There is no major or significant events pushing this play towards it’s end.  Simply put it is life on stage.  Treplev is a deeply troubled character and as he has felt Nina’s affections wane he kills a seagull and says I have been cruel enough to kill this seagull as I will soon do to myself.  I lay it at your feet.  It stays there throughout the rest of the act.  After Treplev leaves Trigorin comes to Nina, and is struck with the idea for a story.  A girl who spends her entire life around a lake and a man comes along and because he has nothing better to do he destroys her, much like that seagull. Through his own turmoil Treplev shoots himself but fails to die. Through the act there is much discussion about the struggles of love and art and the need for new forms.  After Treplev is apparently healing well Arkadina takes Trigorin away in order to have Nina forget him and for things to go back to the way they used to be.  Well no such luck.  After the passing of time we come back to find Masha has in fact married Medvedneko in order to forget Treplev. The two have a baby but she entirely detests her life. 

Nina ran away to the city and also had a baby with Trigorin.  The baby died and he left her.  She is a struggling actress and has been shut out by her parents.  Trigorin is back again with Arkadina.  Treplev has continued writing and gained some success but remains a shut-in.  She came to visit him on the estate late one night and continues to mention herself as the seagull.  He begs her to stay but she has to leave because she has role in a show.  she leaves and the rest of the cast comes in.  Treplev exits and a loud noise is heard offstage.  Dorn plays it off to Arkadina that it was something in his medicine cabinet breaking but he pulls Trigorin aside and tells him to get Arkadina out of the house because Treplev has just shot himself.