Cherry gardentext. The image and characteristics of Petya Trofimov in the play The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov essay Test tasks based on the play "The Cherry Orchard"

There is no one in the hall and drawing room except Lyubov Andreevna, who is sitting, shrinking all over and crying bitterly. Music plays softly. Anya and Trofimov quickly enter. Anya approaches her mother and kneels in front of her. Trofimov remains at the entrance to the hall.

“Promenade for couples!” ... “Big circle, balance!” ... “Cavaliers, kneel and thank the ladies” (French). Good man but bad musician (German).

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Introduction

Pyotr Sergeevich Trofimov, or, as everyone calls him, Petya, first appears in the play in a "worn student uniform and glasses." And already from the first appearance of the hero on stage in the characterization of Trofimov from The Cherry Orchard, two main features become visible. The first is student life, because Petya is the so-called eternal student, who has already been expelled from the university several times. And the second feature is his amazing ability to enter inappropriately and get into a mess: everyone rejoices at Petya's arrival, fearing, however, that the sight of him would awaken painful memories from Ranevskaya. Once Trofimov was the teacher of her little son, who soon drowned. Since then, Petya has taken root in the estate.

Common Hero

The image of Petya Trofimov in the play "The Cherry Orchard" was conceived as the image of a positive hero. Raznochinets, the son of a pharmacist, he is not bound by worries about the estate or his business and is not attached to anything. Unlike the impractical Ranevskaya and the always busy Lopakhin, Petya has a unique chance to look at all events from the outside, evaluating them with an open mind. According to Chekhov's original plan, it was Petya and Anya, inspired by his ideas, who were supposed to point to the resolution of the play's conflict. Redemption of the past (in particular, the sin of possessing living souls, which Trofimov condemns especially severely) by “extraordinary, continuous work” and faith in a bright future in which all of Russia will turn into a blooming cherry orchard. This is Trofimov's life credo. But Chekhov would not be Chekhov if he allowed himself to introduce such an unambiguously “correct” character into the narrative. No, life is much more complicated than any templates, and the image of Trofimov in the play "The Cherry Orchard" once again testifies to this.

"Klut": the comic image of Petya Trofimov

It is difficult not to notice a somewhat ironic attitude towards Trofimov, both on the part of the author and on the part of the heroes of the play. “Klutty” is what Ranevskaya, who is usually condescending towards people, calls Petya, and Lopakhin mockingly adds: “Passion, how smart!”. Other definitions applied to this hero further aggravate the picture: “funny freak”, “clean”, “shabby gentleman” ... Petya is clumsy, ugly (and, according to his own statement, does not want to seem like that at all), he has “sparse hair ”, in addition, he is absent-minded. Such a description contrasts sharply with the romantic image that arises after reading his speeches. But these speeches, upon careful analysis, begin to confuse with their categoricalness, moralizing and, at the same time, with an absolute misunderstanding of the current life situation.

Let us pay attention to the fact that Trofimov's pathetic speeches are interrupted all the time in the course of the play. Either they will knock with an ax, then Epikhodov will play the guitar, then he will call out to Anya Varya who has overheard (this, by the way, will cause genuine indignation in Petya: “This Varya again!

”)… So gradually Chekhov conveys his attitude to what Petya says: these are unviable things, afraid of the manifestations of ordinary life.

Another unpleasant feature in Trofimov is his ability to see in everything "only dirt, vulgarity, Asianism." Surprisingly, admiration for Russia, its “immense fields and deepest horizons” comes from the lips of the seemingly limited merchant Lopakhin. But Petya talks about “moral impurity”, about bedbugs and only dreams of a brighter future, not wanting to see the present. The beauty of the main image-symbol in the play leaves him indifferent. Trofimov does not like the cherry orchard. Moreover, he does not allow young Anya to love him, whose soul still responds very reverently to beauty. But for Petya, the garden is exclusively the embodiment of serfdom, which should be got rid of as soon as possible. It never occurs to him that Anya’s childhood passed in this garden, that it might be painful for her to lose him - no, Petya is completely captured by his ideas and, as often happens with this kind of dreamers, he does not see living people behind them.

And what about Petya's contemptuous statement that he is "above love." This phrase, with which he wanted to show his superiority, perfectly reveals the opposite - the moral, spiritual underdevelopment of the hero. If he were an internally holistic, formed personality, then his awkwardness and awkwardness would be forgiven him, as illiteracy is forgiven Lopakhin with a “broad soul”. But Petya's dryness betrays his moral failure. “You are not above love, but simply, as our Firs says, you are a klutz,” Ranevskaya tells him, who, due to her sensitivity, immediately guessed Petya. It is curious that Petya, who protests against the old way of life and any form of ownership, does not hesitate, however, to live with Ranevskaya in the estate and partly at her expense. He will leave the estate only with its sale, although at the beginning of the play he suggests that Anya throw the keys to the farm into the well and leave. It turns out that even on his own example, Trofimov is not yet ready to confirm his ideas.

"Show others the way"...

Of course, there are cute features in Petya. He himself bitterly says about himself: “I am not yet thirty, I am young, I am still a student, but I have already endured so much! And yet ... I foresee happiness, Anya, I already see it ... ”. And at this moment, through the mask of the builder of a bright future, a real person peeps through, who wants a better life, who knows how to believe and dream. His undoubted diligence also deserves respect: Petya works, receives money for transfers and consistently refuses the favor offered by Lopakhin: “I am a free man! And everything that you all, rich and poor, value so highly and dearly, has not the slightest power over me, just like fluff that rushes through the air. However, the pathos of this statement is somewhat disturbed by the galoshes thrown onto the stage by Varya: Trofimov lost them and worried a lot about them ... Petya's characterization from The Cherry Orchard, in fact, is all concentrated in these galoshes - all the pettiness and absurdity of the hero is clearly manifested here.

Trofimov is rather a comical character. He himself understands that he was not created for happiness and will not reach it. But it is he who is entrusted with the important role of showing others "how to get there", and this makes him indispensable - both in the play and in life.

Artwork test

Comedy in four acts

CHARACTERS:
Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna, landowner.
Anya, her daughter, 17 years old.
Varya, her adopted daughter, 24 years old.
Gaev Leonid Andreevich, brother of Ranevskaya.
Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich, merchant.
Trofimov Petr Sergeevich, student.
Simeonov-Pishchik Boris Borisovich, landowner.
Charlotte Ivanovna, governess.
Epikhodov Semyon Panteleevich, clerk.
Dunyasha, maid.
Firs, footman, old man 87 years old.
Yasha, a young footman.
Passerby.
Station manager.
Postal official.
Guests, servants.

The action takes place in the estate of L. A. Ranevskaya.

ACT THREE

Living room, separated by an arch from the hall. The chandelier is on. One can hear the Jewish orchestra playing in the hall, the same one mentioned in the second act. Evening. Grand-rond is dancing in the hall. The voice of Simeonov-Pishchik: "Promenade à une paire!" They go out into the living room: in the first pair Pishchik and Charlotte Ivanovna, in the second - Trofimov and Lyubov Andreevna, in the third - Anya with the postal official, in the fourth - Varya with the head of the station, etc. Varya is crying softly, dancing, wiping her tears. In the last pair of Dunyasha. They walk around the living room, Pishchik shouts: “Grand-rond balancez!” and "Les cavaliers à genoux et remerciez vos dames!" Firs in evening dress brings seltzer water on a tray. Pishchik and Trofimov enter the drawing room.

P and s and k. I am full-blooded, I have already had a blow twice, it is difficult to dance, but, as they say, I got into a flock, bark, don’t bark, but wag your tail. My health is like a horse. My late parent, a joker, the kingdom of heaven, spoke about our origin as if our ancient family of Simeonov-Pishchikov descended from the same horse that Caligula planted in the Senate ... (Sits down.) But the trouble is: there is no money! A hungry dog ​​believes only in meat ... (Snores and wakes up immediately.) So I ... I can only about money ...

T r about f and m about in. And you really have something equine in your figure.

P and w and k. Well ... a horse is a good animal ... a horse can be sold ...

You can hear billiards playing in the next room. Varya appears in the hall under the archway.

T r o f i m o v (teasing). Madam Lopakhina! Madame Lopakhina!

V a r i (angrily). Wretched bard!

T r about f and m about in. Yes, I'm a shabby gentleman and I'm proud of it!

In a r I (in bitter thought). They hired musicians, but how to pay? (Leaves.)

Trofimov (Pishchik). If the energy that you spent your whole life in finding money to pay interest were spent on something else, then perhaps in the end you could turn the earth.

S h a r l o t a. Shuffle the deck now. Very well. Give it here, oh my dear Mr. Pishchik. Ein, zwei, drei! Now look, it's in your side pocket...

P and p and k (takes out a card from the side pocket). Eight of spades, absolutely right! (Surprised.) Just think!

CHARLOTTE (holding a deck of cards in his palm, to Trofimova). Tell me quickly, which card is on top?

T r about f and m about in. Well? Well, the lady of spades.

S h a r l o t a. There is! (to Pishchik.) Well, which card is on top?

P and w and k. Ace of hearts.

S h a r l o t a. There is! (He hits his palm, the deck of cards disappears.) And what good weather today!

Beginning of the station (applauds). Lady ventriloquist, bravo!

The most charming Charlotte Ivanovna... I am simply in love...

Charlotte. In love? (Shrugging his shoulders.) How can you love? Guter Mensch, aberschlechter Musikant.

Trofimov (slaps Pishchik on the shoulder). You are a horse...

S h a r l o t a. I beg your attention, one more trick. (Takes a plaid from a chair.) Here is a very good plaid, I want to sell ... (Shakes it.) Does anyone want to buy?

P and u and k (surprised). You think!

S h a r l o t a. Ein, zwei, drei! (Quickly picks up the lowered blanket.)

Anya is standing behind the blanket; she curtsies, runs to her mother, embraces her and runs back into the hall with general delight.

L ubov Andreevna (applauds). Bravo, bravo!

S h a r l o t a. Now more! Ein, zwei, drei! (Picks up blanket.)

Varya stands behind the rug and bows.

P and u and k (surprised). You think!

S h a r l o t a. End! (Throws a blanket at Pishchik, makes a curtsy and runs into the hall.)

P and sh and k (hurries after her). Villainess... what? What? (Leaves.)

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. But Leonidas is still missing. What he's been doing in the city for so long, I don't understand! After all, everything is already over there, the estate has been sold or the auction has not taken place, why keep it in the dark for so long!

VARIA (trying to console her). My uncle bought it, I'm sure of it.

Trofimov (mockingly). Yes.

Varya. Grandmother sent him a power of attorney to buy in her name with the transfer of the debt. This is for Anya. And I'm sure God will help, uncle will buy.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. The Yaroslavl grandmother sent fifteen thousand to buy the estate in her name - she does not believe us - and this money would not even be enough to pay the interest. (He covers his face with his hands.) Today my fate is being decided, my fate...

Trofimov (teasing Varya). Madam Lopakhina!

V a r i (angrily). Eternal student! I've been fired from the university twice already.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Why are you angry, Varya? He teases you with Lopakhin, so what? If you want, marry Lopakhin, he is a good, interesting person. If you don't want to, don't come out; you, darling, no one captivates ...

Varya. I look at this matter seriously, Mommy, I must speak frankly. He is a good person, I like him.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. And get out. What to expect, I do not understand!

Varya. Mommy, I can't propose to him myself. For two years now, everyone has been talking to me about him, everyone is talking, but he is either silent or joking. I understand. He is getting rich, busy with business, he is not up to me. If I had money, at least a little, at least a hundred rubles, I would have thrown everything, gone away. I would go to a monastery.

T r about f and m about in. Grace!

V a r i (to Trofimov). The student must be smart! (In a soft tone, with tears.) How ugly you have become, Petya, how old you have become! (To Lyubov Andreyevna, no longer crying.) Only now I can’t do nothing, mommy. I have to do something every minute...

Yasha enters.

Ya sh a (hardly restraining from laughter). Yepikhodov broke his billiard cue! .. (Exits.)

Varya. Why is Epikhodov here? Who let him play billiards? I don't understand these people... (Leaves.)

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Do not tease her, Petya, you see, she is already in grief.

T r about f and m about in. She is very zealous, she does not mind her own business. All summer she haunted neither me nor Anya, she was afraid that our romance would not work out. What's her business? And besides, I didn’t show it, I’m so far from vulgarity. We are above love!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. And I must be below love. (In great anxiety.) Why isn't Leonid? Just to know: sold the estate or not? The misfortune seems to me so unbelievable that somehow I don’t even know what to think, I am at a loss ... I can shout now ... I can do something stupid. Save me, Petya. Say something, say something...

T r about f and m about in. Whether the estate is sold today or not sold - does it matter? It has long been finished with him, there is no turning back, the path is overgrown. Calm down, dear. Do not deceive yourself, you must at least once in your life look the truth straight in the eye.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. What truth? You see where the truth is and where it is not, but I have definitely lost my sight, I don’t see anything. You boldly resolve all important issues, but tell me, my dear, is it not because you are young, that you have not had time to suffer through a single one of your questions? You boldly look ahead, and is it not because you do not see and do not expect anything terrible, since life is still hidden from your young eyes? You are bolder, more honest, deeper than us, but think about it, be generous at the tip of your finger, spare me. After all, I was born here, my father and mother lived here, my grandfather, I love this house, I don’t understand my life without a cherry orchard, and if you really need to sell it, then sell me along with the garden ... (Hugging Trofimova, kisses him on the forehead.) After all, my son drowned here ... (Crying.) Have pity on me, good, kind man.

T r about f and m about in. You know, I sympathize with all my heart.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. But it must be done differently, otherwise it must be said... (Takes out a handkerchief, a telegram falls on the floor.) My heart is heavy today, you can't imagine. It’s noisy here, my soul trembles at every sound, I’m trembling all over, but I can’t go to my room, I’m scared alone in the silence. Don't judge me, Petya... I love you like my own. I would gladly give Anya for you, I swear to you, only, my dear, you have to study, you have to finish the course. You do nothing, only fate throws you from place to place, it's so strange ... Isn't it? Yes? And you have to do something with the beard so that it grows somehow ... (Laughs.) You are funny!

Trofimov (raises the telegram). I don't want to be handsome.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. This is a telegram from Paris. I receive every day. Both yesterday and today. This wild man fell ill again, he is not well again ... He asks for forgiveness, begs to come, and really I should have gone to Paris, to be near him. You, Petya, have a stern face, but what should I do, my dear, what should I do, he is sick, he is lonely, unhappy, and who is there to look after him, who will keep him from making mistakes, who will give him medicine in time? And what is there to hide or be silent, I love him, that's clear. I love, I love ... This is a stone on my neck, I go to the bottom with it, but I love this stone and cannot live without it. (Shakes Trofimov's hand.) Don't think badly, Petya, don't say anything to me, don't say...

Tr about f and m about in (through tears). Forgive me for being frank, for God's sake: after all, he robbed you!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. No, no, no, don't talk like that... (Closes his ears.)

T r about f and m about in. After all, he is a scoundrel, only you alone do not know this! He is a petty scoundrel, a nonentity.

LOVE ANDREYEVNA (angry, but restrained). You are twenty-six years old or twenty-seven, and you are still a second grade schoolboy!

T r about f and m about in. Let!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. You have to be a man, at your age you need to understand those who love. And you need to love yourself ... you need to fall in love! (Angry.) Yes, yes! And you have no cleanliness, and you are just a clean, funny eccentric, freak ...

TR o f i m o v (in horror). What does she say!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. "I am above love"! You are not above love, but simply, as our Firs says, you are a klutz. At your age not to have a mistress! ..

TR o f i m o v (in horror). This is terrible! What does she say?! (He walks quickly into the hall, clutching his head.) It's terrible... I can't, I'll leave... (He leaves, but immediately returns.) It's all over between us! (Goes into the hallway.)

L ubov Andreevna (shouting after him). Petya, wait! Funny man, I was joking! Petya!

Someone in the hall is heard quickly going up the stairs and suddenly falls down with a crash. Anya and Varya scream, but laughter is immediately heard.

What is there?

Anya runs.

And me (laughing). Petya fell down the stairs! (Runs away.)

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. What an eccentric this Petya ...

The stationmaster stops in the middle of the hall and reads "The Sinner" by A. Tolstoy. They listen to him, but as soon as he read a few lines, the sounds of a waltz come from the hall, and the reading breaks off. Everyone is dancing. Trofimov, Anya, Varya and Lyubov Andreevna pass from the front.

Well, Petya... well, pure soul... I beg your pardon... Let's go dancing... (Dances with Petya.)

Anya and Varya are dancing.

Firs enters, places his stick near the side door. Yasha also came in from the living room, looking at the dances.

I'm a. What, grandpa?

F i r s. Not well. Before, generals, barons, admirals danced at our balls, but now we send for the postal clerk and the head of the station, and even they are not willing to go. Something weakened me. The late gentleman, grandfather, used sealing wax for all, from all diseases. I have been taking sealing wax every day for twenty years, or even more; maybe I'm alive from him.

I'm a. You're tired, grandfather. (Yawns.) If only you would die sooner.

F i r s. Oh, you... you fool! (Mumbling.)

Trofimov and Lyubov Andreevna dance in the hall, then in the living room.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Mercy. I'll sit... (Sits down.) Tired.

Anya enters.

And I (excitedly). And now, in the kitchen, a man was saying that the cherry orchard had already been sold today.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. To whom is it sold?

And I. Didn't say to whom. Gone. (Dancing with Trofimov.)

Both leave the room.

I'm a. It was some old man talking there. Stranger.

F i r s. But Leonid Andreevich is not here yet, he hasn't arrived. His coat is light, the demi-season is about to catch a cold. Oh, young green!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. I'll die now! Go, Yasha, find out to whom it was sold.

I'm a. Yes, he left a long time ago, old man. (Laughs.)

L ubov Andreevna (with slight annoyance). Well, what are you laughing at? What are you happy about?

I'm a. Epikhodov is very funny. Empty man. Twenty-two misfortunes.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Firs, if the estate is sold, where will you go?

F i r s. Wherever you tell me, I will go there.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Why is your face like that? Are you unwell? You know, go to sleep...

F i r s. Yes... (With a grin.) I'll go to sleep, but without me, who will give here, who will order? One for the whole house.

I am (Lyubov Andreevna). Lyubov Andreevna! Let me ask you to be so kind! If you go to Paris again, then take me with you, do me a favor. It is positively impossible for me to stay here. (Looking around, in an undertone.) What can I say, you can see for yourself, the country is uneducated, the people are immoral, and moreover, boredom, the food is ugly in the kitchen, and then there is this Firs walking around, muttering various inappropriate words. Take me with you, be so kind!

Pishchik enters.

Let me ask you ... for a waltz, most beautiful ... (Lyubov Andreevna goes with him.) Charming, after all, I will take one hundred and eighty rubles from you ... I will take ... (Dances.) One hundred and eighty rubles...

In the hall a figure in a gray top hat and checkered trousers is waving his arms and jumping; cries of "Bravo, Charlotte Ivanovna!"

Dunyasha (stopping to powder). The young lady tells me to dance - there are many gentlemen, but few ladies - and my head is spinning from dancing, my heart is beating. Firs Nikolaevich, and just now an official from the post office told me that it took my breath away.

The music subsides.

F i r s. What did he say to you?

D u n i s a. You, he says, are like a flower.

I am (yawns). Ignorance... (Exits.)

D u n i s a. Like a flower... I am such a delicate girl, I love gentle words terribly.

F i r s. You will spin.

Epikhodov enters.

E p and x o d o v. You, Avdotya Fyodorovna, don't want to see me... as if I were some kind of insect. (Sighs.) Ah, life!

D u n i s a. What do you want?

E p and x o d o v. Surely you may be right. (Sighs) But, of course, if you look from the point of view, then you, let me put it this way, sorry for the frankness, completely put me in a state of mind. I know my fortune, every day some kind of misfortune happens to me, and I have long been accustomed to this, so I look at my fate with a smile. You gave me your word, and even though I...

D u n i s a. Please, we'll talk later, but now leave me alone. Now I dream. (Plays with a fan.)

E p and x o d o v. I have misfortune every day, and I, let me put it this way, only smile, even laugh.

Enters from Varya's hall.

Varya. You still haven't left, Semyon? What a disrespectful person you are. (to Dunyasha) Get out of here, Dunyasha. (To Epikhodov.) Now you play billiards and break your cue, then you pace the living room like a guest.

E p and x o d o v. Charge me, let me put it, you can't.

Varya. I do not exact from you, but I say. You only know that you go from place to place, but do not do business. We keep a clerk, but it is not known why.

E p and x o d o v (offended). Whether I work, whether I go, whether I eat, whether I play billiards, only people who understand and elders can talk about that.

Varya. You dare to tell me that! (Burning up) Do you dare? So I don't understand anything? Get out of here! This minute!

E p and x about d about in (coward). I ask you to express yourself in a delicate way.

In a r I (having lost my temper). Get out of here this minute! Out!

He goes to the door, she follows him.

Twenty-two misfortunes! So that your spirit is not here! May my eyes not see you!

Oh, are you going back? (He grabs the stick Firs placed near the door.) Go... Go... Go, I'll show you... Ah, are you coming? Are you going? So here's to you... (Swings.)

At this time, Lopakhin enters.

L o p a x i n. Thank you very much.

V a r i (angrily and mockingly). Guilty!

L o p a x i n. Nothing, sir. Thank you very much for the pleasant meal.

Varya. Do not mention it. (Steps away, then looks around and asks softly.) Didn't I hurt you?

L o p a x i n. There is nothing. The bump, however, will jump up.

You can see it, you can hear it... (He kisses Lopakhin.) You smell of cognac, my dear, my soul. And we have fun here too.

LYUBOV ANDREYEVNA enters.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Is that you, Ermolai Alekseich? Why so long? Where is Leonidas?

L o p a x i n. Leonid Andreevich came with me, he's coming...

L ubov Andreevna (excited). Well? Were there auctions? Speak now!

LOPAKHIN (embarrassed, afraid to reveal his joy). Bidding was over by four o'clock... We were late for the train, we had to wait until half past ten. (Sighing heavily.) Phew! I'm getting a little dizzy...

Gaev enters; in his right hand he has purchases, with his left he wipes away tears.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Lenya what? Lenya, right? (Impatiently, with tears.) Hurry, for God's sake...

GAEV (does not answer her, only waves his hand; to Firs, crying). Here, take it... There are anchovies, Kerch herring... I haven't eaten anything today... I've suffered so much!

The door to the billiard room is open; the sound of balls and the voice of Yasha are heard: “Seven and eighteen!” Gaev's expression changes, he no longer cries.

I'm terribly tired. Let me, Firs, change my clothes. (Goes away across the hall, followed by Firs.)

P and w and k. What's at the auction? Tell me!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Cherry orchard sold?

L o p a x i n. Sold.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Who bought?

L o p a x i n. I bought.

Lyubov Andreevna is oppressed; she would have fallen if she had not been standing near the chair and table. Varya takes the keys from her belt, throws them on the floor, in the middle of the living room, and leaves.

I bought! Wait, gentlemen, do me a favor, my head is clouded, I can’t speak ... (Laughs.) We came to the auction, Deriganov was already there. Leonid Andreevich had only fifteen thousand, and Deriganov immediately gave thirty in excess of the debt. I see, it's like that, I grabbed him, hit forty. He is forty-five. I am fifty five. So he adds five, I ten ... Well, it's over. In excess of the debt, I slapped ninety, it was left for me. The cherry orchard is now mine! My! (Laughs.) My God, Lord, my cherry orchard! Tell me that I'm drunk, out of my mind, that all this seems to me ... (Stomps his feet.) Don't laugh at me! If my father and grandfather had risen from their graves and looked at the whole incident, like their Yermolai, beaten, illiterate Yermolai, who ran barefoot in winter, how this same Yermolai bought an estate, more beautiful than which there is nothing in the world. I bought an estate where my grandfather and father were slaves, where they were not even allowed into the kitchen. I’m sleeping, it only seems to me, it just seems ... This is a figment of your imagination, covered with the darkness of the unknown ... (Raises the keys, smiling gently.) She threw the keys, wants to show that she is no longer the mistress here ... keys.) Well, it doesn't matter.

You can hear the orchestra tuning in.

Hey, musicians, play, I want to listen to you! Everyone come and watch how Yermolai Lopakhin will hit the cherry orchard with an ax, how the trees will fall to the ground! We will set up dachas, and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will see a new life here... Music, play!

Music is playing. Lyubov Andreyevna sank into a chair and wept bitterly.

(Reproachfully.) Why, why didn't you listen to me? My poor, good, you will not return now. (With tears.) Oh, that all this would soon pass, that our awkward, unhappy life would somehow change.

L o p a x i n. What is it? Music, play it distinctly! Let everything as I wish! (With irony.) A new landowner is coming, the owner of a cherry orchard! (He accidentally pushed the table, almost knocked over the candelabra.) I can pay for everything! (Exits with PISCHIK.)

There is no one in the hall and drawing room except Lyubov Andreevna, who is sitting, shrinking all over and crying bitterly. Music plays softly. Anya and Trofimov quickly enter. Anya approaches her mother and kneels in front of her. Trofimov remains at the entrance to the hall.

And I. Mom!.. Mom, are you crying? Dear, kind, my good mother, my beautiful, I love you ... I bless you. The cherry orchard has been sold, it’s gone, it’s true, it’s true, but don’t cry, mother, you have a life ahead of you, your good, pure soul remains ... Come with me, go, dear, from here, let’s go! .. We will plant a new garden, more luxurious than this, you will see it, understand it, and joy, quiet, deep joy will descend on your soul, like the sun in the evening hour, and you will smile, mother! Let's go, honey! Let's go to!..

Curtain

L ubov Andreevna (briskly). Wonderful. We'll go out... Yasha, allez! I'll call her... (Through the door.) Varya, leave everything, come here. Go! (Leaves with Yasha.)

LOPACHIN (looking at his watch). Yes...

Pause.
Behind the door, restrained laughter, a whisper, finally Varya enters.

In a r I (looks at things for a long time). Weird, I can't find it...

L o p a x i n. What are you looking for?

Varya. I did it myself and I don't remember.

Pause.

L o p a x i n. Where are you going now, Varvara Mikhailovna?

Varya. I? To the Ragulins ... I agreed to look after the household ... to be housekeepers, or something.

L o p a x i n. Is it in Yashnevo? There will be seventy versts.

That's the end of life in this house...

In a r I (looking around things). Where is it... Or maybe I put it in a chest... Yes, life in this house is over... there will be no more...

L o p a x i n. And I'm leaving for Kharkov now ... with this train. A lot to do. And then I leave Epikhodov in the yard... I hired him.

Varya. Well!

L o p a x i n. Last year it was already snowing about this time, if you remember, but now it's quiet, sunny. Only it's cold... Three degrees of frost.

Varya. I didn't look.

And yes, our thermometer is broken.

LOPACHIN (as if he had been waiting for this call for a long time). This minute! (Quickly leaves.)

Varya, sitting on the floor, with her head on the bundle with her dress, is quietly sobbing. The door opens, Lyubov Andreevna cautiously enters.

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. What?

Must go.

V a r i (no longer crying, wiped her eyes). Yes, it's time, Mom. I'll be in time for the Ragulins today, if only I wouldn't be late for the train...

L ubov Andreevna (at the door). Anya, get dressed!

Anya enters, then Gaev, Charlotte Ivanovna. Gaev is wearing a warm coat with a hood. The servants, the cab drivers, converge. Epikhodov is bustling about things.

Now you can go on the road.

And I (joyfully). On the road!

G a e v. My friends, my dear, dear friends! Leaving this house forever, can I remain silent, can I restrain myself from saying goodbye those feelings that now fill my whole being ...

And I (pleasantly). Uncle!

Varya. Uncle, don't!

GAEV (dejectedly). A doublet of yellow in the middle ... I am silent ...

Enter Trofimov, then Lopakhin.

T r about f and m about in. Well, gentlemen, it's time to go!

L o p a x i n. Epikhodov, my coat!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. I'll sit for one more minute. As if before, I had never seen what kind of walls and ceilings there were in this house, and now I look at them with greed, with such tender love...

G a e v. I remember when I was six years old, on Trinity Day, I sat at this window and watched my father go to church ...

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Have you taken all your things?

L o p a x i n. It seems to be everything. (To Epikhodov, putting on his overcoat.) You, Epikhodov, see that everything is in order.

E p and x o d o v. Now I drank water, swallowed something.

I am (with contempt). Ignorance...

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Let's go - and not a soul will be left here ...

L o p a x i n. Until the spring.

In a r I (pulls out an umbrella from a corner, it seems as if she had taken a swing; Lopakhin pretends to be frightened). What are you, what are you... I didn't think so.

T r about f and m about in. Gentlemen, let's go get into the carriages... It's time already! Now the train is coming!

Varya. Petya, here they are, your galoshes, near the suitcase. (With tears.) And what dirty, old ones you have ...

Tr about f and m about in (putting on galoshes). Let's go gentlemen!

GAEV (greatly embarrassed, afraid to cry). Train... station... Croiset in the middle, white doublet in the corner...

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Let's go!

L o p a x i n. All here? Is there no one there? (Locks the side door on the left.) Things are stacked here, they should be locked. Let's go!..

And I. Farewell home! Farewell, old life!

T r about f and m about in. Hello, new life! .. (Leaves with Anya.)

Varya looks around the room and slowly leaves. Exit Yasha and Charlotte with the dog.

L o p a x i n. So until spring. Come out, gentlemen ... Goodbye! .. (Exits.)

Lyubov Andreevna and Gaev were left alone. They were definitely waiting for this, throwing themselves on each other's necks and sobbing restrainedly, quietly, afraid that they would not be heard.

GAEV (in despair). My sister, my sister...

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Oh my dear, my tender, beautiful garden! .. My life, my youth, my happiness, farewell! .. Farewell! ..

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. Take a last look at the walls, at the windows... The late mother loved to walk around this room...

G a e v. My sister, my sister!

L ub o v A n d r e e v n a. We are walking!..

They leave.

The stage is empty. You can hear how all the doors are locked with a key, how the carriages then drive off. It becomes quiet. In the midst of the silence, there is a dull thud of an ax on wood, sounding lonely and sad. Footsteps are heard. Firs appears from the door to the right. He is dressed, as always, in a jacket and white vest, shoes on his feet. He is sick.

F and r s (goes to the door, touches the handle). Locked up. They left... (Sits down on the sofa.) They forgot about me... Nothing... I'll sit here... But Leonid Andreevich probably didn't put on a fur coat, he went in a coat... (Sighs with concern.) I didn't look ... Young and green! (He mumbles something that is impossible to understand.) Life has passed, as if he had not lived. (Lies down.) I'll lie down... You don't have any silushka, there's nothing left, nothing... Oh, you... you idiot!.. (Lies motionless.)

A distant sound is heard, as if from the sky, the sound of a broken string, fading, sad. There is silence, and only one can hear how far in the garden they knock with an ax on a tree.