Two Works by Anton Chekhov
Two Works by Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov is the author of both The Cherry Orchard and “A Visit to Friends.” Both works have similar characteristics and are typical of Chekhovs writing style. Three of these characteristics are the setting of the story, family, and nature.
The settings of both “A Visit to Friends” and The Cherry Orchard are in rural areas of Russia. Specifically, the setting for “A Visit to Friends” is in the tiny village of Kuzminky. Tatyana and Varya do not want to leave, but Sergei Sergeyich does not mind. Similarly, in The Cherry Orchard everyone but Anya is happy to leave the rural estate. The characters, who are happy to leave, feel that way because they have a completely different life ahead of them. Another commonality is that the setting in both stories is constant. In The Cherry Orchard, the setting is always Madame Ranevskayas estate. Likewise, in “A Visit to Friends” the setting is always the Losev estate.
In both “A Visit to Friends” and The Cherry Orchard, the plot revolves around a single family. The relationships between all of the members of the families are very complex, especially in The Cherry Orchard. The conflict facing each family is the selling of their homes due to bankruptcy. In both stories they look to a rich friend to bail them out. Both families also want this friend to marry one of their members. In “A Visit to Friends” Podgorin is asked to marry Nadezhda and in The Cherry Orchard Lopakhin is asked to marry Varya. Chekhov is able to share his view on family life