Minor characters in the comedy A.P.

In the play we are interested in by A.P. Chekhov's system of images is represented by three main groups. Let us briefly consider each of them, after which we will dwell in detail on the image of Ermolai Alekseevich Lopakhin. This hero of "The Cherry Orchard" can be called the most striking character in the play.

Below is a photo of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, the great Russian playwright, creator of the work that interests us. The years of his life are 1860-1904. For more than a hundred years, his various plays, especially " Cherry Orchard", "Three Sisters" and "The Seagull" are staged in many theaters around the world.

People of the noble era

The first group of characters consists of people from the noble era, which is a thing of the past. This is Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya and Leonid Andreevich Gaev, her brother. These people own a cherry orchard. They are not old at all in age. Gaev is only 51 years old, and his sister is probably 10 years younger than him. It can also be assumed that the image of Varya also belongs to this group. This is Ranevskaya's adopted daughter. This also includes the image of Firs, the old footman, who is, as it were, part of the house and all the passing life. This is, in general terms, the first group of characters. Of course, this is just brief description heroes. "The Cherry Orchard" is a work in which each of these characters plays a role, and each of them is interesting in its own way.

The most active person

Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich, the new owner of the cherry orchard and the entire estate, is very different from these heroes. He can be called the most active person in the work: he is energetic, active, moving steadily towards his intended goal, which is to buy a garden.

Young generation

The third group is represented by Anya, the daughter of Lyubov Andreevna, and Petya Trofimov, who is the former teacher of Ranevskaya’s son, who recently died. Without mentioning them, the characterization of the heroes would be incomplete. "The Cherry Orchard" is a play in which these characters are lovers. However, in addition to the feeling of love, they are also united by their aspiration away from dilapidated values ​​and all old life towards a wonderful future, which in Trofimov’s speeches is depicted as ethereal, although shining.

Relationships between the three groups of characters

In the play, these three groups are not opposed to each other, although they have different concepts and values. The main characters of the play “The Cherry Orchard,” despite all their differences in worldview, love each other, show sympathy, regret the failures of others, and are even ready to help. The main feature that separates them and determines their future life is their attitude towards the cherry orchard. In this case, it is not just part of the estate. This is a certain value, almost an animated face. During the main part of the action, the question of his fate is decided. Therefore, we can say that there is another hero of “The Cherry Orchard”, the suffering one and the most positive one. This is the cherry orchard itself.

The role of minor characters in the play "The Cherry Orchard"

The main characters were introduced in general terms. Let's say a few words about the other participants in the action taking place in the play. They are not just minor characters needed by the plot. These are companion images of the main characters of the work. Each of them carries a certain trait of the main character, but only in an exaggerated form.

Elaboration of characters

The different degrees of character development in the work “The Cherry Orchard” are striking. The main characters: Leonid Gaev, and especially Lyubov Ranevskaya - are given to us in the complexity of their experiences, the combination of sins and spiritual virtues, frivolity and kindness. Petya Trofimov and Anya are more outlined than depicted.

Lopakhin - the brightest hero of "The Cherry Orchard"

Let us dwell in more detail on the most striking character in the play, who stands apart. This hero of The Cherry Orchard is Ermolai Alekseevich Lopakhin. According to Chekhov's description, he is a merchant. The author, in letters to Stanislavsky and Knipper, explains that Lopakhin is assigned a central role. He notes that this character is a gentle person, decent in every sense. He must behave intelligently, decently, not petty, without any tricks.

Why did the author believe that Lopakhin’s role in the work was central? Chekhov emphasized that he did not look like a typical merchant. Let's find out what are the motives for the actions of this character, who can be called the killer of the cherry orchard. After all, he was the one who knocked him out.

Peasant past

Ermolai Lopakhin does not forget that he is a man. One phrase was etched in his memory. It was uttered by Ranevskaya, consoling him, then still a boy, after Lopakhin was beaten by his father. Lyubov Andreevna said: “Don’t cry, little man, he’ll heal before the wedding.” Lopakhin cannot forget these words.

The hero we are interested in is tormented, on the one hand, by the awareness of his past, but on the other hand, he is proud that he managed to become one of the people. For the former owners, he is also a person who can become a benefactor and help them unravel a tangle of insoluble problems.

Lopakhin's attitude towards Ranevskaya and Gaev

Every now and then Lopakhin offers Gaev and Ranevskaya various rescue plans. He talks about the possibility of giving the land they own to plots for summer cottages, and cutting down the garden, since it is completely useless. Lopakhin is sincerely upset when he realizes that these heroes of the play “The Cherry Orchard” do not perceive his reasonable words. He cannot comprehend how one can be so careless on the verge of one’s own death. Lopakhin directly says that he has never met such frivolous, strange, unbusinesslike people as Gaev and Ranevskaya (heroes of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard). There is not a shadow of deceit in his desire to help them. Lopakhin is extremely sincere. Why does he want to help his former masters?

Perhaps because he remembers what Ranevskaya did for him. He tells her that he loves her like his own. Unfortunately, the good deeds of this heroine remain outside the play. However, one can guess that due to her nobility and gentle character, Ranevskaya respected Lopakhin and pitied him. In a word, she behaved like a real aristocrat - noble, cultured, kind, generous. Perhaps it is precisely the awareness of such an ideal of humanity, its inaccessibility, that forces this hero to commit such contradictory actions.

Ranevskaya and Lopakhin are the two centers in the work "The Cherry Orchard". The images of the heroes described by the author are very interesting. The plot develops in such a way that the interpersonal relationships between them are not the most important thing. What comes first is what Lopakhin does as if involuntarily, surprising himself.

How is Lopakhin's personality revealed at the end of the work?

The third action takes place in nervous tension. Everyone expects that Gaev will soon arrive from the auction and bring news about the further fate of the garden. The owners of the estate cannot hope for the best; they can only hope for a miracle...

Finally, the fateful news was announced: the garden was sold! Ranevskaya is struck as if by thunder by the answer to a completely meaningless and helpless question: “Who bought it?” Lopakhin exhales: “I bought it!” This action of Ermolai Alekseevich decides the future of the heroes of The Cherry Orchard. It seems that Raevskaya did not expect this from him. But it turns out that the estate and garden are Ermolai Alekseevich’s lifelong dream. Lopakhin could not do otherwise. In it, the merchant avenged the peasant and defeated the intellectual. Lopakhin seems to be in hysterics. He doesn’t believe in his own happiness and doesn’t notice Ranevskaya, who is heartbroken.

Everything happens according to his passionate desire, but against his will, because a minute later, noticing the unfortunate Ranevskaya, the merchant unexpectedly utters words that contradict his delight a minute earlier: “My poor, good one, you won’t bring me back now...” But the very next moment the former peasant and merchant in Lopakhino raise their heads and shout: “Music, play clearly!”

Petya Trofimov’s attitude towards Lopakhin

Petya Trofimov says about Lopakhin that he is needed “in the sense of metabolism,” like a predatory beast that eats what comes in its way. But suddenly Trofimov, who dreams of a just structure of society and assigns the role of exploiter to Yermolay Alekseevich, says in the fourth act that he loves him for his “subtle, gentle soul.” - a combination of predatory skills with a gentle soul.

The inconsistency of the character of Ermolai Alekseevich

He passionately craves purity, beauty, and is drawn to culture. In the work, Lopakhin is the only character appearing with a book in his hand. Although this hero falls asleep while reading it, other characters throughout the play do not hold books in their hands at all. However, the merchant's calculation, common sense, and earthly principles turn out to be stronger in him. Realizing that he is proud of his possession, Lopakhin is in a hurry to knock him out and arrange everything according to his own understanding of happiness.

Ermolai Alekseevich argues that the summer resident will multiply to an extraordinary extent in 20 years. For now he is just drinking tea on the balcony. But one day it may happen that he will start farming on his tithe. Then the cherry orchard of Ranevskaya and Gaev will become luxurious, rich, and happy. But Lopakhin is wrong about this. A summer resident is not the person who will preserve and multiply the beauty that he has inherited. Its purely practical, predatory. It excludes all impractical things, including culture. Therefore, Lopakhin decides to cut down the garden. This merchant, who has a “subtle soul,” does not realize the main thing: you cannot cut the roots of culture, memory, and beauty.

The meaning of the play by A.P. Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard"

The intelligentsia from a serf, submissive, downtrodden slave created a talented, free, creatively active person. However, she herself was dying, and her creation was dying along with her, since without roots a person cannot exist. "The Cherry Orchard" is a drama about the loss of spiritual roots. This ensures it is up to date at all times.

The play by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov shows the attitude of people to the events taking place at the junction of eras. This was the time when the capitalization of society and the death of Russian feudalism took place. Such transitions from one socio-economic formation to another are always accompanied by the death of the weak and the intensified struggle of various groups for survival. Lopakhin in the play is a representative of a new type of people. Gaev and Ranevskaya are characters of a dying era, who are no longer able to correspond to the changes taking place, to fit into them. Therefore they are doomed to failure.

All the characters in the play “The Cherry Orchard” are of great importance in the ideological and thematic context of the work. Even casually mentioned names carry meaning. For example, there are off-stage heroes (the Parisian lover, the Yaroslavl aunt), the very fact of whose existence already sheds light on the character and lifestyle of the hero, symbolizing an entire era. Therefore, in order to understand the author’s idea, it is necessary to analyze in detail those images that realize it.

Characters and their role in the work

1. Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna - a sensitive, emotional woman, but completely unadapted to life and unable to find her core in it. Everyone takes advantage of her kindness, even the footman Yasha and Charlotte. Lyubov Andreevna expresses emotions of joy and tenderness in a childlike way. She is characterized by affectionate addresses to people around her. So, Anya is “my baby,” Firs is “my old man.” But a similar appeal to furniture is striking: “my cabinet,” “my table.” Without even noticing it, she gives the same assessments to people and things! This is where her concern for the old and faithful servant ends. At the end of the play, the landowner calmly forgets about Firs, leaving him alone to die in the house. She does not react in any way to the news of the death of the nanny who raised her. He just keeps drinking coffee. Lyubov Andreevna is the nominal mistress of the house, since in essence she is not one. All the characters in the play are drawn to her, highlighting the image of the landowner from different sides, so it seems ambiguous. On the one hand, she has her own in the foreground state of mind. She left for Paris, leaving her children. On the other hand, Ranevskaya gives the impression of a kind, generous and trusting woman. She is ready to selflessly help a passerby and even forgive the betrayal of a loved one.
2. Anya - kind, gentle, empathetic. She has a big loving heart. Arriving in Paris and seeing the environment in which her mother lives, she does not condemn her, but feels sorry for her. Why? Because she is lonely, there is no close person next to her who would surround her with care, protect her from everyday adversity, and understand her gentle soul. The unsettled nature of life does not upset Anya. She knows how to quickly switch to pleasant memories. He has a keen sense of nature and enjoys the singing of birds.
3. Varya- adopted daughter of Ranevskaya. A good housewife, always at work. The whole house rests on it. A girl with strict views. Having taken on the difficult burden of caring for the household, I became a little hardened. She lacks subtle mental organization. Apparently, for this reason, Lopakhin never proposed marriage to her. Varvara dreams of walking to holy places. He does nothing to somehow change his fate. He trusts only in God's will. At the age of twenty-four he becomes “boring”, so many people don’t like him.
4. Gaev Leonid Andreevich. To Lopakhin’s proposal regarding future “fate” cherry orchard reacts categorically negatively: “What nonsense.” He is worried about old things, a closet, he addresses them with his monologues, but he is completely indifferent to the fate of people, which is why the servant left him. Gaev’s speech testifies to the limitations of this man, who lives only by personal interests. If we talk about the current situation in the house, then Leonid Andreevich sees a way out in receiving an inheritance or Anya’s advantageous marriage. Loving her sister, she accuses her of being vicious and not marrying a nobleman. He speaks a lot, without being embarrassed by the fact that no one listens to him. Lopakhin calls him a “woman” who talks only with her tongue, without doing anything.
5. Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich. You can “apply” the aphorism to him: from rags to riches. Soberly evaluates himself. Understands that money in life does not change a person’s social status. “A boor, a fist,” says Gaev about Lopakhin, but he doesn’t care what they think about him. He is not trained in good manners and cannot communicate normally with a girl, as evidenced by his attitude towards Varya. He constantly glances at his watch when communicating with Ranevskaya; he has no time to talk like a human being. The main thing is the upcoming deal. He knows how to “comfort” Ranevskaya: “The garden is sold, but you sleep peacefully.”
6. Trofimov Petr Sergeevich. Dressed in a worn student uniform, glasses, sparse hair, in five years the “dear boy” has changed a lot, he has become ugly. In his understanding, the purpose of life is to be free and happy, and for this you need to work. He believes that those who seek the truth must be helped. There are many problems in Russia that need to be solved, not philosophized. Trofimov himself does nothing; he cannot graduate from university. He utters beautiful and clever words that are not supported by actions. Petya sympathizes with Anya and speaks of her as “my spring.” He sees in her a grateful and enthusiastic listener to his speeches.
7. Simeonov - Pischik Boris Borisovich. Landowner. Falls asleep while walking. All his thoughts are aimed only at how to get money. Even Petya, who compared him to a horse, replies that this is not bad, since a horse can always be sold.
8. Charlotte Ivanovna - governess. He doesn't know anything about himself. She has no relatives or friends. She grew up like a lonely stunted bush in a wasteland. She did not experience the feeling of love in childhood, did not see care from adults. Charlotte has become a person who cannot find people who understand her. But she can’t understand herself either. “Who am I? Why me? - this poor woman did not have a bright beacon in her life, a mentor, loving person, which would help you find the right path and not deviate from it.
9. Epikhodov Semyon Panteleevich works in an office. He considers himself a developed person, but openly declares that he cannot decide whether he should “live” or “shoot himself.” Jonah. Epikhodov is pursued by spiders and cockroaches, as if they are trying to force him to turn around and look at the miserable existence that he has been dragging out for many years. Unrequitedly in love with Dunyasha.
10. Dunyasha - maid in Ranevskaya's house. Living with the gentlemen, I lost the habit of simple life. Doesn't know peasant labor. Afraid of everything. He falls in love with Yasha, not noticing that he is simply unable to share love with someone.
11. Firs. His whole life fits into “one line” - to serve the masters. The abolition of serfdom is evil for him. He is used to being a slave and cannot imagine any other life.
12. Yasha. An uneducated young footman dreaming of Paris. Dreams of a rich life. Callousness is the main trait of his character; He even tries not to meet his mother, ashamed of her peasant origin.

Characteristics of heroes

1. Ranevskaya is a frivolous, spoiled and pampered woman, but people are drawn to her. It was as if the house had opened its time-bound doors again when she returned here after a five-year absence. She was able to warm him with her nostalgia. Comfort and warmth again “sounded” in every room, just as festive music sounds on holidays. This did not last long, as the days at home were numbered. In the nervous and tragic image of Ranevskaya, all the shortcomings of the nobility were expressed: its inability to be self-sufficient, lack of independence, spoiledness and tendency to evaluate everyone according to class prejudices, but at the same time, subtlety of feelings and education, spiritual wealth and generosity.
2. Anya. A heart beats in the chest of a young girl, waiting for sublime love and looking for certain life guidelines. She wants to trust someone, to test herself. Petya Trofimov becomes the embodiment of her ideals. She cannot yet look at things critically and blindly believes Trofimov’s “chatter,” presenting reality in a rosy light. Only she is alone. Anya does not yet realize the versatility of this world, although she is trying. She also does not hear those around her, does not see real problems that fell on the family. Chekhov had a presentiment that this girl was the future of Russia. But the question remained open: will she be able to change something or will she remain in her childhood dreams. After all, to change something, you need to act.
3. Gaev Leonid Andreevich. Spiritual blindness is characteristic of this mature person. He remained in childhood for the rest of his life. In conversation he constantly uses billiard terms out of place. His horizons are narrow. The fate of the family nest, as it turned out, does not bother him at all, although at the beginning of the drama he beat himself in the chest with his fist and publicly promised that the cherry orchard would live. But he is categorically incapable of doing business, like many nobles who are accustomed to living while others work for them.
4. Lopakhin buys Ranevskaya’s family estate, which is not a “bone of discord” between them. They do not consider each other enemies; humanistic relationships prevail between them. Lyubov Andreevna and Ermolai Alekseevich seem to want to get out of this situation as quickly as possible. The merchant even offers his help, but is refused. When everything ends well, Lopakhin is happy that he will finally be able to get down to real business. We must give the hero his due, because it was he, the only one, who was concerned about the “fate” of the cherry orchard and found a solution that suited everyone.
5. Trofimov Petr Sergeevich. He is considered a young student, although he is already 27 years old. One gets the impression that being a student has become his profession, although outwardly he has turned into an old man. He is respected, but no one believes in his noble and life-affirming calls except Anya. It is a mistake to believe that the image of Petya Trofimov can be compared with the image of a revolutionary. Chekhov was never interested in politics; the revolutionary movement was not part of his interests. Trofimov is too soft. His soul and intelligence will never allow him to cross the boundaries of what is permitted and jump into an unknown abyss. In addition, he is responsible for Anya, a young girl who does not know real life. She still has a rather delicate psyche. Any emotional shock can push her in the wrong direction, from where she can no longer be returned. Therefore, Petya must think not only about himself and the implementation of his ideas, but also about the fragile creature that Ranevskaya entrusted to him.

How does Chekhov relate to his heroes?

A.P. Chekhov loved his heroes, but he could not trust any of them with the future of Russia, not even Petya Trofimov and Anya, the progressive youth of that time.

The heroes of the play, sympathetic to the author, do not know how to defend their rights in life, they suffer or are silent. Ranevskaya and Gaev suffer because they understand that they cannot change anything about themselves. Their social status fades into oblivion, and they are forced to eke out a miserable existence on the last proceeds. Lopakhin suffers because he realizes that he cannot help them. He himself is not happy about buying a cherry orchard. No matter how hard he tries, he still will not become its full owner. That is why he decides to cut down the garden and sell the land, so that he can later forget about it as a bad dream. What about Petya and Anya? Isn't it the author's hope in them? Perhaps, but these hopes are very vague. Trofimov, due to his character, is not capable of taking any radical actions. And without this the situation cannot be changed. He is limited to talking about a wonderful future and that’s it. And Anya? This girl has a slightly stronger core than Petra. But due to her young age and the uncertainty of life, changes should not be expected from her. Perhaps in the distant future, when she has set all her life priorities, some action can be expected from her. In the meantime, she limits herself to faith in the best and a sincere desire to plant a new garden.

Whose side is Chekhov on? He supports each side, but in his own way. In Ranevskaya, he appreciates genuine female kindness and naivety, albeit seasoned with spiritual emptiness. Lopakhin appreciates the desire for compromise and poetic beauty, although he is not able to appreciate the real charm of the cherry orchard. The Cherry Orchard is a member of the family, but everyone unanimously forgets about this, while Lopakhin is not able to understand this at all.

The heroes of the play are separated by a huge abyss. They are not able to understand each other, since they are closed in the world of their own feelings, thoughts and experiences. However, everyone is lonely, they have no friends, like-minded people, no true love. Most people go with the flow, without setting any serious goals for themselves. Besides, they are all unhappy. Ranevskaya experiences disappointment in love, life and her social supremacy, which seemed unshakable just yesterday. Gaev once again discovers that aristocratic manners are not a guarantee of power and financial well-being. Before his eyes, yesterday's serf takes away his estate and becomes the owner there, even without the nobility. Anna is left penniless and has no dowry for a profitable marriage. Although her chosen one does not demand it, he has not yet earned anything. Trofimov understands that he needs to change, but does not know how, because he has neither connections, nor money, nor position to influence anything. They are left with only the hopes of youth, which are short-lived. Lopakhin is unhappy because he realizes his inferiority, belittles his dignity, seeing that he is no match for any gentlemen, even though he has more money.

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The lyrical comedy by A.P. Chekhov “The Cherry Orchard” is one of the peaks of the writer’s dramatic creativity. The images of the main characters he created have become textbook ones, but the images of the secondary characters are also of considerable importance. Of course, these characters do not make a serious contribution to the development of the overall plot, but they help the author paint and show viewers and readers a more complete and voluminous picture.

The key job of secondary characters is to summarize the main thoughts and opinions of the main characters. They seem to express what the main characters did not say in their speech. With the help of them, Chekhov shows the importance of key points that are fundamental for understanding and understanding the play.

Chekhov practically does not describe the secondary characters in any way; all the traits of their characters can be seen through their remarks, which the author successfully and effectively “forces” them to say.

Let's consider a hero like Epikhodov. In his opinion, he is a very educated person, which is a strong exaggeration, since in essence, we see his narrow-minded mentality and pride. His speech is characterized by a heap of words, not entirely correct comparisons, he often inserts into his speech foreign words, which are inappropriate in this context. On the one hand, his speech is beautiful and good, but on the other hand, it is difficult to understand him:

“As a matter of fact, without touching on other subjects, I must express myself, among other things, that fate treats me without regret, like a storm treats a small ship. If, let’s say, I’m mistaken, then why did I wake up this morning, for example, I look, and there’s a scary-sized spider on my chest... Like this. (Points with both hands.) And you also take kvass to get drunk, and there, you see, something extremely indecent, like a cockroach.”

Let's take a character like Yasha. This is a young man who has picked up the harmful atmosphere of Parisian life, which is especially clearly seen in his addresses to Dunyasha, whom he calls “Cucumber.” Yasha speaks, but his speech does not make much sense, he is overly self-confident, cruel and vindictive. This is especially noticeable in the episode when he brutally dealt with Charlotte’s dog, which bit him, right in front of her window. Yasha is a person without principles and without morals, but he is quite simple and understandable, and such people are needed everywhere, so he can use it.

There is another hero who is difficult to define as “minor”, ​​since in fact, he practically plays the main role in “The Cherry Orchard” - Firs. He is not present on stage much, but the author put into his mouth the final monologue summing up the play. Firs is an “eternal serf” who once gave up his long-awaited freedom.

I think it's unfair to label minor characters as background characters, like pieces of furniture. They are just as important characters in the play, although they are given little time. The characters cannot emerge victorious in the current living conditions, but they do not consider this a tragedy. They leave the stage brightly, effectively, and memorablely. It is important to understand that if the main characters are not able to overcome their melancholy and grief, and the secondary characters seem to scare away everything bad with their behavior and their laughter. This turns the play into a comedy, and in some places into a farce, which emphasizes the fact that this is a dramatic work.

Social statuses of the characters in the play - as one of the characteristics

In the final play by A.P. Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" there is no division into main and secondary characters. They are all major, even seemingly episodic roles, and are of great importance for revealing the main idea of ​​the entire work. The characterization of the heroes of “The Cherry Orchard” begins with their social representation. After all, social status already leaves an imprint in people’s heads, and not only on stage. Thus, Lopakhin, a merchant, is already associated in advance with a loud and tactless merchant, incapable of any subtle feelings and experiences, but Chekhov warned that his merchant is different from a typical representative of this class. Ranevskaya and Simeonov-Pishchik, designated as landowners, look very strange. After all, after the abolition of serfdom social statuses landowners were a thing of the past, since they no longer corresponded to the new social order. Gaev is also a landowner, but in the minds of the characters he is “Ranevskaya’s brother,” which suggests some kind of lack of independence of this character. With Ranevskaya’s daughters, everything is more or less clear. Anya and Varya have their ages indicated, showing that they are the youngest characters in The Cherry Orchard.

The age is also indicated for the oldest actor- Firsa. Trofimov Petr Sergeevich is a student, and there is some kind of contradiction in this, because if he is a student, then he is young and it seems too early to assign a middle name, but meanwhile it is indicated.

Throughout the entire action of the play “The Cherry Orchard,” the characters are fully revealed, and their characters are outlined in a form typical for this type of literature - in speech characteristics given by themselves or other participants.

Brief characteristics of the main characters

Although the main characters of the play are not highlighted by Chekhov as a separate line, they are easy to identify. These are Ranevskaya, Lopakhin and Trofimov. It is their vision of their time that becomes the fundamental motive of the entire work. And this time is shown through the relationship to the old cherry orchard.

Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna – main character“The Cherry Orchard” is a former rich aristocrat, accustomed to living according to the dictates of her heart. Her husband died quite early, leaving a lot of debts. While she was indulging in new feelings, her little son tragically died. Considering herself guilty of this tragedy, she runs away from home, from her lover abroad, who also followed her and literally robbed her there. But her hopes of finding peace were not realized. She loves her garden and her estate, but cannot save it. It is unthinkable for her to accept Lopakhin’s proposal, because then the centuries-old order in which the title of “landowner” is passed down from generation to generation will be violated, carrying with it the cultural and historical heritage, inviolability and confidence in the worldview.

Lyubov Andreevna and her brother Gaev are characterized by all the best traits of the nobility: responsiveness, generosity, education, a sense of beauty, the ability to sympathize. However, in modern times all of them positive qualities are not needed and turn over in the opposite direction. Generosity becomes irrepressible spending, responsiveness and the ability to sympathize turn into slobbering, education turns into idle talk.

According to Chekhov, these two heroes do not deserve sympathy and their experiences are not as deep as they might seem.

In the play “The Cherry Orchard” the main characters talk more than they do, and the only person is the action. Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich, central character, according to the author. Chekhov was sure that if his image failed, then the whole play would fail. Lopakhin is designated as a merchant, but it would be more suitable for him modern word"businessman". The son and grandson of serfs became a millionaire thanks to his instincts, determination and intelligence, because if he were stupid and uneducated, how could he have achieved such success in his business? And it is no coincidence that Petya Trofimov talks about his subtle soul. After all, only Ermolai Alekseevich realizes the value of the old garden and its true beauty. But his commercial spirit goes too far, and he is forced to destroy the garden.

Trofimov Petya- an eternal student and a “shabby gentleman.” Apparently he also belongs to noble family, but became, in fact, a homeless tramp, dreaming of the common good and happiness. He talks a lot, but does nothing for the speedy onset of a bright future. He also lacks deep feelings for the people around him and attachment to a place. He lives only in dreams. However, he managed to captivate Anya with his ideas.

Anya, daughter of Ranevskaya. Her mother left her in the care of her brother at age 12. That is, in adolescence, which is so important for the formation of personality, Anya was left to her own devices. She inherited best qualities which are characteristic of the aristocracy. She is youthfully naive, which is perhaps why she was so easily carried away by Petya’s ideas.

Brief characteristics of minor characters

The characters in the play “The Cherry Orchard” are divided into main and secondary only according to the time of their participation in the actions. So Varya, Simeonov-Pishchik Dunyasha, Charlotte Ivanovna and the lackeys practically do not talk about the estate, and their worldview is not revealed through the garden; they seem to be cut off from it.

Varya- adopted daughter of Ranevskaya. But essentially she is the housekeeper of the estate, whose responsibilities include taking care of the owners and servants. She thinks on an everyday level, and her desire to devote herself to serving God is not taken seriously by anyone. Instead, they are trying to marry her off to Lopakhin, who is indifferent to her.

Simeonov-Pishchik- the same landowner as Ranevskaya. Constantly in debt. But his positive attitude helps him overcome his difficult situation. So, he doesn’t hesitate a bit when he receives an offer to rent out his lands. Thus, solving your financial difficulties. He is able to adapt to a new life, unlike the owners of the cherry orchard.

Yasha- young footman. Having been abroad, he is no longer attracted by his homeland, and even his mother, who is trying to meet him, is no longer needed by him. His arrogance main feature. He does not respect his owners, he has no attachment to anyone.

Dunyasha– a young, flighty girl who lives one day at a time and dreams of love.

Epikhodov- a clerk, he is a chronic loser, which he knows very well. In essence, his life is empty and aimless.

Firs- the oldest character for whom the abolition of serfdom became greatest tragedy. He is sincerely attached to his owners. And his death in an empty house to the sound of the garden being cut down is very symbolic.

Charlotte Ivanovna- governess and circus performer rolled into one. The main reflection of the declared genre of the play.

The images of the heroes of “The Cherry Orchard” are combined into a system. They complement each other, thereby helping to reveal main topic works.

Work test