The Three Sisters

By Anton Chekov

By Samra Saeed

Critical Analysis: Act Three (From the part where Chebutykin enters till the end of the Act)

The Three Sisters is a realistic fiction play written by Anton Chekov which continuously circles around drama

intertwining tragedy to some extent as well. It is set in a small unnamed town of a province in Russia and

successfully explores the different themes of life which put the human capabilities to test. The main plot of the

play revolves around the life of the Prozorov family, inclusive of the three sisters; Olga, Masha and Irina along with

their brother Andre and some of their own friends, who are discontented and extremely frustrated by their

present-day living. This specific act of the play perfectly describes the main plot as well as the characters

specifically chosen by Chekhov. However, the vital purpose of the three sisters is to live the life of their dreams in

their beloved home city, Moscow which sadly keeps on maintaining its distance from them as time continues to

follow its path smoothly.

Act Three has one main location with one process governing it; Irina and Olgas bedroom at the Prozorovs

Residence where people are constantly passing in and out of the room due to the fire burning in the neighborhood

around three in the morning. The author mingles with a number of the characters and makes sure that the

audience learns fresh things about their personalities and worries in existence. He uses most of the characters in

the play to further develop his plot, for example, the confirmation of most naked and honest intimate connection

between Masha and Vershinin on stage is surprising and not at all expected by the audience because of the

interesting way he established it through his writing. The first glimpse Chekhov gives to the readers is when Masha

completes the tune Vershinin hums; Lyuboov vse vosrasty pokorny, yeyo poryvy blagotvorny to which Masha

responds Tram-tam-tam... and this continues amongst them creating an impression of a faded question mark as

to whats going on amongst the two but finally by the end of the act, once Masha confesses her love for Vershinin

to her sisters, a full stop answers our question.

In the play, Chekhov gives extreme importance to time and numeric. He confirms that his audience is fully aware of

the almost exact period and place of the actions. Precisely, seven such references have been made in Act Three of

The Three Sisters. Right at the beginning, the author informs us of the time; when Tuzenbach says: Its already

after three. Its getting light telling us that it is around three in the morning - almost dawn. Second, third and

fourth gestures of timely periods are made when Chebutykin moans about his failure in life; Last Wednesday I

went out to Zasyp to take care of a sick woman. She died, and its my fault she died, Maybe I knew something

twenty five years ago, but now I cant remember a thing, and Two days ago I went to the club, they were all

talking about Shakespeare and Voltaire; I never read em but I pretended like I did. So did all the rest of em.

These lines also tell us that Chebutykin is a character who does not believe in himself and is continuously attacked

by misery and disappointments. His doubtful attitude towards the world and himself is spotlighted. As the act

follows its league, we are informed of Kulygin and Masha being married for seven years; Kulygin says: Ive been

married to you for seven years, and it seems like only yesterday. Chekhov somehow uses this technique of time to

also reflect the personality of the character. From this fifth reference, we can conclude that Kulygin feels very

strongly about his feelings for his wife because it seems just like yesterday for him; showing us that he is very

considerate. Furthermore, we are also told the exact age of Irina; she is almost twenty four years old now; Irina:

I hate everything I have to do there Im almost twenty four. Once again the author while reflecting the age of

Irina, shows us that even at the age of twenty four, she is frustrated and unhappy with her life. The contrast

between her personality which was four years ago (on her Name Day) and the present is highlighted. The last

numeric used in this act is when Andre is confronting his sisters and tells them about the exact amount of money

he has in debt; Its my fault and Im sorry and I ask you to forgive me. I had to do it because I owed a lot of

money thirty five thousand. I dont gamble anymore, I gave it up Once again, Chekhov mirrors Andres

characteristics with mentioning the amount of money he owed. The above line makes the audience absorb the

tension created by Chekhov on purpose as to what will happen with the sisters as the house is now mortgaged

without their consent. However, it also tells us that Andre is guilty of his actions and wants to improve. He also

cares about what his sisters think of him and he wants to have good relations with them because he is not satisfied

by anything else in his life; inclusive of his wife whom he defends but deep down inside he knows that the shell is

broken.
Chekhov plays with the technique of the tension of opposites by purposefully creating a background and a

foreground in order to provide us with a lens to look at the situation the way he wants us to. He uses theatrical

means for the audience to understand the complicated and distinct relationships the characters have with each

other. Chekhov starts this act with a given crisis to each character and chooses an intimate setting; in this case,

Irina and Olgas room so that there is a tension filled impact upon the audience as all the commotion happens at

one place. But by the end of the act, he makes sure to cover up all the mess and set things straight. The author

puts these confused characters who are not in the place of the world and describes their place as interlopers,

except one; Natasha who is in the right state of mind and belongs to this world set by Chekhov perfectly. Placing all

the other characters as interlopers, he successfully creates the tension of opposites. For example, in the play,

Solyony wants to be a soldier and at the same time he also wants to be a romantic poet. These two psychologically

derived motivations cause the tension of opposites amongst the character. Being a soldier, Solyony questions Irina

as to why the Baron could enter the room and he couldnt in Act Three (page 299) which tells us that he is

intimidated by Tuzenbach; Now I find it extremely funny, that the baron can come in here and I cant. The tone

of sarcasm the author uses via Solyonys character says it all.

The author has proved to have a smooth control over the different happenings in this act. Because of his writing

style, there is a lot happening at one time yet he manages to help the audience escape the realm of confusion. The

discovery of Chebutykins feelings for the sisters mother, Masha and Vershinins immediate connection followed

by the confession of her love for him, observance of Solyonys attraction towards Irina, Andres restless behavior

and the final decision made by Irina to marry Tuzenbach; all of this happens in a horizontal sequence by first

developing the crisis and then finding a solution to it. However, all the characters in this act are going through the

same dissatisfactory sensation. One strange thing Chekhov does subtly to evoke the readers was the random

appearance of Natasha just passing by the room with a candle when Irina is discussing her grief with her sister,

Olga. This awkward manifestation was, I believe, for a purpose and strongly reflects her dominance which has

been developed throughout the previous acts in the Prozorov house. It also tells us that she is content and at the

same time busy with her life and couldnt care less as to what was happening in Irina and Olgas room.
The act opens with the entrance of Chebutykin and the exit of Natasha and Olga which goes unnoticed by the

doctor since he is busy complaining about the sad episodes of his life, and that too while being drunk out of his

head. The scene continues with the arrival of Vershinin, Irina and Tuzenbach followed by a delighted conversation

about Masha amongst them and Kulygin. Youre right Baron; I love Masha a great deal. Shes a splendid woman.

Says Kulygin These words instantly tell us how much he loves his wife but later we discover that she does not feel

the same way about him. We learn that Mashas attitude is angry towards her husband and that she is not satisfied

by him or the words he speaks. Another conversation which carries on between the two, husband and wife, (page

300) supports the above statement. We notice that Kulygin is very sweet and gentle with his words, continuously

expressing his love for her whereas Masha constantly acts stubborn and asks him to go home. She makes it clear

that she is tremendously bored of not only her marriage but also her life. However, what the audience knows,

Kulygin doesnt; Mashas love for Vershinin. Even though it is confirmed much later about Mashas feelings for

Vershinin but there is a hunch as Chekhov has already established that feeling amongst the readers. No truly, you

are astonishing. And Im happy. Im a happy happy man.; Kulygin says to which Masha responds And Im bored. I

am bored, bored, bored! These lines make the audience wonder as to what sort of a heartless woman Masha is,

that even though her husband loves her so much and expresses his love for her at every circumstance, she tends to

push him away from her. This helps us build a concept of Mashas personality as well as her unhappiness. Another

fact that we derive from Kulygin continuously expressing himself as a happy, happy man makes us think that he

is in a state of denial. It is a possibility that he is fully aware of her wife slipping away from him, yet he continues to

express his love in order to console himself. Also, later during the act, Chekhov uses the technique of interruption

by the appearance of Kulygin during an intense conversation taking place between Andre, Olga and Irina. Even

then, Kulygin asks about his wife as to where she has disappeared and upon not finding her where he expected to

makes him wonder; Isnt Masha here? Where is she? Thats funny Chekhov may have used this technique to

calm down the anxiety he had built amongst the audience when Andre started to confront his two sisters. Or he

could also have done this to show that Kulygin is extremely insecure about losing his wife, and is clearly obsessed

with her. In this case, I believe it is both and the author very effectively achieves his goal of making the audience

think the way he wanted them to.

As the act progresses, we learn about Chebutykins love for the sisters mother. An event of him dropping his

lovers ancient clock is followed by which proves to us that Chebutykin is depressed and frustrated with his life and

his inabilities to fulfill his desires. Chekhov uses this comedic character to reveal two secrets which were hidden

from the audience, one his feelings for the sisters mother and two, about Natasha having an affair with

Protopopov. Conversely, as the army doctor clarifies his pessimistic boldness towards the world, Vershinin

acknowledges his idea of life; What a life that will be! Just think: right now there are only three people like you in

this town; another generation and there will be more, and then more and more, and a time will come when the

whole world will have changed because of you Vershinins optimistic approach towards life is perhaps what

attracted Masha towards him even more. We also notice Mashas blissful engagements when she is around

Vershinin; however she turns into someone completely different when around her affectionate husband.

Moving forward, we also learn about the warm and sincere relationship Irina has with Tuzenbach, the Baron and

also a strong sisterly understanding with Olga. Irina wakes Tuzenbach up while he is fast asleep, his reaction to

that, very ordinary to that of any other man. However, if it was someone in real life, that person would have an

irritated response. Chekhov does this on purpose to highlight the tender personality of Tuzenbach; Youre so pale

and beautiful... youre fascinating... your paleness lights up the dark he says (page 299) We also notice a similar

gentle feeling towards Masha when she asks the Baron to leave the house; he laughs and says Are you here? I

didnt see you. These petite responses of Tuzenbach tell the audience that he is a caring and gentle person who

does not take things said to him in a negative way. As we can see, he could have taken Mashas arrogant approach

of asking him to leave her home in an undesirable manner but instead he chose to laugh it off. Chekhov, by using

such tricks strongly establishes his characters personality to the audience very evidently, in this circumstance

proving to us that the baron is a kind man. We further comprehend Irina and Olgas nature evident from their

conversation about Irinas difficulties of time. Irina sobs about her age, work and her desire to go back to Moscow

and settle down with her true love. We perceive the same change in Irinas personality just the way Tuzenbach

points out in the Act earlier; When I look at you now, Irina, I remember a while back, on your birthday, how alive

you were, laughing and talking about going to work... Chekhov not only makes this change quite evident amongst

the readers incautiously but also thoughtfully by using one of the characters in the play to point that change out as
well, here being the Baron creating an even more stronger impression. Chekhov uses his dialogues wisely to have

the impact he wishes to have on the audience. I cant remember the Italian word for window, or ceiling I keep

forgetting things; every day I forget more and more, Were never going to Moscow, never, never., I cant

work anymore, I wont work anymore. and just keep digging yourself deeper and deeper into a hole I am in

despair, I am really in despair! The way the author uses the above lines patently show us the amount of

frustration Irina has inside of her and how she is depending on her sister for consolation. Similarly, Chekhov again

uses his style of writing and chooses his words smartly in Olgas scenario as well. She responds to Irinas troubles of

life and bursts the bubble of misery by suggesting her to marry the Baron. She advises her sister as a friend and

draws Irinas attention away from the sad moments in her life to looking forward to the brighter future she

proposed; by marrying Tuzenbach. Dont cry, my little girl, dont cry It tears me apart; showing us the

matriarchal figure of Olga in the Prozorov House. It also shows the love she has for her younger sister and wants

her to be on the right path.

As the plot advances, we digest a few more facts which were floating somewhere at the back of our heads.

Mashas full of guilt confession about her feelings for Vershinin along with the building climax of the act during the

confrontation by Andre to his sisters. Admitting the way Masha felt about her love for someone who is not her

husband, clearly tells the audience about her guilty conscience; At first I thought he was strange, then I started

feeling sorry for him then I fell in love with him: in love with his voice, with the things he says, with all his

problems, with his two little girls These sentences prove to us that what she feels for him is something she did

not intend to happen, but it just did and that she is helpless which is why she feels guilty. Masha is looking for

some consolation from her sisters, but instead she gets none. Olga reacts in a completely opposite way than she

did when Irina needed her comfort. In Mashas case, Olga simply refused to listen to what her sister had to say to

her. She completely shuts her off which shows us a different side of Olga; she doesnt like drama. Im not

listening. I dont care what youre saying, Im not listening perhaps Olga behaved negatively in order to

discourage Masha for feeling that way for Vershinin. Olgas matriarchal figure is also pointed out once again during

the act when Andre asks Olga for the extra key to his cupboard I came to ask you for a key to the cupboard. I

lost mine. I know youve got that little one Olga then hands him over the key. Chekhov uses such insignificant
conversations and actions to prove to the audience that every character has an important role to play and even

though such actions may seem unimportant, but instead they always mean something.

Andres confrontation builds tension amongst us as we begin to wonder how the conversation would end and

change the monotonous lives of the three sisters. Unexpectedly, it doesnt change much but tell us about Andres

personality. Chekhov only generates such rigidity on purpose for the audience to expect something to happen,

which eventually doesnt. Andre stands up for his wife, proclaims he is proud of himself as a member of the County

Council rather than a professor or a scientist and accepts his mistake for mortgaging the house his sisters had an

equal share in rather than professing he is not at fault we dont see anything wrong with the kind of person he is.

Chekhov wanted to show that even though he acts like a normal person, yet there are parts of his life he is

confused about. For example, later in the play we see him wheeling a carriage around the garden, where as his

wife is having tea with his boss. A similarity is established between Kulygin and Andre by the author. I respect her

and I want to make sure the rest of you respect her too. he says demanding his needs and giving the sisters no

choice. This leads us to the narrative of the plot; Dispossession of the Prozorovs by Natasha. The house, the sisters

and most important Andre is under her control, what more does she need? Natasha has the perfect life of all the

Prozorovs. She is least bothered, well settled mother and wife, along with living her life happily and openly with

her lover.

The final decision made by Irina to marry the Baron concludes the act once again with the mentioning of the desire

to head back to Moscow. Since Olgas suggestion, Irina had been thinking and randomly proclaims to Olga that she

wants to marry Tuzenbach but on the condition that they go to Moscow. Olga dear, I do respect the Baron, I do,

hes a wonderful man, I will marry him, I promise, only please lets go to Moscow! I beg you, please! Theres no

place in the world like Moscow! Lets go, Olga! Please! Chekhov ends this act with the same crisis he started with

going back to their home city, only now with a given solution; Irina marrying Tuzenbach. He does this through his

dialogues to not only keep intact the base of his plot and highlights the desperation and need for Irina to go back

to Moscow but also how frustrated she is of her current lifestyle and wants a fresh start.
The three sisters are constantly degraded by life and their motives articulated from their desires diminish and are

cut off entirely by the end of the play. They do not achieve what they had intended to and have practically wasted

the most focal years of their lifetime complaining. All that was desired by these three sisters was to live a

productive life that has consequences. In contrast, they are stuck in a place where their lives are not full of

importance at all. What difference does it make? is a statement which is used very often during the course of the

play, which is not true at all because one concept has been fit into their heads; nothing they do will make any

difference, the work they do however does make a difference to the world around them.

Finally, after the end of this act, we get an incremental exposure of the characters. For Chekhov, crises are

everywhere but what is important is not the devastation but the part where we pick up the pieces and how we

pick them up. The author manages to make the audience feel of the existence of an unspoken grief because at the

end of the play no one achieves anything. We learn that no matter where in the world we are, the actions we carry

out do make a difference to someone out there if not to us. Therefore, we should continue on with our lives,

appreciate it and continue doing what we are instead of complaining and taking things for granted. Life is short for

letting uncertainties float around us all the time; hence we should live it to its fullest.

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