The play by A.P. Chekhov "The Cherry Orchard" is one of his most famous works. Heroes have pronounced characters, the plot, built around the sale of the cherry garden, raises serious questions about the future of Russia. Only Anton Pavlovich could, without lengthy moralizing, a grandiloquent syllable, write simply and gracefully about the important. Below we will describe Ani from the Cherry Orchard. Although the play does not have as many as some readers would like, it plays an important role in describing the situation in which the country was.
Characteristics of Ani Ranevskaya from The Cherry Orchard
The estate around which the main action takes place belongs to the Ranevsky family. Anya Ranevskaya is a charming 17-year-old girl, the youngest daughter of the mistress of the garden. She was abroad for a long time with her mother, her governess, a Frenchwoman, who used to be a circus artist, was engaged in her upbringing. Of course, she could not give Anya the knowledge that should be, but this was not required of her. Ranevskaya Jr. had a penchant for reading, which contributed to the expansion of her horizons and the formation of life principles.
Anya was a very sensitive and responsive girl, easily keen on sublime ideas. Despite the fact that she was 17 years old, she preserved children's spontaneity, sincerity in expressing her feelings. In the characterization of Ani from The Cherry Orchard, it should also be noted that Petya Trofimov, who was previously the teacher of her younger brother, occupied an important place in the formation of her views. But before describing their relationship, you need to talk a little about the personality of this young man.
Characteristic of Peter Trofimov
All the characters in the play call him "the eternal student", because he was expelled several times from the university, and "a shabby gentleman." He constantly finds himself in some kind of ridiculous situations, but Trofimov himself is completely calm about this, and those around him are condescending. Outwardly, the young man is not as handsome as he might introduce himself after his high-flown speeches, but he himself does not seek to appear as such.
Peter was the teacher of the youngest son of Ranevskaya, but the boy drowned, and Trofimov remained to live on the estate. Nevertheless, he urged the landlady to sell the estate and garden in redemption of the fact that they had serfs. Serfdom was sharply condemned by the young man; in the cherry orchard he saw not beauty, but slave labor in every leaflet.
But despite all his correct thoughts, he never reinforced them by personal example. And his speeches were not adapted to living conditions. It should be noted that Trofimov could not see anything beautiful, not only in the garden, but in all the phenomena of life. He dreamed of a bright future, not noticing the good that was in the present.
As a personality, Petya was undeveloped, which can be understood from his reasoning about feelings ("We are above love!"). The contempt with which he spoke about relations between people shows the nearness of his inner world, which he disguises with his highly moral reasoning.
Characterization of Ani and Petit from the Cherry Orchard
Having examined the personality of Ranevskaya Jr. and Trofimov separately, they should now be characterized in terms of relationships. In the play, the author very subtly points to a possible love subtext in the communication of this couple. Why hints? As already known, Petya considered himself and Anya above any manifestations of any feelings. But the girl herself did not voice this decision, Trofimov decided for her. And this is a characteristic feature in their relationship.
If you remember, in the characterization of Ani from "The Cherry Orchard" it was said that she is a very receptive nature, especially to sublime ideas. And because of her naivety and ignorance of life, the girl falls under the influence of Trofimov's revolutionary ideas. Chekhov brings together two opposites: a decisive and energetic Anya, who only has life principles, and Peter, who has firm convictions in the absence of any inclination for vigorous activity.
But they are united by one circumstance: they do not feel any attachment to the cherry orchard. Therefore, only Anya and Petya can look at the situation from the side and maintain sobriety of judgment among the flaming passions around the garden.
Possible public implications
Most critics prefer the characterization of Ani from The Cherry Orchard as a representative of the "repentant" nobility, who realized their wrong attitude towards serfs and therefore began to actively participate in the transformations. Petya, on the other hand, is a reflection of the majority of the intelligentsia of that time, who was imbued with revolutionary ideas, but does nothing for their realization.
This approach was especially widespread in the Soviet period, but it turns out to be one-sided, and A.P. Chekhov never created “simple” characters. Therefore, you should not consider these heroes only from the point of view of the "future of Russia," because such a one-sided approach is not characteristic of the plays of the famous playwright.
Why did the author introduce these heroes?
In Chekhov's "Cherry Orchard", the characterization of Ani as an energetic, but inexperienced nature is given by chance. According to the original plan of the writer, it was Ranevskaya Jr. and Petya Trofimov who, as disinterested in the cherry orchard, should offer a way out of the situation.
A.P. Chekhov was never known as an ardent supporter of any political party, so he would not have created a play in which there was only one meaning. Because of this, it is not necessary to consider Anya and Petya only as a reflection of the social system of that period. Their images are much more multifaceted, and perhaps, if you try to characterize them from a different point of view, the play will have a new, no less profound meaning.