How Well Do You Know the Play The Cherry Orchard?

Ranevsky has been in Paris for the last five years. This is revealed by Lopakhin in the play. Her absence from the estate is significant as it has allowed the financial situation to deteriorate. Her return brings hope of possible solutions to the impending sale of the estate.

Anya reveals that Ranevsky’s departure for Paris was caused by her grief over two deaths: that of her husband six years before and that of her son, Grisha, who drowned a month thereafter. This tragic backstory adds depth to Ranevsky’s character and provides a reason for her financial irresponsibility.

Lopakhin proposes that Ranevksy should parcel out the land on her estate, build cottages on the parcels, and lease them out to summer cottage-holders, who are becoming increasingly numerous. This plan reflects Lopakhin’s practical and forward-thinking mindset, in contrast to Ranevsky’s and Gayev’s attachment to the past.

In the Second Act, we are introduced more closely to the young servants on the estate, Dunyasha, Yasha, and Yephikodov, who are involved in a love triangle: Yephikodov loves Dunyasha, Dunyasha loves Yasha, and Yasha is very much in love with himself. This subplot adds a layer of complexity to the story and highlights the human emotions and conflicts beneath the main plot.

Peter Trofimov was Grisha’s tutor before the drowning, and thus he brings back painful memories for Ranevsky. His presence serves as a constant reminder of the tragedy that led to Ranevsky’s departure and subsequent financial ruin.

Yermolay Lopakhin is a friend of the family and a local businessman. His feelings towards Ranevsky are mixed between affectionate gratitude for past kindnesses, and resentment at her condescension toward him because of his humble, peasant origins. Despite his humble beginnings, Lopakhin has managed to rise above his circumstances and become a successful businessman. His relationship with Ranevsky is complex, reflecting the social changes happening in Russia at the time.

Boris Simeonov-Pischik is a fellow impoverished landowner to whom Ranevsky lends some money. Despite her own financial troubles, Ranevsky’s act of kindness towards Pischik shows her generous nature and inability to handle money responsibly.

Simon Yephikodov is a hapless youth nicknamed “Simple Simon” because of his frequent and ridiculous accidents. He is also present on the estate. His character provides comic relief in the play. Despite his clumsiness, he is a dedicated worker, reflecting the changing social order where the lower classes are gaining more prominence.

Ranevsky is accompanied from Paris by her daughter Anya and Charlotte, Anya’s governess. Their arrival marks the beginning of the story and sets the stage for the unfolding drama. The relationship between the three women highlights the different social classes and their interactions.

In the Second Act, Lopakhin, Ranevsky, Gayev, Anya and Varya appear, and they are again debating over Lopakhin’s plan to turn the orchard into cottage country. This ongoing debate represents the central conflict of the play - the clash between the old aristocratic values and the new capitalist ideals. It also underscores the characters’ inability to adapt to change, which ultimately leads to their downfall.