"Gull". Chekhov. The summary of the play

The play "The Seagull" was finished by Chekhov in 1896. In the same year it was published and staged in the St. Petersburg Alexandrinsky Theater. If you analyze Chekhov's Seagull, then this work seems to be an uncomplicated everyday story: the eternal problem of children and parents and the old love triangle. But practically behind every replica of the heroes one can consider not only their fate and character, a whole human life appears before you. Each action shows the simple life of ordinary people, while revealing the complexity of their relationship with Chekhov. "Seagull" (a short summary of the play you read below) is referred to as a comedy, only there are no funny characters in it. You will not find there any fun scene or funny event. The whole play is built on the clash of generations between confident and venerable adult characters and still unrecognized and inexperienced youth.

"Gull". Chekhov. Summary of the first action

In the estate of Peter Sorin, the retired state councilor and his nephew Konstantin Treplev live. Mother of Constantine, Irina Nikolaevna Arkadina is a venerable actress who came here to stay. Together with her came her lover Trigorin, well-known at that time fiction writer.

Konstantin is passionate about writing. He prepared a play for the show, in which the only role would be played by the daughter of neighboring landowners, Nina Zarechnaya. The girl dreams about the scene, but her parents consider this indecent and strongly resist the hobby of her daughter. Constantine in love with Nina, but in love with him Masha - the daughter of a retired lieutenant Shamraev. His family is also invited to watch the play.

All sit down in front of a hastily assembled scene, on which Nina, dressed in all white, utters a rather strange monologue in a decadent style. In Arkadina, he causes a direct protest, she sees that his son is trying to teach her how to write and what to play. Constantine, furious, leaves. Nina does not follow him, she accepts compliments to her talent with pleasure. Especially Trigorin tries to do this.

"Gull". Chekhov. Summary of the second action

Two days later the same persons again gather in the estate. Nina is surprised that such famous people as Arkadina and Trigorin, in life are no different from the usual. The girl falls in love with Trigorin and begins to avoid Constantine, who links everything with the failure of his play. He tries to explain it to her, but this only irritates Nina. Trigorin - this is her new idol, for which she is ready for anything. Constantine appears, he carries a dead seagull in his hand and puts it at the feet of Nina with a statement that he will soon kill himself.

"Gull". Chekhov. Summary of the third action

A week later, Constantine makes an unsuccessful attempt at suicide. Mother decides that the reason for this is jealousy. She is sure that it is necessary to take Trigorin away to Moscow. But he does not want to leave the estate, he is carried away by Nina, it seems to him that it was he who sought all his life. He tells this frankly to Arkadina, but she does not believe in the seriousness of his hobbies and convinces Trigorin to go. Just before he leaves, he still encounters a girl. She also plans to leave for Moscow, and they agree that they will meet secretly there.

"Gull". Chekhov. Summary of the fourth action

Two years have passed. Constantine still writes, and his works are printed. Masha got married, but, not paying attention to her husband and her child, spends a lot of time in the Treplevs' house. Nina in Moscow met with Trigorin, they even had a baby, but soon died. The spouse threw it and went back to Arkadina. The career of the actress at Nina failed, because her game was rough and tasteless. Her parents do not want to know anything about her and do not let her into the house.

Once again Arkadin and Trigorin return to the estate. They are playing with the guests in the lotto. And Constantine is in his office. Unexpectedly, Nina comes to him. Now this is a tired and disappointed woman who has lost faith in her confession. But Konstantin still loves her and wants to go with her to the provincial theater, where she will play. Nina does not seem to hear him: Trigorin's voice comes from another room, and she loves him even more than before.

Everyone who plays a lotto hears a sound that looks like a shot. The doctor who visited the estate suggested that one of his bottles was torn. He leaves the room, and when he returns, he asks Trigorin somewhere to lead Arkadin, since Konstantin Gavrilovich shot himself ...