Destruction in Uncle Vanya: Interpreting Yelena

Destruction. It’s a effective word, encapsulating a Pandora’s box of feelings. It implies harm beyond a state of repair, or even, at occasions, beyond a state of existence. Destruction plays an essential part in Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. What is destroyed and who is the destroyer is dependent on viewpoint. 1 specific moment at the finish of Act 1 captures the complexity and multifariousness of this concept. Following Astrov’s denouncement of human environmental destruction and Vanya’s subsequent condemnation of Yelena’s life style, Yelena states, “It’s like Astrov was saying just now: you destroy the forests with out thinking, and pretty quickly there will not be a tree left on the planet. You destroy human beings the exact same way, and pretty soon trust, and honesty, and the possibility of self-sacrifice will vanish from the planet as well” (Chekov, 217-218). Although she is clearly reacting to Astrov and Vanya, her intentions here are vague, some thing that gets at the mystery of her character. Indeed, in his notes, director Leonid Heifetz writes, “[Yelena] is a mysterious woman, and significantly depends on the actress” (Heifetz, 99). With this in mind, I use this essay to explore prospective methods an actress may interpret this line — which I shall refer to as The Moment — and the implications this has for the larger character and the play at large.

1 possible interpretation of the Moment is that Yelena is not thinking about destruction at all. Alternatively, she can not get Astrov off her thoughts. Later in the play, it becomes clear that Yelena and Astrov are passionately attracted to one particular one more. This attraction stems from their interactions in Act 1. Right after Astrov tends to make his speech and exits, his words and essence clearly linger with Yelena. Preceding The Moment, Vanya may be talking to Yelena about her husband, the professor Alexander, but her thoughts speedily steers away from discussion this subject: “Oh, poor thing, stuck with an old man like that! But all this sympathy for me—oh, I know what’s behind it. It’s like Astrov was saying just now” (Chekhov, 217). Her redirection of the conversation away from her husband and towards Astrov is an indication of her attraction to the latter. On the preceding page, she presses for his age—“You’re nevertheless young, aren’t you?”—hinting at her interest in him (Chekhov, 216). Later, in Act two, it is evident that the attraction was strong enough to endure previous The Moment when she says, “That man has genius” (Chekhov, 230). When deemed in conjunction with Alexander’s old age, Astrov’s relative youth, “genius,” and evident passion (his environmentalism), it becomes clear why he may possibly magnetize her.

Nevertheless, this interpretation falls somewhat flat. Although it is accurate Yelena’s attraction to Astrov is undeniable, it does not seem really plausible that she would quote Astrov solely due to the fact he is on her thoughts. Destruction is also powerful a notion The Moment have to come from a deeper, multifaceted spot inside her in order to resonate. It is an oversimplification to limit Yelena’s character to mere attraction. In order to fully understand Yelena in The Moment, we have to, analyze what Astrov’s quote means to her in other words, we should attain an understanding of destruction’s significance in her life.

In Amy E. Meyer’s director’s notes from her 2007 production of Uncle Vanya at Connecticut College, she describes Yelena as “attracted to Astrov” but lacking “the courage to act on her feelings or the heart to betray her marriage vows” (Meyer, 49). Searching at The Moment by way of this lens, we can see what destruction might imply for Yelena. Up to this point, Yelena has grown comfortable in life. Now, nonetheless, she starts to feel consumed by two forces—one pulling her towards Astrov, and the other towards her husband. She views this as the destruction of the unsatisfying, but easy life she has produced for herself. This battle more than her heart presents a moral dilemma: Should she remain faithful? This inner debate—the push and pull of lust and loyalty—puts Yelena in a state of inner turmoil. She admits in Act 2, “It’s not crime and criminals that are destroying the planet it’s petty little emotions” (Chekhov, 222). If we look at “the world” as her composure and peace in life, we recognize that Yelena feels torn apart by the feelings presented in the dilemma. Seeking once once again at The Moment, we can view “trust, and honesty, and the possibility of self-sacrifice” as her perception of essential qualities in a relationship. Her attraction to Astrov is emblematic of breaking the trust she and Alexander must have for every single other. Her attraction is a “petty small emotion” that is wreaking destruction in her marriage.

The word “should” is crucial in the second to final sentence. There should be trust in a very good marriage. If Yelena has reached a point exactly where she is interested in other males, her relationship with the professor must not be quite robust. They should be lacking the aforementioned important qualities of a connection, which would explain why she is enticed by Astrov. Assuming she keeps her detachment and boredom away from Alexander (each of which she admits to feeling when she says, “Detached? Oh yes. And bored,” 217), she is not totally open with him—there is a dearth of “trust and honesty.” With regards to “self-sacrifice”, selecting to give in to her feelings for Astrov, which she does later in the play when they kiss, is indicative not of self-sacrifice, but rather of self-gratification and indulgence. The destruction may possibly as a result be interpreted as ironic. She is lamenting the loss of these crucial marital qualities, yet they weren’t present in her marriage to commence with. In other words, her marriage was destroyed from the moment she realized she created a error in marrying Alexander. This was a moment that came nicely just before Astrov’s introduction into her life, as indicated in Act 2: “I was dazzled by him he was so well-known and so intelligent. It wasn’t true love, it was all a fantasy, but at the time I believed it was real” (229).

This interpretation can be taken a step additional. In The Moment, she says, “You destroy the forests without having considering, and quite soon there won’t be a tree left on the planet.” This can be treated as an analogous predicament to her marriage. She married Alexander “without thinking” or getting “real” really like, and now she must face the consequences. For her, the consequences extend beyond just possessing a marriage not grounded in honesty. She is left “profoundly unhappy” (Heifetz, 99). Although discussing her marriage with Sonya, she close to the end of Act two exemplifies how Yelena’s marriage has destroyed her happiness. In a rare moment of bliss, Yelena says, “I feel like playing the piano now, I really do” (Chekhov, 231). Immediately, however, she remembers “music drives him [Alexander] crazy” (Chekhov, 231). This is a clear metaphor on Chekhov’s portion: Alexander literally denies “music”—a classic trope of joy—from being present in Yelena’s life. Assessing this alongside The Moment, Yelena’s perception of “the forest” starts to emerge from the haze. It represents her happiness. Soon after marrying the professor and staying with him for so long, not an ounce of pleasure—not a tree—is left more than. She has been emotionally destroyed.

Another consequence stemming from this is that Yelena has destroyed her future by marrying Alexander. If her life pre-marriage were a wood of possibilities, Yelena has chopped down all of her hopeful prospects. This interpretation is consistent with Yelena’s exit from the play. She rejects Astrov, deciding on to keep with the professor. In other words, she turns down the a single chance she has left to get out of her miserable marriage—she fells her last tree of hope. As a result, The Moment is virtually like a self-fulfilling prophecy: she recognizes she is in a hopeless situation, and she does absolutely nothing to modify it.

The Moment can also be looked at as a reaction to Vanya. After all, it does come correct following Vanya says, “You don’t care about anything, do you? You just drift through life” (Chekhov, 217). “You destroy the forests with no thinking” is a response aimed at Vanya. From his point of view, he is performing anything excellent: he wants her to recognize her marriage has place her in a poor place. Yelena, even so, doesn’t see it as help, and she rejects him. She can see his love for her and jealousy of Alexander, even if he doesn’t explicitly admit to it until a few lines following The Moment. She is repulsed by Vanya, calling him “aggravating” and, later, “disgusting” (Chekhov, 218, 223). Vanya’s attraction to her is but yet another complication in the straightforward life to which she has grow to be accustomed. It is yet another destructive force, just like her desires to remain loyal to her vows and to give in to her lust for Astrov.

It is tough to pinpoint a greater which means in Uncle Vanya. It is a naturalistic play, and hence seeks to not pass judgment, but rather present life. Barbara Mackay’s overview of the Sydney Theater Company’s production assesses the play in this way: “Uncle Vanya is neither about pessimism nor optimism, it does not decide on among excellent and bad characters, it considers men and women and their search for work and enjoy in a non-judgmental manner, as Chekhov intended.” While the play might not convey a distinct message, it does present themes and ideas that provoke and inspire believed in the audience. The selections a production tends to make let various themes to resonate more poignantly. For instance, depending on how The Moment is played, destruction comes across differently.

1 way Uncle Vanya could be interpreted is as a play “about individuals attempting to locate worth in their operate and purpose in their lives” (Meyer, 49). For such an interpretation, Yelena would have to be on a quest for happiness. Her attraction to Astrov is significant in The Moment because it is a possible escape route from the monotony of her life. In a production interpreted this way, a director may well select to make Yelena’s perception of “destruction” the various elements that complicate her simple life—her reciprocated attraction to Astrov, her loyalty to her husband, Vanya’s adore for her. This is because it is by means of these complications that Yelena tries to evaluate what she wants in life. When Yelena ultimately decides to leave with the professor, it is not because she hasn’t been provided opportunities to get away: she tends to make a conscious decision to remain with her husband. She might lust for Astrov, but she realizes that the passion is momentary, and that she must appear elsewhere for objective in her life.

Similarly, Uncle Vanya can be interpreted as a play about failure and wasted lives. For this interpretation to work, Yelena have to come off as hopeless, unhappy, and lost in her marriage. In The Moment, we need to get a sense that Yelena has failed to create a life for herself outside of her poor partnership with the professor. In a production emphasizing these themes, destruction should reflect the crushing effect of Yelena’s marriage on her life prospects. Her choice to leave Astrov and go off with the professor is indicative of her giving up on life.

There will never ever be one set way to interpret Yelena. The alternatives every single production tends to make alter who Yelena is and how she perceives existence and destruction. Had Chekhov not left components of Yelena up to interpretation, the play would lose its naturalism. An actress would have to fit a mold, rather than create a human getting. Alternatively, Chekhov calls for an actress to look into the subtext behind this “mysterious woman” in order to uncover a character who is as genuine as feasible, who understands how she feels in The Moment and each moment preceding and following it.

Performs Cited

Chekhov, Anton. The Plays of Anton Chekhov. New York: Harper Collins, 1997.

Heifetz, Leonid. “Notes from a director: Uncle Vanya.” Cambridge University. http://cco.cambridge.org/uid=2203/pdf_handler?search_scope=collection&c ollection_id=comprehensive&collection_id=literature&collection_id=philosophy- andreligion&id=ccol0521581176_CCOL0521581176A011&pdf_hh=1&authst atuscode=202

Mackay, Barbara. “’Without moral verdicts or samovars.” The Washington Examiner. http://washingtonexaminer.com/uncle-vanya-without-moral-verdcits-or- samovars/write-up/117082#.UIrsSLTHNUS.

Meyer, Amy E., “A Director’s Approach: The Conception, Preparation and Production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya” (2007). Theater Honors Papers. Paper 1. ?http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/theathp/1