Aleksandr Pushkin (1739-1837)
Pushkin is still regarded as Russia’s greatest poet. His first great work was the poem Ruslan and Lyudmila, which was based on Russian folk tales that were told to him as a child in French by his grandmother. Masha references this poem several times in the play: “Down by the cove, there stands an oak, a golden chain around its green girth...” Pushkin’s work had and continues to have a great influence over various other forms of art.
Pushkin was killed in a duel at the age of 37.
Pushkin was killed in a duel at the age of 37.
Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841)
Lermontov was a great admirer of Pushkin’s, and is considered as perhaps the second greatest Russian poet. In the play, Solyony compares himself to Lermontov, perhaps being the only one finding a likeness between himself and the great romantic poet.
He was killed in a duel at the age of 26.
He was killed in a duel at the age of 26.
Lev Tolstoy (1828-1910)
Tolstoy and Chekov had a somewhat enjoyably argumentative relationship with one another, largely conducted through written correspondence. It is very clear in Tolstoy’s writing that the lines between Russian literature and philosophy are quite blurred. It is possible that Chekov incorporated Tolstoy’s ideals and personal struggles into the character of Irina, who in act one believes that her, and all people’s, highest purpose is to work, and, years later, finds that working has made her miserable.
For Further Reading: This website contains several links regarding the above three authors, including full texts in Russian and English: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/classics/russian/courses-1/nineteenth
For Further Reading: This website contains several links regarding the above three authors, including full texts in Russian and English: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/classics/russian/courses-1/nineteenth
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