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The Cherry Orchard summary. Chekhov "The Cherry Orchard". Other retellings and reviews for the reader's diary

Landowner Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya and her daughter Anya are traveling from Paris to the family estate. Ranevskaya lived abroad for 5 years. The landowner's husband died of alcoholism. She started living with another man. But then a misfortune happened - Ranevskaya’s youngest son, Grisha, drowned.

Later, she travels abroad with her new lover, where he robbed her and left her. The landowner is in a tight financial situation; her estate and garden are awaiting sale. Brother Gaev, the landowner’s brother, and Varya, her adopted daughter, live in it. Governess Charlotte and footman Yasha come with her. The merchant Lopakhin is waiting for her at the estate. He got rich, and yet his ancestors were her peasants. The clerk Epikhodov proposed to the maid Dunyasha. But some kind of trouble constantly happens to him. Ranevskaya arrives and cries - she is at home. Lopakhin offers Ranevskaya a way out of this situation: cut down the garden and rent out the land to summer residents. But her young years passed here. In her opinion, this cannot be done. Gaev is trying to find a way out. He even swears that the estate will not be sold, since he wants to take money from a rich aunt.

The action of the second part takes place outside the house. Lopakhin again asks Ranevskaya to listen to his proposal to lease the land. She doesn't agree and doesn't listen to him. Dunyasha refuses Epikhodov. She falls in love with Yasha. Ranevskaya remembers the money spent, her husband, son, lover. She invites Lopakhin to propose marriage to Varya. Varya, Anya and the “eternal student” Trofimov arrive. He argues with Lopakhin, who mocks him. Trofimov believes that Lopakhin is a predator who eats everything in his path. He argues that a person must work and give up pride. A passerby asks for money, and Ranevskaya gives him a coin. Varya is dissatisfied with her action, and Lyubov Andreevna says that she has wooed her. Everyone leaves, Anya and Trofimov remain. He invites her to run away, anticipating misfortune.

In the third act, Lopakhin and Gaev go to the city to attend the auction. People are having fun on the estate: they organize dances and perform magic tricks. Ranevskaya is worried. She says that she wants to return to her lover in Paris, but Trofimov does not understand this. Lopakhin and Gaev arrive. Lopakhin is the new owner of the garden and estate. He bought them. He is very happy and does not see the despair of Ranevskaya and Gaev. When he leaves, the landowner cries, Anya calms her down.

The fourth act shows the landowner's departure to Paris. Charlotte and Yasha are traveling with her. Dunyasha is crying. Lopakhin does not dare to propose to Varya. Anya and Trofimov remain together. And the old forgotten footman Firs dies. The sound of an ax is heard. Soon there will be neither the garden nor the estate in which the landowners lived.

The play shows that the main thing for our time is money and profit. The age of pragmatism has arrived. The play teaches not to humiliate or destroy the past.

Read the summary of Chekhov's Cherry Orchard by action

Action 1

The events of the play take place in the spring of 1904. Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya with her daughter, maid and footman return to their homeland. They spent about five years behind the cordon. The family is looking forward to meeting them. Dunyasha put on her best dress and is waiting for the hostess. Even Lopakhin made a remark to her about her appearance. Lyubov Andreevna and her brother are bankrupt. They are forced to sell their property, including their beloved cherry orchard. Ranevskaya's friend, the wealthy merchant Lopakhin, who came from a simple family, recommends that his close friend cut down the garden and in its place rent out the land for dachas. The landowner doesn't even want to hear about it. This garden became dear to her, because her best childhood memories are associated with it. Nevertheless, Lopakhin advises his friend to weigh the pros and cons. Ranevskaya’s brother Gaev wants to take money from a relative and pay off his debts.

Ranevskaya has three months to pay off her debts, otherwise the cherry orchard will automatically be put up for auction.

Act 2

Time passes. It’s time to resolve the issue with the cherry orchard, but the landowner and her brother continue to lead their usual lives. Gaev and Lyubov Andreevna are throwing money away. Lopakhin returned from Kharkov, but the matter remained unresolved. The merchant asks Ranevskaya many questions about his advice, but she doesn’t seem to hear. Lyubov Andreevna and her brother are so calm, it even seems that they are hoping for some kind of miracle. In fact, there is no magic, they just gave up.

At this time, Dunyasha is walking with Yasha, Epikhodov and her friend Charlotte. Dunyasha feels sympathy for Yasha, but for him she is just temporary entertainment. Epikhadov loves Dunyasha, he is even ready to give his life for her.

Act 3

Music is playing in the living room, everyone is moving out, dancing. The long-awaited day has come. August 22 is the day of consideration of Ranevskaya’s property at auction. Lyubov Andreevna is worried and eagerly awaits news from her brother. She was completely lost in her thoughts. Ranevskaya is thinking about whether the money that her relative sent them was enough to pay off her debts.

The atmosphere in the room is heating up. Ranevskaya foresees failure and is already in her thoughts preparing to go to Paris. Her beloved is waiting there. Lyubov Andreevna wants to marry off her daughters: Anna to Petya, and Varvara to her friend Lopakhin. Ranevskaya has no doubt about the latter, but she is worried about Petya, since he is constantly studying at the university, how will he provide for his family?

At this time, a discussion flares up about how you can do crazy things for the sake of love. Petya reminds Ranevskaya of her lover, who once robbed her and left. There is no result of the auction yet, but everyone present already knows what they will do if the house and cherry orchard are sold.

Lopakhin and Gaev enter the living room. The latter cannot hold back his tears, but Ermolai Alekseevich is incredibly happy. The merchant informs everyone that he is the new owner of the house and garden. He is proud that he reached such heights on his own without anyone's help. Now Lopakhin will fulfill his dream, cut down the garden and rent out the dachas.

Ranevskaya is crying, Varya is nervous, and Anna reassures her mother that her whole life is ahead and there will still be a lot of fun.

Anya reveals to Petya the secret that the garden does not matter to her, she strives for a completely different life.

Act 4

Empty rooms, packed luggage. All you can hear around is the sound of an ax and a saw. The new owner of the estate is waiting for his friend and her relatives to say goodbye to the house and their servants. Lopakhin treats the guests to champagne on this occasion, but no one is in the mood to drink this drink. Lyubov Andreevna and her brother can barely hold back their tears, Anya and Petya are waiting for their wedding, Yasha is happy that he is leaving his native land and going abroad.

The former owners of the estate go to Kharkov, and then to different parts of the world. Raevskaya and Yasha fly to France, Anna to study, and Petya to the capital, Gaev gets a job in a bank, and Varya becomes a housekeeper. Epikhodov remained to help Lopakhin on the estate.

Only Firs is calm and in no hurry. Because of the chaos in the house, everyone forgot that they were supposed to take him to the hospital.

Pishchik suddenly comes and gives the money he borrowed to Lopakhin and Lyubov Andreevna. Pischik talked about his earnings. The fact is that he rented out the land and made a good profit.

Ranevskaya hopes for the marriage of Varya and the merchant Lopakhin, but this was not destined to come true. Everyone started loading their luggage. Only Ranevskaya and her brother remained in the yard. They hugged each other tightly, cried, and remembered moments of their childhood and youth. They understand that everything has changed and will not be the same as before.

Lopakhin closes the house turnkey. Everyone forgets about Firs. But he does not hold a grudge against the owners, he just quietly lies down on the bed and leaves this world.

All you can hear around you is the cutting of the cherry orchard. A curtain.

The play teaches its reader to cherish and protect what you have at the moment, tomorrow it may not be. Life is moving forward, everything around is changing, today you are a master, and tomorrow a servant and vice versa.

By actions and chapters

Retelling

Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna is the owner of a wonderful garden of cherry trees. Outside the window is a beautiful spring, cherry blossoms, but this marvelous garden will soon be sold due to large debts.

The life of Lyubov Andreeva was difficult and tragic; she had to endure a lot of grief. Her husband died from drunkenness, after some time she met and fell in love with someone else. After a while, fate deals her a heavy blow; her son Grishenka dies. She could not survive this grief and left her native estate to live in Paris, along with her daughter Anya. They lived there for about five years, Lyubov Andreevna’s lover went after her, and soon he robbed her and abandoned her.

During Ranevskaya's absence, Leonid Gaev, Lyubov Andreevna's brother, looked after the estate along with her adopted daughter Varya. The day came for the return of Ranevskaya and Anya, Varya and Leonid went to the station to meet them. At home, the merchant Ermolai Lopakhin with a maid named Dunyasha, Epikhodov the clerk, the old servant Firs, the governess Charlotte Ivanovna, the neighbor Simeonov-Pishchik, Petya Trofimov, Grisha’s teacher, remained waiting for them at home. Gradually the house filled with people, everyone was in a good mood, talking about their own things. Sisters Varya and Anya are secretive, Anya wants Varya to marry the merchant Lopakhin, and Varya dreams of Anya marrying a rich man.

Lyubov Andreevna looks in awe at every corner of the house, she is overwhelmed with emotions of joy, because for her the garden is the personification of her life, childhood, youth, a symbol of her homeland. The merchant Lopakhin convinces Ranevskaya and her brother that the only correct solution in this situation will be to give the land to the summer residents, dividing it into plots. But Lyubov Andreevna and Gaev do not want to sell their estate, they do not want the trees to be cut down, because they are alive.

Every day Lyubov Andreevna receives telegrams from her lover, in which he persuades her to come. She understands that, despite his terrible meanness, she continues to love him. On the day of the auction, Ranevskaya and Gaev really count on their rich aunt’s money, but it is not enough to buy out the estate. The estate has been sold, Lyubov Andreevna is going to live for some time on her aunt’s money and return to her lover, Anya dreams of studying at the gymnasium, about work, about a new wonderful world. Varya and Lopakhin are in love, but he can’t explain himself to her. Everyone is on the eve of something new in their lives, and somewhere from far away in the garden the dull sounds of an ax can be heard.

Picture or drawing of the Cherry Orchard

Act one

Everything happens in the estate, whose owner is Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya. The magnificent garden surrounding the house faces the fate of being sold for debts that the owner incurred while living abroad, for several years, after a series of misfortunes befell her. Lyubov Andreevna, who arrived with her daughter Anya, is met at the station by Ranevskaya’s brother Leonid Andreevich Gaev and Varya, her adopted daughter.

At the estate Lyubov Andreevna is waiting for other characters - the merchant Lopakhin is an old friend and good acquaintance, Dunyasha is the maid, a little later the clerk Epikhodov arrives, everyone calls him “thirty-three misfortunes” for his ability to get into various troubles. The hospitable house is gradually filled with arriving guests, joyful excitement reigns all around, everyone is animatedly talking about their problems, arguing, interrupting each other.

Lopakhin reminded Lyubov Andreevna that the estate would soon be sold at auction, and to avoid this, it was necessary to divide all the land into several plots and offer it for rent to summer residents. Ranevskaya learns with bitterness that the once “dear student” Petya Trofimov, who once taught her drowned son, unfortunately the metamorphosis that happened to him is not pleasing; he has turned into an “eternal student.” Gaev, together with Varya, come up with projects on where to get money to pay off debts. Finally, the servant Firs accompanies Gaev to rest. Ranevskaya’s own daughter Anya was inspired by the fact that Leonid Andreevich would be able to help out the estate.

Act two

Lopakhin, who arrived the next day, again continues to persuade Ranevskaya to divide the land. But the frivolous Ranevskaya and Gaev again ignore Lopakhin’s proposal and talk about something completely insignificant; the amazed Lopakhin makes an attempt to leave them, but remains at Ranevskaya’s insistence. Anya, Trofimov and Varya appear, everyone philosophizes together, Petya scolds the intelligentsia. Everyone interrupts each other, from the outside the conversation resembles a useless hubbub. Looking at this conversation, it is easy to understand that those present are completely unable and unwilling to listen to the other person. Finally, everyone has left and Anya and Trofimov can talk freely with each other.

Act three

The bidding began, on this day, completely inappropriately, Ranevskaya planned a ball, Lyubov Andreevna anxiously awaits Gaev’s return with the money that her aunt gave in Yaroslavl. But this money is only 15,000, and it is not enough to pay off debts. Petya tries to reassure Ranevskaya, convincing her that the garden is all over, and to face the truth, it is not really needed. But Lyubov Andreevna does not see the meaning of life without a garden.

Every day she receives news from Paris and now she no longer tears it up as before. Having left her without funds, her lover calls her again. Ranevskaya and Trofimov quarrel, then reconcile. Lopakhin and Gaev arrived. Lopakhin is at his best, the former son of a serf became the owner of the garden, paying a lot of money for it. And now the garden will be cut down, Yermolai Lopakhin will "enough with an ax in the cherry orchard." Anya unsuccessfully consoles her mother, saying that another garden will appear, even better, and “quiet and deep joy” awaits them ahead.

Act four

The house is empty. Lopakhin wants to go to Kharkov, Petya Trofimov plans to go to Moscow, both of them are sarcastic about each other. Lopakhin wants to help Trofimov with money, but his damned pride does not allow Petya to take it. Ranevskaya and Gaev suddenly cheered up. With the sale of the cherry orchard, worries and worries went away. Lyubov Andreevna had already planned how she would live in Paris with the money she received from her aunt. Anya is happy that she can finally finish her studies at the gymnasium. Suddenly Simeonov-Pishchik arrives, he is in a hurry to pay off his debts, since white clay was found on his land, and brilliant prospects are open for him.

Everyone decide on your future life. Gaev identified himself as a bank official. Lopakhin must find a place for Charlotte. Epidokhova hires Lopakhin to manage her land. Varvara will serve as the Ragulins' housekeeper, although Varya likes Lopakhin, she expects him to take the first action, and he runs away under some plausible pretext. The sick Firs must be sent to the hospital for treatment. Finally, everything calmed down and everyone left. And only the old servant remains in the house, they simply forgot about him. He lies down and dies. Behind the stage you can hear the sound of a guitar string breaking, and then the blows of axes.

Relevance of the work

The Cherry Orchard is a special work; it still evokes a strong surge of feelings, analogies and a new understanding of historical processes in Russian history. The last, most historical work of Chekhov and truly prophetic, describing a certain moment in Russian life. The work is relevant at all times.

Summary of “The Cherry Orchard”

Greetings, dear readers of the site. This article provides summary of the play The Cherry Orchard, written . So, the reading time of the summary is 5 minutes.

The play begins in May. We see a beautiful cherry orchard in full bloom. The owner of the estate and garden, Ranevskaya, and her seventeen-year-old daughter Anya, have been absent in recent years - living abroad. Friends, neighbors and servants are preparing for Madame's long-awaited return. She fled the estate five years ago, after the tragic death of her husband and young son. Now she is returning from France, where she was robbed and then abandoned by her lover, leaving her practically without a livelihood.

Leonid Andreevich Gaev, Ranevskaya’s brother, and his adopted daughter Varya remained on the estate all these years. They meet Lyubov Andreevna and her daughter Anya at the station.

Lopakhin and Epikhodov are waiting for them at home. Lopakhin talks about his own successes: he was born a serf, but managed to make a fortune for himself. Epikhodov is a clerk to whom something always happens and therefore he has the nickname “twenty-two misfortunes.”

Finally, the carriages arrive at the house. Friends and family of Ranevskaya rejoice at the meeting with Madame. Everyone is excited and everyone is trying to talk about something of their own. Lyubov Andreevna is also happy and looks around the familiar rooms with tears of tenderness.

There are many plot lines in the novel: the romance between the former mentor of Ranevskaya’s son Trofimov and Anya; another romance is between Varya and Lopakhin; a love triangle between the maid Dunyasha, Yasha, and Epikhidov.

The main intrigue is Madame's debt. Neither she nor her brother have the money to pay the mortgage on the cherry orchard, and if they find a solution, the orchard will be auctioned off in August.
Lopakhin offers to rent out the plots to summer residents, but Madame is against it, she doesn’t want to cut down the garden. Spring turns to summer, and debts only grow, and there are no solutions to this problem.

Lopakhin continues to persuade Madame and Gaev to act according to his plan. They went to the city and on the way back stopped near the chapel. Before this, here on the bench, Epikhodov unsuccessfully explained himself to Dunyasha: she preferred Yasha, a young and cynical lackey. Neither Ranevskaya nor Gaev listen to Lopakhin; for them he is just entertainment. When Petya Trofimva, the former teacher of Ranevskaya’s drowned son, Anya and Varya arrive, the conversation turns to pride and the concept of “proud man.” Trofimov believes that a poor person has no point in being proud, he must work. Lopakhin interrupts him and says that there are very few decent people around. Following this, Ranevskaya interrupts him - no one wants to listen to each other, everyone speaks out about his own.

On August 22, on the day of the auction, a ball is thrown at the estate, which seems to be completely inappropriate. Lyubov Andreevna is anxiously awaiting her brother's return, she has 15 thousand rubles sent by Yaroslavl's aunt, but this is not enough to pay off her debts, but she still hopes for a miracle and believes that the cherry orchard will not be sold. At the ball, Charlotte Ivanovna entertains the guests. She teaches guests and servants to dance. Petya Trofimov reassures Ranevskaya, he understands that the sale of the garden cannot be avoided, but he condemns her for her love for a petty scoundrel, a lover who begs her to come to Paris again.

Finally Gaev and Lopakhin return. Lopakhin is cheerful and proud - he bought a cherry orchard. Furious, she proudly throws the keys on the floor and Lopakhin picks them up. Madame Ranevskaya is devastated; she cannot imagine life without a garden. Lopakhin cannot hide his happiness: he bought the estate where his family lived as serfs. Ironically, he encourages the participants to continue the celebration, even though the hosts are not in the mood. Anya consoles her mother, saying that despite the fact that the garden is sold, there is still a whole life ahead, and there will be another garden.

All the inhabitants of the house are gradually leaving. Ranevskaya and Gaev even seemed to calm down after selling the garden. Lyubov Andreevna is going to Paris again, where she will live with her aunt’s money. Anya hopes for a new life after graduating from high school. Lopakhin is going to Kharkov, and Trofimov is going to Moscow for university. Simeonov-Pishchik, always asking to borrow money, suddenly pays off his debts, since the British found white clay in his land. Gaev becomes a bank employee. Varya gets a job as a housekeeper. She likes Lopakhin, but he, who also speaks wonderfully about Varya, still cannot explain himself to her, and Varya cannot propose to him first. Epikhodov remains to work on Lopakhin’s estate.

A very brief summary (in a nutshell)

Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna comes to her estate from Paris. She was gone for 5 years, and now everyone is looking forward to her. She arrives with her daughter, Anya, who were met at the station by Gaev, Ranevskaya’s brother. Anya says that her mother is completely ruined, she spent all her money in France on her lover. Among those meeting at the estate was also Lopakhin, who until recently was a peasant, but has now become rich. He invites Ranevskaya to cut down the luxurious cherry orchard, divide it into plots and rent them out. She is categorically against it. He reminds her that the auction is coming soon and the garden will be sold. After he leaves, Gaev begins to offer various options for preserving the estate, and his speech calms everyone down. Soon, his sister sends him money to buy out the garden, but he is late for the auction and Lopakhin becomes the owner. Soon Gaev gets a job at a bank, Ranevskaya returns to Paris, and Anya gets ready to work at the gymnasium. On the day of their departure from home, Lopakhin comes with hewers to cut down the garden. Anya asks him to wait until they leave. They leave, and only the old and forgotten servant Firs remains in the house.

Summary (details by action)

Act one

Dawn. It's already May. Cherry trees are blooming in the garden. However, it is still cold. The windows in the room, which is still called the nursery, are closed. Everyone in the house is waiting for the mistress to arrive from Paris. Ranevskaya Lyubov Andreevna should arrive with her 17-year-old daughter Anya, governess Charlotte and footman Yasha. The maid Dunyasha and the merchant Lopakhin Ermolai Alekseevich are talking in the room. Dunyasha is very worried, and Lopakhin is worried that he overslept at the station, and the train arrived late and he could not meet Ranevskaya.

Lopakhin recalls how 5 years ago Lyubov Andreevna went abroad. He says that she was always kind to him and often felt sorry for him. His ancestors were peasants, and now he has become rich. He himself says to himself that although he broke away from the peasants, he did not become noble, but he managed to acquire wealth. The clerk Epikhodov appears. He brought a bouquet of flowers for the dining room, which he immediately dropped. He complains that bad things happen to him all the time, but he's already used to it. He also complains about his boots, which squeak. Dunyasha says that Epikhodov proposed to her, but she refused because he was like “twenty-two misfortunes.” However, he sincerely feels sorry for him.

The sounds of the crew are heard. There is a commotion. 87-year-old footman Firs in an old livery walks by with a wand. Then Ranevskaya appears with her daughter Anya, brother Gaev and servants. Ranevskaya cries with joy and remembers past years. Her childhood also passed in this nursery. She recognizes everyone. Here is Varya, whom she calls a nun. Gaev is indignant that the trains are running late. Dunyasha is very happy about the arrival of the gentlemen. She tries to tell tired Anya about Epikhodov and how he proposed to her. However, she doesn’t listen, she didn’t sleep for four nights, she kept worrying. Dunyasha also mentions Pyotr Sergeevich. He says that he lives in a bathhouse.

Varya asks the maid to make coffee, while she talks to Anya. Anya complains about the difficult trip with the annoying governess Charlotte Ivanovna. Varya notices that everything is correct, since a seventeen-year-old girl cannot travel alone. Anya tells how she found her mother in Paris among strangers and penniless. She sold her estate in Menton, but there was no money left. However, Lyubov Andreevna deliberately does not want to understand her situation. She still orders expensive and delicious dishes and gives tips to the footmen. Thus, there was barely enough money to come to Russia. And the sale of this estate is now on the agenda. Varya is very upset and listens with tears.

Anya asks Varya if Lopakhin proposed to her. Varya says that no and there is no need, since nothing good will come of this love. Dunyasha appears with coffee. She flirts with the footman Yasha, who tries to look like a foreign dandy. Varya dreams of marrying Anya off to advantage and leaving for holy places. Then she says that it’s already late and Anya should rest. Anya sadly recalls how her father died here several years ago, and then her younger brother Grisha, who drowned in the river. Ranevskaya fled from this house without looking back. And now my brother’s former teacher, Trofimov, lives here, and he can remind his mother of her past grief.

Firs comes in and grumbles that Dunyasha forgot to serve cream with the coffee. Then Ranevskaya appears with her brother and Pishchik. She is very glad to see Firs in good health and is generally glad to be at home. She even kisses the furniture out of happiness. Anya says goodbye and goes to bed. Varya hints to Lopakhin and Simeonov-Pishchik that it’s too late, it’s time to know the honor. Before leaving, Lopakhin admits to Ranevskaya that he loves her more than his own. He reminds that their estate will be put up for sale at the end of August for debts. However, there is a way out. He proposes cutting down the old cherry orchard, dividing the land into summer cottages and renting them out. This will bring Ranevskaya twenty to five thousand a year. Ranevskaya and Gaev against. They say that their garden is the best in the province.

Varya brings telegrams to her mother from Paris. She tears them up without reading them and throws them away. She says she doesn't want news from Europe. Gaev recalls that their closet is over a hundred years old. Turning to the closet, he makes a solemn speech, then goes to bed. Lopakhin leaves, promising to return in three weeks. Simeonov-Pishchik praises Lopakhin for his resourcefulness, then asks Ranevskaya for money, but she doesn’t have any. Varya with her mother and uncle look out the window. They admire the garden. Ranevskaya says that she associates this garden with her childhood.

Petya Trofimov appears. Lyubov Andreevna is at a loss. Varya reminds that this is Grisha’s former teacher. Remembering her dead boy, she cries. As it turns out, Petya has noticeably grown worse. He says to himself that he is forced to remain an eternal student. When Pishchik asks for money again, Ranevskaya tells Gaev to give it. Varya laments and says that her mother has not changed at all. Everyone is also wasting money. Gaev begins to dream about an inheritance or about marrying Anya off to advantage. He says that as a last resort, you can try your luck with a wealthy woman in Yaroslavl. He says about his sister that she is kind and nice, but vicious. Anya is standing at the door and hears everything. She reprimands her uncle and asks him not to talk nonsense about his sister.

Gaev admits his mistake. He then begins to make plans on how to preserve the estate. He assumes that Lopakhin will lend money to pay interest on bills. He offers to send Anya to Yaroslavl to live with her grandmother. He promises that he will make every effort to ensure that the estate is not sold. This calms Anya down. Firs scolds Gaev for still not sleeping. Varya tells Anya that the servants consider her stingy. Then she notices that Anya has fallen asleep while sitting and is not listening to her at all. Varya takes her sister to bed and runs into Trofimov. He calls Anya the sun and admires her.

Act two

The action takes place in a field next to an old chapel. In the distance you can see the Gaev estate and the cherry orchard. Dunyasha, Yasha and Charlotte are sitting on the bench. Epikhodov plays the guitar nearby. Charlotte talks about her childhood. Her parents were circus performers and took her on tour. When they died, the girl was brought up by some German lady. Charlotte doesn't have a passport and doesn't even know how old she is. She also does not remember the mistress who raised her and gave her as a governess. Epikhodov admires the guitar and calls it a mandolin. And he also says that he carries a gun with him, sometimes he wants to shoot himself. Charlotte remarks that women must love him.

Dunyasha sends Epikhodov to get his cape. At the same time, she worries that he will shoot himself. She says that in the master's house she became too sensitive. Someone is coming, she sends Yasha away too, so that no one would think that about them. Ranevskaya, Gaev and Lopakhin appear. Lopakhin again asks what to do with the garden and whether the owners agree to divide it into summer cottages. Ranevskaya says that someone was smoking disgusting cigarettes. She then looks into her wallet and becomes sad. She realizes that she is spending money thoughtlessly, while Varya has to save on everything. The purse falls and the gold scatters. Yasha collects it. She remembers again how she thoughtlessly spent money in restaurants on crappy food.

Lopakhin brings her back to the conversation about the estate. He says that Deriganov would not mind buying it. Gaev replies that their aunt from Yaroslavl promised to send money, but did not say how much and when. Lopakhin is indignant at how unbusinesslike the owners approach the issue. He says that he is trying in every possible way to help them, and they are all waiting for a miracle. Ranevskaya and Gaev notice that summer residents are vulgar. Lopakhin is offended and is about to leave, but they stop him. Ranevskaya asks to stay. She says that she is, in fact, insanely ashamed. She believes that this is punishment for her sins.

Not only did she always waste money, but she also married a man who drinks and lives on debt. Then she fell in love with another, but her son died. When she fled in terror to Paris, that man followed her. There she bought a cottage, and he fell ill. She looked after him for three years, without knowing peace, and he tormented her, robbed her and got along with someone else. Ranevskaya even tried to poison herself. Now she wanted to return to her homeland and atone for her sins. And a telegram came from Paris from her former lover, in which he begs her to return.

Lopakhin says that he watched a funny play, and Ranevskaya says that he should look at himself in the mirror more often. After all, he lives a gray life and says a lot of unnecessary things. He says that his father was a dark man and never taught him anything. Ranevskaya says that he needs to marry and adds that he wants to marry Varya, since she is a good girl. He doesn't mind. Firs appears and brings Gaev a coat. Ranevskaya says that Firs has grown old, and he replies that he has lived so long. Gaev again dreams of a bill of exchange to pay his debts. Lopakhi grounds him and says that nothing will work out.

Varya, Anya and Petya Trofimov arrive. Lopakhin laughs at Trofimov and says that he will soon be fifty, and he is still a student. Petya says about Lopakhin that he is a predator needed in nature. Ranevskaya resumes her conversation with Petya about the “proud man.” He says that there is nothing to be proud of, he must go to work. Essentially the person is rude and unintelligent. It’s enough for him to admire himself; he needs to get to work. But few people work in Russia yet. Most of the intelligentsia vegetate and do not strive for work. Lopakhin notes that he himself works from early morning until night, and there are few decent people around. Gaev talks about nature, how perfect and beautiful it is. Everyone becomes silent and listens to the sounds. Somewhere a string breaks.

A tipsy passer-by asks which way the station is, and then asks for thirty kopecks for the journey. Ranevskaya gives him gold, since she doesn’t have any change. Varya is indignant that there is nothing to eat at home, and her mother is wasting money. Ranevskaya says that she will give her everything she has, since she herself does not know how to manage money. Then she asks Lopakhin for a loan and tells Varya that she has set her up. She is offended and with tears in her eyes says that this is not a joke. Lopakhin reminds again that the auction is already on August 22.

Anya and Petya are left alone. Petya says that Varya is afraid to leave them alone, but she doesn’t understand them. They have a different goal, they are higher than love. Anya complains that she has become different, she doesn’t even like the cherry orchard anymore. Trofimov notices that the whole country is like a garden. And the cherry orchard is like her genealogy, her serf ancestors are watching from every leaf. He also philosophizes about Russian people and their way of life. He says that you need to atone for the sins of your ancestors by working tirelessly. Anya says that she will leave the house. He persuades her to give up everything and become free like the wind. Varya calls Anya, but she runs away.

Act three

A ball is taking place at Ranevskaya's house. The living room is separated from the hall by an arch. A Jewish orchestra is playing. Couples are dancing in the room: Pishchik with Charlotte, Petya with Ranevskaya, Anya with a postal official, Varya with the station chief. Varya is crying unnoticed. Pischik complains about his poverty. Petya notes that there is something horse-like in his figure. Pishchik is not offended, because the horse is a kind animal. Trofimov, teasingly, calls Varya “Madame Lopakhina,” and she responds by calling him “a shabby gentleman.” Varya says that it was in vain to hire musicians, because there is nothing to pay. Ranevskaya is still waiting for her brother at the auction, hoping that he will be able to buy out their estate with the money of the Yaroslavl aunt.

Charlotte does tricks. Everyone is delighted. Petya teases Varya again, and she gets angry. When Ranevskaya asks her why she is not happy to be Lopakhina, Varya replies that he may be a good person, but it’s not right for her to propose to him herself. Everyone around is already talking, calling them the bride and groom, but he is still silent. Varya says that if she had at least a hundred rubles, she would give up everything and go to a monastery. Ranevskaya asks Trofimov not to tease the girl anymore and leave her alone. And he says that he is angry with her because she did not leave him and Anya alone all summer. At the same time, he adds that he and Anya are above all love.

Ranevskaya asks Petya to console her and tell her that everything will be all right with the estate. He says that there is no need to deceive yourself, it’s not about the estate at all. She asks to spare her, says that she loves Petya as if she were her own, she would even give Anya for him, but he needs to finish his studies. Petya points to a telegram that fell next to Ranevskaya. She explains that it is her former lover from Paris who is writing, asking to return to him. She also says that even though he robbed her and betrayed her, she cannot live without him. Petya is surprised and condemns her, to which Ranevskaya says that it’s time for him to grow up and fall in love, he’s been so many years old, and he’s still a second-grade high school student. He gets offended and runs away.

She shouts after him that she was joking. A crash is heard. Petya falls down the stairs. Ranevskaya runs there and asks him for forgiveness. Anya comes running and says that the garden has been sold. Ranevskaya worries about the servants, about Firs, and says that she doesn’t know what to do with them. Yasha asks to go with her to Paris. Varya scolds Epikhodov that he does nothing but just walk around like a guest. Then she accidentally hits Lopakhin as he enters the hall with Firs’ stick. He happily declares that the auction is over and now he is the new owner of this estate. Gaev missed the train and arrived late. He is upset that he could not buy the estate and cries. And Lopakhin tells how he bargained with Deriganov and ended up giving ninety thousand for the cherry orchard. He is glad to own the estate where his ancestors were slaves.

Lopakhin asks the musicians to play, dreams aloud of how he will cut down the garden and build dachas, as well as how his children and grandchildren will grow up on the estate. Ranevskaya is upset. He tells her that she should have thought earlier and listened to him. And now it's too late. Lopakhin calls himself a new landowner, the owner of a cherry orchard. Anya approaches her mother and consoles her. He says that nothing can be done about the garden and promises that they will plant a new garden.

Act four

There is luggage in the room. Departing people collect things and say goodbye. Lopakhin invites everyone to drink, but no one wants to. He recalls that the train is forty-six minutes away. He says to himself that he will go to Kharkov in the winter, otherwise it’s boring here without work. Petya tells Lopakhin not to soak his hands too much. In parting, Lopakhin offers him money, but he refuses. Lopakhin says that Gaev got a job at a bank for six thousand a year, but he probably won’t stay there for long, he’s too lazy.

Anya appears and asks not to cut down the garden until they leave. Anya asks Yasha about Firs, whether he was sent to the hospital, but he is not sure. They tell Yasha that his mother has come to say goodbye, but he does not come out. He says he wants to quickly get away from all this ignorance. Ranevskaya and Gaev appear. They are upset and say goodbye to the estate. Lyubov Andreevna says goodbye to her daughter. Anya decided to start a new life. He will go to work at the gymnasium and help his mother. Ranevskaya says that she is going to Paris with money from her aunt from Yaroslavl, and Anya hopes that she will return soon.

Ranevskaya reminds Lopakhin of Varya. He asks not to delay and propose to the girl. He says he will do so. But when Varya appears, she begins to talk about trifles. Varya reports that she will be the Ragulins’ housekeeper. Everyone says goodbye and noisily leaves. Epikhodov remains in charge of the house. Lopakhin gives him final instructions, then locks the house and leaves. Only Firs remains in the locked house. He himself is sick, but he worries about Gaev so that he doesn’t forget to put on his coat. The distant sound of a broken string is heard from the sky. And there is silence all around. And you can only hear trees being cut down in the garden with an ax.