Interpreting Chekhov

Interpreting Chekhov

Authored by: Geoffrey Borny
 

Please read Conditions of use before downloading the formats.

Download/view free formats
PDF (1.9MB)PDF chaptersRead online (HTML)

Description

The author’s contention is that Chekhov’s plays have often been misinterpreted by scholars and directors, particularly through their failure to adequately balance the comic and tragic elements inherent in these works. Through a close examination of the form and content of Chekhov’s dramas, the author shows how deeply pessimistic or overly optimistic interpretations fail to sufficiently account for the rich complexity and ambiguity of these plays. The author suggests that, by accepting that Chekhov’s plays are synthetic tragi-comedies which juxtapose potentially tragic sub-texts with essentially comic texts, critics and directors are more likely to produce richer and more deeply satisfying interpretations of these works. Besides being of general interest to any reader interested in understanding Chekhov’s work, the book is intended to be of particular interest to students of Drama and Theatre Studies and to potential directors of these subtle plays.

Details

ISBN (print):
9781920942670
ISBN (online):
9781920942687
Publication date:
Aug 2006
Imprint:
ANU Press
DOI:
http://doi.org/10.22459/IC.08.2006
Disciplines:
Arts & Humanities: Art & Music
Countries:
Europe: Russia

Other publications that may interest you