Previous
Style
Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
In line with the play's tragicomedy, the tone is both playful and grave. The characters often express heavy, serious emotions, but Chekhov uses comical elements in both the dialogue and stage directions to shake up this solemnity.
The dual nature of the tone is related to Chekhov's approach to character. Throughout the play, he pokes fun at his characters' quirks and blind spots without fully making light of their emotions. Every character has a pathetic side to them, but Chekhov also shows that it's possible to show compassion to each of them. Some characters, most notably Gayef and Pishtchik, play a more obviously comical role than others, but Chekhov's combination of a grave and playful tone makes it possible to both laugh at and empathize with most of them.
A consideration of Madame Ranevsky and Lopakhin demonstrates the balance Chekhov strikes in the play's tone. Both of them can seem foolish or unsympathetic in their own ways, but Chekhov never gives the audience reason to completely write either of them off. Instead, the audience increasingly understands their motivations and outlooks as the play progresses. While Madame Ranevsky can seem overly sentimental and impractical in the first act—to the point of being self-destructive—both these characteristics make the audience find her charming and sympathetic. Similarly, Lopakhin's practical focus on matters of business can make him seem cold, impatient, and greedy, but the audience comes to understand that this focus is shaped by his class background. The two characters are immensely different and want different things, yet it would be an oversimplification to say that they are in conflict with each other—or that one of them is the good character and one of them is the bad character. Rather, they are their own distinct characters with strengths and weaknesses that the audience can both identify with and find amusing.
Throughout the play, Chekhov examines the selfishness and blindness of people in difficult situations. Each character faces a struggle of their own, but these struggles become lighter when characters encounter each other in conversation. Even in a scene when the tone seems grave, Chekhov will give the situation a playful edge through specific lines, movements, or character dynamics. At the end, he continues to strike a balance between the light and dark tone. On the one hand, the stage is empty and the cherry orchard is being cut down. On the other hand, the characters have just shared their plans and hopes for the future. The sale of the estate and the loss of the cherry orchard have created new opportunities, and the characters are no longer on stage because they have moved on.
