Natasha Character Analysis in The Three Sisters

Natasha is Andrey’s love interest and, later, his wife. At the beginning of the play, her social awkwardness and backwards fashion elicit the Prozorov sisters’ scorn. However, soon after marrying Andrey, she essentially takes over the Prozorov house, dominates Andrey, and tyrannizes the servants. She also has an affair with Protopopov, making Andrey a town laughingstock. She is devoted to her children, Bobik and Sofochka, but seemingly cares for no one else.

Natasha Character Timeline in The Three Sisters

The timeline below shows where the character Natasha appears in The Three Sisters. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Natasha arrives then, late for lunch, wearing a pink dress with a green belt. Seeing so... (full context)

Happiness, Longing, and Disappointment Theme Icon

Andrey follows Natasha into the drawing-room and begs her to stay. He assures her that everyone is fond... (full context)

Change, Suffering, and the Meaning of Life Theme Icon

It is about 21 months later, on an evening in late winter. Natasha is walking through the house with a candle. She finds Andrey reading and explains that... (full context)

Mummers are scheduled to come to the house tonight, but Natasha says perhaps they shouldn’t come, in case Bobik is sick. Andrey wavers, pointing out that... (full context)

...really hear, and Andrey replies that that’s why he is confiding in Ferapont. His wife, Natasha, doesn’t understand him, and he fears that his sisters will laugh at him. He wishes... (full context)

...group continues playing, drinking, and chatting while they wait for the mummers to arrive. Later, Natasha comes in and whispers to a couple of the guests, then leaves. Andrey, embarrassed, admits... (full context)

...that it “absolutely cannot matter.” They head out to play cards together, hurrying so that Natasha won’t try to stop them. (full context)

Natasha comes in and tells Irina that Irina must move in with Olga so that Bobik... (full context)

Natasha comes in, saying they must form a charitable association to help the fire victims. She’s... (full context)

...asks why they all just sit here and “don’t see anything.” He tells them that Natasha is having an affair with Protopopov. (full context)

...to Andrey’s troubles. Andrey has mortgaged the sisters’ house to pay his gambling debts, but Natasha has taken all the money. Kulygin says he’ll wait for Masha at home while she... (full context)

Irina laments that Andrey has become a “trivial man,” and that Natasha has led him astray. He’s boasting of finally having become a member of the District... (full context)

...argue, but Andrey presses on. He knows, first of all, that they’ve had something against Natasha ever since his wedding day, but they should know that she is an “honest, noble... (full context)

...room in search of Masha. Andrey notices that his sisters aren’t listening, but he repeats, “Natasha is an exceptional, honest human being.” He thought that when they got married, they’d be... (full context)

Andrey admits to Chebutykin that he finds Natasha “amazingly coarse,” even inhuman, and can’t remember why he once loved her. Chebutykin tells Andrey... (full context)

...that he and his children will be freed from “the ignoble life of a parasite.” Natasha looks out the window and scolds him for talking too loudly around the sleeping baby.... (full context)

Natasha comes out, giving orders about the children and telling Andrey that he must move into... (full context)