Previous
Astrov
Ilya Ilych Telegin (nicknamed Waffle) is a poor landowner who’s allowed to live on Professor Serebryakov’s country estate. He’s Sonya’s godfather and a respected family friend. Like the other secondary characters, Telegin is generally satisfied with his life, even though it isn’t perfect by any means. This sense of peace with himself stems from his devotion to his principles, often at his own expense. Telegin’s wife left him for another man shortly after their marriage, and she had children with this other man. But rather than sinking into jealousy and bitterness, Telegin made sacrifices so that those children could attend school and have a better future. This makes Telegin a perfect contrast to characters like Voynitsky, who only seem to care about their own fame and possessions and are more miserable for it. While Voynitsky desperately chases Yelena’s affection (despite her being married to Serebryakov), Telegin takes pride in the personal sacrifices he’s made. Telegin’s focus on leaving a meaningful legacy behind is what gives him peace, as it prevents him from becoming too self-absorbed or spiteful.
Telegin Quotes in Uncle Vanya
The Uncle Vanya quotes below are all either spoken by Telegin or refer to Telegin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1
Quotes
I still love her and am faithful to her, I help with what I can and have given up my property for the education of the children she had by the man she loved. I lost my happiness but kept my pride. And what became of her? Her youth has now gone, by the laws of nature her beauty has faded, the man she loved has passed on… What has she left?
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
…And perhaps this really is just craziness, but when I go past the peasant’s woods, which I saved from destruction, or when I hear the hum of my young trees, which I planted with my own hands, I know the climate is a little in my control and that if in a thousand years man is happy, the responsibility for that will in a small way be mine. When I plant a birch and then watch it come into leaf and sway in the wind, my spirit fills with pride…
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Uncle Vanya LitChart as a printable PDF.
Telegin Quotes in Uncle Vanya
The Uncle Vanya quotes below are all either spoken by Telegin or refer to Telegin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1
Quotes
I still love her and am faithful to her, I help with what I can and have given up my property for the education of the children she had by the man she loved. I lost my happiness but kept my pride. And what became of her? Her youth has now gone, by the laws of nature her beauty has faded, the man she loved has passed on… What has she left?
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
…And perhaps this really is just craziness, but when I go past the peasant’s woods, which I saved from destruction, or when I hear the hum of my young trees, which I planted with my own hands, I know the climate is a little in my control and that if in a thousand years man is happy, the responsibility for that will in a small way be mine. When I plant a birch and then watch it come into leaf and sway in the wind, my spirit fills with pride…
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
