The Bear - Characterization
In the play the Bear' the two central characters are Popova and Smirnov. Popova can be
introduced as the protagonist or the main character. Luka is the footman.
In the resolution of the play, the gardener, the coachman and workmen appear on the stage.
Apart from them, Popova calls out some names, her steward, and Dasha, and Pelageya but
they do not appear on the stage.
In all these characters, the physical features are presented at a minimum. The playwright, Anton
Chekhov makes use of absurd behaviour and dialogues to bring out character.
POPOVA
Popova can be taken as the main character or the protagonist of the play. The whole plot is
mainly fabricated around her. She is a widow. Her husband, Nicholai, a landlord died six months
ago and Popova is still lamenting over his death. She is described as a little widow with dimples
on her cheeks. However, she is proved to be an attractive lady and still possesses her beauty
and fascination so that Smirnov is attracted. In the exposition, her footman contributes to prove
this fact.
"Eh, my lady! You're young and beautiful with roses in your cheek if you only took a little
pleasure.
This statement proves her beauty, attraction and youthfulness. Later on, in the denouement of
the play, Smirnov too appreciates her beauty. He admits that he is crazy with her attractiveness.
He quite delightedly mentions about her 'beautiful eyes and 'little velvet hand
However, during most part of the stage - play, in the exposition, complication and denouement,
Popova is presented as a widow who mourns over the death of her husband. In the exposition,
she stresses that she does not need to associate with the outside society but she prefers to be
isolated in her room.
She further stresses that with her husband's demise, life lost all its meaning for her. She vows
she would never stop mourning until she dies.
She shows that the memories of her husband brings her enormous grief and sorrow. For
instance, whenever her husband's favourite horse, Toby is mentioned, she weeps. When Luka
invites her just to have 'a change in her monotonous life enjoying a ride on Toby or Giant, she
suddenly starts weeping.She instantly collects the memories of her husband, how she admired
his personality.
However she also openly reveals the fact that although she loved him so much, she is quite
doubtful whether she received equal affection from him. She talks about her fidelity and his
infidelity. First, while having a conversation with Luka, she openheartedly reveals this fact.
, "Yes, I know it's no secret to you that he was often unfair to me, cruel, and... and even
unfaithful”
Secondly, while she was in the argument with Smirnov, when she talks about the nature of
men-for she confesses about that of her husband. First, she reveals how faithful and
affectionate she was towards her husband.
"I loved him passionately with all my being, as only a young and imaginative woman can love, I
gave him my youth, my happiness, my life, my fortune, I breathed in him, I worshipped him as if
I were a heathen
How ever, in the next moment, she exposes how he betrayed her.
.... and ...and what then? This best of men shamelessly deceived me at every step! After his
death, I found in his desk, a whole drawerful of love- letters, and when he was alive - it's an
awful thing to remember - he used to leave me alone for weeks at a time and make love to other
women and betray me before my very eyes .....”
This information brings the audience a very clear image of her family life. She herself stands as
a woman of fidelity and she could continue her faithfulness and affection to her husband until he
died. Even after his death she makes the biggest sacrifice by weeping for him.
This nature of Popova highlights the good nature of her character. In this feudal society in
Russia it had become a common matter that women were considered as little inferior to men so
that they always had to be faithful to their men. On the contrary, the landlords used to spend a
carefree life perhaps without caring the social taboos because of their wealth, domination and
social status.
In the exposition of the plot, Popova seems to be very emotional. She is looking at a portrait of
late husband. As Luka describes, she must be with a long face having no any pleasant look.
She refuses any visitors and going out visiting. She is confined to the four walls of her room.
She always thinks about her husband and the past memories.. At the moment Luka informs her
that a visitor, Smirno waiting to see her, she vehemently refuses it. Some words she utters are
very emotional.
On the other hand, it also appears that as she has become a widow, as she mourns her dead
husband she does not tolerate the company of other males. She is determined to spend the rest
of her life in solitude.
Apart fom that Popova alo shows her boldness and courage when she faces the problem of
dealing with smirnov. She quite promptly informs him that she does not tolerate his tone when
Smirnov speaks in a commanding tone. In some instances, she appears to be furious and
hostile. When she expresses her displeasure owing to the behaviour of Smirnov, sometimes,
she is very rude to him.
In the play the Bear' the two central characters are Popova and Smirnov. Popova can be
introduced as the protagonist or the main character. Luka is the footman.
In the resolution of the play, the gardener, the coachman and workmen appear on the stage.
Apart from them, Popova calls out some names, her steward, and Dasha, and Pelageya but
they do not appear on the stage.
In all these characters, the physical features are presented at a minimum. The playwright, Anton
Chekhov makes use of absurd behaviour and dialogues to bring out character.
POPOVA
Popova can be taken as the main character or the protagonist of the play. The whole plot is
mainly fabricated around her. She is a widow. Her husband, Nicholai, a landlord died six months
ago and Popova is still lamenting over his death. She is described as a little widow with dimples
on her cheeks. However, she is proved to be an attractive lady and still possesses her beauty
and fascination so that Smirnov is attracted. In the exposition, her footman contributes to prove
this fact.
"Eh, my lady! You're young and beautiful with roses in your cheek if you only took a little
pleasure.
This statement proves her beauty, attraction and youthfulness. Later on, in the denouement of
the play, Smirnov too appreciates her beauty. He admits that he is crazy with her attractiveness.
He quite delightedly mentions about her 'beautiful eyes and 'little velvet hand
However, during most part of the stage - play, in the exposition, complication and denouement,
Popova is presented as a widow who mourns over the death of her husband. In the exposition,
she stresses that she does not need to associate with the outside society but she prefers to be
isolated in her room.
She further stresses that with her husband's demise, life lost all its meaning for her. She vows
she would never stop mourning until she dies.
She shows that the memories of her husband brings her enormous grief and sorrow. For
instance, whenever her husband's favourite horse, Toby is mentioned, she weeps. When Luka
invites her just to have 'a change in her monotonous life enjoying a ride on Toby or Giant, she
suddenly starts weeping.She instantly collects the memories of her husband, how she admired
his personality.
However she also openly reveals the fact that although she loved him so much, she is quite
doubtful whether she received equal affection from him. She talks about her fidelity and his
infidelity. First, while having a conversation with Luka, she openheartedly reveals this fact.
, "Yes, I know it's no secret to you that he was often unfair to me, cruel, and... and even
unfaithful”
Secondly, while she was in the argument with Smirnov, when she talks about the nature of
men-for she confesses about that of her husband. First, she reveals how faithful and
affectionate she was towards her husband.
"I loved him passionately with all my being, as only a young and imaginative woman can love, I
gave him my youth, my happiness, my life, my fortune, I breathed in him, I worshipped him as if
I were a heathen
How ever, in the next moment, she exposes how he betrayed her.
.... and ...and what then? This best of men shamelessly deceived me at every step! After his
death, I found in his desk, a whole drawerful of love- letters, and when he was alive - it's an
awful thing to remember - he used to leave me alone for weeks at a time and make love to other
women and betray me before my very eyes .....”
This information brings the audience a very clear image of her family life. She herself stands as
a woman of fidelity and she could continue her faithfulness and affection to her husband until he
died. Even after his death she makes the biggest sacrifice by weeping for him.
This nature of Popova highlights the good nature of her character. In this feudal society in
Russia it had become a common matter that women were considered as little inferior to men so
that they always had to be faithful to their men. On the contrary, the landlords used to spend a
carefree life perhaps without caring the social taboos because of their wealth, domination and
social status.
In the exposition of the plot, Popova seems to be very emotional. She is looking at a portrait of
late husband. As Luka describes, she must be with a long face having no any pleasant look.
She refuses any visitors and going out visiting. She is confined to the four walls of her room.
She always thinks about her husband and the past memories.. At the moment Luka informs her
that a visitor, Smirno waiting to see her, she vehemently refuses it. Some words she utters are
very emotional.
On the other hand, it also appears that as she has become a widow, as she mourns her dead
husband she does not tolerate the company of other males. She is determined to spend the rest
of her life in solitude.
Apart fom that Popova alo shows her boldness and courage when she faces the problem of
dealing with smirnov. She quite promptly informs him that she does not tolerate his tone when
Smirnov speaks in a commanding tone. In some instances, she appears to be furious and
hostile. When she expresses her displeasure owing to the behaviour of Smirnov, sometimes,
she is very rude to him.
