THE BEAR - THEMES
Anton Chechov in his play "The bear, takes the landlord society or the feudal society which
prevailed in Russia before the Revolution in 1917. This society mainly depended on their land
and very often property; wealth and prestige could overshadow precious human qualities. The
conflict between the two main characters illustrates that their life style mainly survived on these
materialistic values.
The conflict of the play develops with the matter of money. Smirnov enters the arena demanding
mon. ey. He informs Popova that her late husband had borrowed 1200 roubles from him so that
he has come to recover the money. In reply, she says that she will be able to pay the money
only after her steward returns the day after tomorrow. But, Smirnox insists that he wants the
money today itself.
This 'money matter' really provokes Popova and she accuses that as she is still mourning her
dead hus-band, she wants to be isolated so she repeatedly asks Smirnov to leave the place.
But, the latter refuses what she says and finally he threatens that he will stay there until he gets
the money.
This shows that as the main theme of the plot, the playwright has taken this transaction. When
Smirnov is in his effort to win the love of Popova, he specially mentions his assets.
"Decide now, I am a land owner, of respectable character, have an income of ten thousand a
year…”
So, it is quite evident that in this landlord society, prominence is given to money and wealth.
Secondly, the playwright also discusses fidelity vs. infidelity. Both characters Smirnov and
Popova deeply talk about the nature of men and women and they try to pick up the loopholes in
their nature.
One is infidelity. Popova mourns her late husband and she stresses her stand that it is her duty
to mourn him until she dies. There, she is not concerned at all about her beauty or attraction;
she does not want to keep any contact with the outside society; She wants to be buried in the
memories of her husband and to be confined to the four walls in her room. This type of
behaviour can be described as her fidelity.
"When Nicholai died, life lost all its meaning for me. I vowed never to the end of my days to
cease to wear mourning or to see the light. You hear? Let his ghost see how well I love him..
Yes, I know its no secret to you that he
was often unfair to me...... but I shall be true till death and show him how I can love…
Therefore, the character of Popova has been presented as a widow who deeply mourns her
dead husband so that there the whole plot is dealing with the concept of fidelity.
Anton Chechov in his play "The bear, takes the landlord society or the feudal society which
prevailed in Russia before the Revolution in 1917. This society mainly depended on their land
and very often property; wealth and prestige could overshadow precious human qualities. The
conflict between the two main characters illustrates that their life style mainly survived on these
materialistic values.
The conflict of the play develops with the matter of money. Smirnov enters the arena demanding
mon. ey. He informs Popova that her late husband had borrowed 1200 roubles from him so that
he has come to recover the money. In reply, she says that she will be able to pay the money
only after her steward returns the day after tomorrow. But, Smirnox insists that he wants the
money today itself.
This 'money matter' really provokes Popova and she accuses that as she is still mourning her
dead hus-band, she wants to be isolated so she repeatedly asks Smirnov to leave the place.
But, the latter refuses what she says and finally he threatens that he will stay there until he gets
the money.
This shows that as the main theme of the plot, the playwright has taken this transaction. When
Smirnov is in his effort to win the love of Popova, he specially mentions his assets.
"Decide now, I am a land owner, of respectable character, have an income of ten thousand a
year…”
So, it is quite evident that in this landlord society, prominence is given to money and wealth.
Secondly, the playwright also discusses fidelity vs. infidelity. Both characters Smirnov and
Popova deeply talk about the nature of men and women and they try to pick up the loopholes in
their nature.
One is infidelity. Popova mourns her late husband and she stresses her stand that it is her duty
to mourn him until she dies. There, she is not concerned at all about her beauty or attraction;
she does not want to keep any contact with the outside society; She wants to be buried in the
memories of her husband and to be confined to the four walls in her room. This type of
behaviour can be described as her fidelity.
"When Nicholai died, life lost all its meaning for me. I vowed never to the end of my days to
cease to wear mourning or to see the light. You hear? Let his ghost see how well I love him..
Yes, I know its no secret to you that he
was often unfair to me...... but I shall be true till death and show him how I can love…
Therefore, the character of Popova has been presented as a widow who deeply mourns her
dead husband so that there the whole plot is dealing with the concept of fidelity.
