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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
Although the mood of The Cherry Orchard varies over the course of the four acts, there's something somber to the entire play. Chekhov inserts plenty of comical elements into the dialogue and stage directions, which gives a lighthearted veneer over the play's melancholy core.
Although the play feels drab, it's worth underlining that it can't be called tragic. Because nothing truly dramatic or disastrous happens over the course of the play, the overall atmosphere is shaped more by the characters' everyday interactions and modes of self-expression. The characters voice a fair bit of longing, discontentment, and pessimism, but the audience mostly witnesses standard days in which meandering conversations—which fluctuate between grave and playful—comprise most of the action. Chekhov himself viewed The Cherry Orchard as a comedic play in which he described the lives of ordinary people.
The characters' lighthearted conversations are balanced with a general sense of hopelessness that several of the characters seem to feel. This is the case across class lines: both aristocrats like Madame Ranevsky and servants like Ephikhodof are consumed by heavy negative emotions. However, Chekhov makes it clear that the downcast characters are not in unsolvable situations. Rather, they're unwilling to look for solutions to their problems. At the end, many of the characters who believed they were helpless over their own situation are forced to take charge, make decisions, and move on. As a result, the play ends with a slightly hopeful mood.
