Uncle Vanya

by

Anton Chekhov

Maps Symbol Icon

In the claustrophobic and depressing atmosphere of Serebryakov’s country estate, maps offer a brief glimpse into the outside world. The few maps that appear in the play symbolize the hope of a better life beyond the estate. However, there are two sides to this hope; one for each map that appears. In Act Four, the stage directions briefly describe a map of Africa that’s “obviously not needed by anyone here,” hanging on the wall in Voynitsky’s room. This small detail represents Voynitsky’s lost hopes of living a more successful and adventurous life. Rather than travel to Africa or any other exotic and interesting place, Voynitsky spent most of his life toiling in Professor Serebryakov’s estate, slowly realizing that all his work was pointless and regretting how his commitment to the professor impeded on his own life. Now that he feels like he’s wasted his youth, the map seems to taunt him with a constant reminder of the opportunities he never took. Conversely, Astrov’s maps of the local forests give him a bit of hope, rather than reminding him of a hope he’s lost. While the decline of the environment concerns him, Astrov’s maps of the vanishing woods give him something to fight for. Voynitsky’s map of Africa reminds him that of all the world he hasn’t seen—the only world that matters to him—and that all that he can do with his remaining years is languish at the estate. But Astrov knows that the outside world is greater and more important than his own small life, and so his forestry maps represent a sense of hope rather than regret.

Maps Quotes in Uncle Vanya

The Uncle Vanya quotes below all refer to the symbol of Maps. 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:
Old Age and Regret Theme Icon
).
Act 3 Quotes

We have here a decline which is the consequence of an impossible struggle for existence; a degeneration arising from stagnation, ignorance, a total lack of self-awareness, when a frozen, hungry, sick man, in order to preserve the remnants of life, to protect his children, instinctively, unconsciously grasps at anything to relieve his hunger and get warm, and destroys everything around without a thought for tomorrow. Now almost everything is destroyed, but nothing has yet been created to take its place.

Related Characters: Astrov (speaker), Voynitsky (“Uncle Vanya”), Sonya/Sofia Serebryakova, Yelena/Helena Serebryakova
Related Symbols: Forestry, Maps
Page Number: 178
Explanation and Analysis:
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Uncle Vanya PDF

Maps Symbol Timeline in Uncle Vanya

The timeline below shows where the symbol Maps appears in Uncle Vanya. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 3
Industry vs. Idleness Theme Icon
Legacy and Prestige Theme Icon
Astrov enters the room with a map, and Yelena asks if he’s free to show it to her. As he spreads out... (full context)
Act 4
Industry vs. Idleness Theme Icon
...Marina and Telegin sit in Voynitsky’s room, which doubles as an office and has a map of Africa on the wall. Both wind wool for knitting stockings in the quiet room.... (full context)