Dehierarchization of Duality in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya

Abstract

Anton Chekhov'sUncle Vanyahas been generally interpreted as an absurd play with bleak view of life. Critics of different schools and times analyze Chekhov's vision inUncle Vanyafrom different perspectives. Some analyzit as an optimistic play and other as a pessimistic play. In this way they created the hierarchy in Chekhov'sUncle Vanya.This thesishowever, tries to explore the issue of dehierarchization of duality rather thansimply the optimism/pessimism or tragic/comic dualisims. The themeofUncle Vanyais not just frustration but also courage and hope. Life is not tragic or comic only.Uncle Vanyadepicts the characters and events which face both optimistic and pessimisticsituations. Chekhov in Uncle Vanyaaccepted the 'both/and' approach to life and depicted it with all of its inherent contradictions. Thus, the characters tragic-comic experience dehierarchizes any type of polarized readings.