The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters Summary | Act 1, Part 1 Summary

The classic Russian play The Three Sisters explores the lives and dreams of three sisters, their brother, their friends and their lovers. The play, like the characters, is moody and atmospheric, gently exploring themes relating to the human capacities for dreaming, inaction in the face of those dreams and despair when those dreams disappear.

The first act is set in the drawing room of the home of the Prozoroff sisters, Olga, Masha and Irina. Conversation reveals that they're hosting a party in honor of Irina's Saint's Day. As they wait for their guests to arrive and lunch to be served, Olga recalls in detail the day, exactly a year ago, that their father died. Irina tells her to not think of it. Olga then recalls how the family left Moscow eleven years ago and says that even though it's a beautiful day, she longs to be back there. Tusenbach, Solyony and Chebutykin appear in the dining room, joking about how what is being said is all garbage.

Masha whistles quietly to herself as she reads. Olga tells her to stop and says that even though teaching all day gives her headaches and even though she feels her strength draining away, her dreams of - Irina completes her thought, saying that their dreams of going to Moscow are stronger than ever. Chebutykin and Tusenbach laugh as Olga and Irina refer to Masha being the only one who wouldn't be able to go. Irina then talks about how happy she's felt all day, referring to memories of her childhood. Olga talks about how well and happy Irina looks, how lovely Masha is, how their brother Andrei is gaining weight and how she herself has gotten older and thinner. She then talks about how being away from the school makes her feel younger and freer. She wishes she'd been married, and she feels she could still be married, saying she'd love her husband. Tusenbach comes in, saying the conversation is nonsense.

Tusenbach announces that the sisters will be receiving a visit later that day from their new commander, Vershinin. He describes him as nice but says he talks too much, particularly about his wife and children, and he describes the wife as being half-mad. Solyony comes in, talking to Chebutykin, who ignores him as he makes notes about the components of a medication in a little notebook. Irina goes to him, talking about how happy she is and describing herself as a little white bird. She has realized that the purpose and happiness of life can be found in hard, physical work.

Olga jokes that Irina spends so much time lying in bed thinking, and Irina tells her to think of her as a woman now and not a little girl. Tusenbach talks at length about how he too longs for work. He was born and raised in an aristocratic family, and he feels some kind of storm of change is coming, change that will wipe out laziness, indifference and boredom. He says that in twenty-five years everyone will be working, and Solyony jokes that in twenty-five years Tusenbach will be dead, perhaps even shot by him. Chebutykin talks about how he doesn't really work, saying that since he left university he hasn't read anything but newspapers. A knock is heard, Chebutykin says he's being called downstairs and rushes out. Irina, Tusenbach and Olga talk about how he seems to be up to something, referring to how he always brings Irina extravagant presents.

Masha stands and prepares to go, saying she'll be back later and recalling the exciting parties they had when their father was alive. She talks about feeling depressed, and Olga says tearfully that she understands. Solyony jokes about how annoying it is when a woman talks philosophical thoughts, and Masha speaks angrily to them both. Anfisa comes in, followed by Ferapont, who's carrying a large cake. Anfisa announces that the cake came from Protopopov, the Chairman of the District Council. The hard-of-hearing Ferapont can't make out Irina's message of thanks. Olga tells Ferapont and Anfisa to get some lunch in the kitchen, and they go out. Masha says she doesn't like Protopopov, and Irina says he wasn't invited to the party. Chebutykin comes in with a large silver samovar. As the sisters react with embarrassment and Tusenbach laughs, Chebutykin says the girls are all he has in the world. He's an old man, and he loved their mother. Finally, he says that there's nothing wrong with giving expensive presents to people one loves.