Chekhov Tradition Of Twentieth Century Russian Drama

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) was the master of Russian literature at theturn of the 20th century. He was the first writer in the history of Russian literature to be world-renown for his short stories and plays. His works retain many of the defining characteristics of classical Russian literature and virtuoso of critical realism in the 19th century and the founder of modern Russian literature Familiarity with Chekhov's writings is absolutely necessary to obtaining a full understanding of how Russian literature has developed during the 20* century.With a profound humanitarian spirit, subtle depiction of everyday life, andsymbolic art-means, Chekhov's play, give us a first-hand look at the unique social structure that existed in Russia at the turn of the century. His artistic style has also had a deep impact on contemporary Russian drama. Research indicates that the absurd drama which rose in 1940's, the moral-psychological drama which rose in 1950's and flourished in 1970's, the "New Tide" drama in 1980's, and the "New Drama" movement at the end of the century, all have had their roots in Chekhov's dramas. Because of his widespread influence, a writers' convention was held to discuss and honor Chekhov's plays. This convention drew many helpful conclusions which greatly add to our understanding of Russian literature in the 20th century.1 herefore, as is seen through the study of aesthetic characteristics of Chekhov'sdrama convention and thorough description of the relevant writers' works, it is easy to grasp the significance of Chekhov's works to Russian drama and literature as a whole.