On Chekhov’s Drama Creation

In Introduction section, the historic and present situations of Chekov’s drama study have been sorted out and analyzed, with the focus on its present researches in Russia and China, which involves such respects as collection, organization and publication of the research materials, construction of "Chekov Study", translation of Chekov’s works in China, major methods and achievements in Chekov’s drama study and the historic stages of Chekov Study. The meaning and value of the re-study on Chekov’s drama creation has also been illustrated:the contribution made by Chekov as the fiction writer has already been affirmed, but little concern is given to his impact and influence in drama field. Therefore, study on Chekov’s drama creation embraces positive meaning for the prosperity of China’s contemporary drama stages, especially for the promotion of cultural and humanistic consciousness to it.In Chapter One, the historic and cultural background and development of Chekov’s drama creation is expounded. Chekov lived in the late19th century in Russia. It was a transformative period when the decayed and dark serf system was doomed to collapse and new society is ready to build up. Different schools of ethos were interacting and many famous writers emerged in literary world, leading to the rise of western modern drama. The theme selection, character creation, thought connotation and creation method of Chekov’s dramas have close connection to the time he lived. His political perspectives and living experiences placed some restrictions on his literary creation though. Chekov’s works can be categorized into four stages:Fatherless and some short plays are his first try; serious drama Ivanov and other one-act farces are his mature works; Seagull, and Three Sisters make Chekov step into his enjoyable creation time; the striking masterpiece The Cherry Orchard raises Chekov to his creative peak.In Chapter Two, the deep insight into the social lives and spiritual features of Chekov’s works are discussed. His works exposed and criticized the social diseases at that time, acutely sensed the change of new life. He vividly depicted the broad life pictures of Russia’s countryside and towns, void and bored fallen aristocrats, rich-over-night merchants, powerless generals, ignoramus but enjoyed professors, weak and pessimistic humiliated intellectuals, thrifty and industrious peasants, simple-minded and naive country women, distinguished and pretty actresses, inconstant writers etc. He especially cared about the small potatoes and those who lived in the bottom of the society. Chekov was skillful at digging the deep insight into the simple daily lives, and full of profound humanistic feelings and beautiful poetic flavor are the spiritual features of Chekov’s dramas.In Chapter Three, the artistic features and aesthetical patterns of Chekov’s works are manifested. The lifestyle of the scenes, prosaic tendency of the structure, montage of the plots and internality of the actions are Chekov’s artistic characteristics. His works has a full variety of aesthetical patterns, but most of them belong to "comedies" or "farces". His "comedies" are very unique:the one is its tragic beauty, the two is its absurd color. Chekov broke the "barriers" between comedy, tragedy and serious drama, reformed the traditional drama aesthetical patterns. Many of his dramas are serious and humorous at the same time, full of "melancholy beauty". This new evolution of aesthetical pattern bridged the classical dramas and modern ones.In Chapter Four, the spread and impact of Chekov’s dramas in China are analyzed. The translation of Chekov’s works and the progress of staging are sorted out and analyzed. Different Chinese performance versions(Beijing opera and modern drama,etc.) of The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters and others are compared. The impact of Chekov’s drama creation on Chinese contemporary dramatists is explored, and also his positive impact on Cao Yu and Shen Hongguang are explored from the perspectives of theme selection, creation method, aesthetical pattern and style pursuit.