Twice

DUNYASHA: I am going to faint!...I am going to faint! (3) ANYA: Now I'm easy again. I'm easy again! (15) BARBARA: Anya, Anya!...Come along; come along! (15) She's asleep, she's asleep! (16) CHARLOTTE: I am always alone, always alone; (18) MADAME RANEVSKY: There goes Ephikhodof. ANYA: There goes Ehpikhodof. (24) GAYEF: I'll hold my tongue! I'll hold my tongue! (25) LOPAKHIN: Bear that in mind; bear that in mind! (26) TROPHIMOF: Believe what I way, Anya; believe what I say...I have been everywhere, everywhere." (27)

Pretty much all characters repeat themselves. Speaking of the characters as actual people, this could be a tick that resulted from them being under stress of just coming home from a 5 year vacation and soon not having a home. This also sort of adds to the idea of Chakhov writing this heavy-handedly. In class Br. Tom said that the lines of the characters saying facts about their lives to characters that would already know (just for the sake of the audience's understanding) would be delivered as if the character were standing there talking to noone in particular, just remembering out loud parts of their lives. Perhaps the characters saying it a second time serves no purpose except for the character's peace of mind. What other rhetorical purpose would the repetition of phrases (one after the other) serve? 1204503756

No, I don't think that this is a "tick." Rather, I think this is part of Chekhov's portrayal/satire of the Russian nobility. At this point in Russia's history, the nobles are resisting changes. They are, in effect, "delaying," to use one of Kirsten's terms. All this repetition is not for emphasis, but for semantics. It slows down the pace of the play. In doing this, Chekhov shows how the nobility are somewhat backwards, and that they need to catch up with the times. Since all of the characters do this, and most of them are upperclass, they are portrayed in the same way. The repetition also adds a little bit of comedy as well. It's a little aggravating, but still...

In conclusion, Russians also talk that way. In Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," people's names are repeated over and over again. I don't know why Russians do this, but that's what they do.1204511279

I think that this might have something to do with the failure to listen that comes up so often in the play--Br. Tom pointed it out when we first started to read "The Cherry Orchard," and I have noticed it ever since. The characters seem to be talking AT each other most of the time, rarely giving any sign that they have comprehended what the others mentioned. Therefore, all the characters are so desperate to be heard that they will repeat themselves in a further attempt to be noticed. Little kids do this all the time, repeating one thought over and over again until you directly acknowledge them. I think Chekhov did this to emphasize the disconnect between the characters and their desire to be heard and noticed.

This also made me think of Firs. He is old and somewhat senile, and he has unusual ways of talking, most noteable muttering to himself. Having lived for so long in Ranevsky's household might have made him give up on even trying to be heard, leaving him to talk to himself, the one person who will always listen. Therefore, perhaps the characters also repeat themselves for their own benefit, a kind of satasfaction and validation--an internal, "Why yes, that is what I think, thank you very much." 1204585531

I agree with you Laura that the characters just do not listen to eachother. I think that they all have strong personalities and are extremely set in their ways. They want nothing to do with eachother's ideas and this is exemplified by the relationship between Lopakhin and Ranevsky. They both have different ideas about what they want to do about the orchard and refuse to even listen to what eachother says. Ranevsky just ignores Lopakhin or changes the subject when he brings up the idea of building cottages where the orchard is. I think that by having the characters not listen to eachother Chekhov is further revealing the clash between the new and the old or the young and the old.1204680742

The repetition of lines really seems to make the characters look stressed. I don't know if it's just me, but when I read the excerpt that Kirsten included, I read it fairly quickly. When the characters repeat themselves, I feel like they really feel that they need to get their word in. Each of the characters seem to value self-importance over almost anything else. Perhaps Chekhov is including this repetition to demonstrate this. The characters feel that what they have to say is most important of all; if they say it twice, they're more likely to get their point across. I think this pride (or perhaps even arrogance?) of almost all the characters connects to what both Matt and Laura were arguing. The characters do not listen to each other because each individual feels that no one else could have anything more important to contribute than they do. Do you guys see this connection? 1204753801

I definitely see the connection. The arrogance of the upper class makes all of the characters feel that they absolutely NEED to be heard, and what they are saying is just so __vitally__ important in their minds that they have to say it twice. And indeed, they do not listen to each other at all, it seems. Usually when someone is occupied by something else, you have to repeat things twice before what you are saying gets through to them. I know I've experienced it; when my parents pay the bills it's better not to talk at all because I have to repeat myself so many times! But obviously the lives of the upper class are not really filled with pressing matters.. it is more like the characters are always occupied by their own self-interests, and what is going on in their own minds. They don't listen to each other because of their arrogance about what they have to say. 1204760589

Honestly, I hadn't noticed this until you stated it in a post. This was interesting because when I first read all the quotes, they all sounded as if the character was in pain or danger. Kho, I agree that the characters felt like the needed to push themselves to the first, primary spot in line to say something. I found this interesting because, at the same time, it's funny and it relates to us today. I can think of all the times when I would say something twice. Many times it would be to get someone's attention, when I was endangered, when I was surprised, or when I was too quiet the first time. I think that most of us have noticed that, by today, in the ever-rushed culture we live in, it's harder for us to be heard the first time. The characters in this book have the same issue that we do. We need to make ourselves heard. 1205101169

I didn't really notice it either until you pointed it out. I agree that the repeating does make them seem stressed and a little frazzled. But when you think about it all of the characters do have something to be stressed out about. Madame Ranevsky is worried about the fate of the estate and the orchard which is an excellent reason to be stressed out. I think that the repeating makes the energy in the house seem chaotic and like there is always something important going on, it never stops. I think that what mmi said about the characters wanting to be heard makes total sense. They all think of themselves and want to make sure that their needs are met before everyone else's.1205183469

I think that repeating is a big thing with our author for remember the movie. They left...they left...they left. I totally think that we got that they are no longer here and that they left. I believe it is just a technique to emphasis the emotions and the particular tones of individual characters. It sounds sort of natural with the mixture of characters' voices, but when we read this by ourselves at home, it just doesn't have quite the same emphasis. In addition, sometimes people are so self-absorbed with what they want to express about a situation, which could account for numerous characters stating the same exact line. Any other thoughts on the subject? 1205447980

Wow! Did not really notice that before, good eye. Okay, first off, lemme take the devil's advocate side and say there is no meaning, it's just the way he talks based off his Russian tradition and their way of talking. Now that said, they might repeat themselves for the emphasis, or reapeat what the other said because they're unoriginal, or even somewhat backwards in this case. Um, and other explanations... They might want to get the attention of the listeners in the play who might be playing stupid or, like one might speak to a child, because they look down on the others. But I'll just go with it's a Russian thing :p 1205453768