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The Educated Verses the “New” PeasantsEssay over the Cherry Orchard by Chekhov

Yermolai Alexeyitch Lopakhin and Peter Trophimof are two men who do not seem to get along on the surface considering all the name-calling passed back and forth amongst one another. Lopakhin calling Trophimof The Perpetual Student; and Trophimof calling Lopakhin a beast of prey, which devours everything, that comes in its way. The two come from very different backgrounds, however their views for the future of Russia are very similar. This gives them a common bond and respect for one another.
Lopakhin comes from a long line of serfs. He grew up in an abusive home, in which his father was an alcoholic village shopkeeper. Lopakhin referred to his father on page 22 as an idiot who taught him nothing. He admits himself also a blockhead, idiot. He was 15 when his father struck him in the face, and Madame Ranevsky took him in to clean up his bloody nose. He remembers her saying, “Don’t cry, little peasant!” After recalling that memory after all these years he still seems offende...

Posted by: Jason Pinsky

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