He's no one's husband or father, even though he'd like to marry Yelena. Uncle Vanya is thematically preoccupied with what might sentimentally be called the wasted life, and a survey of the characters and their respective miseries will make this clear. And calling him Uncle means that that's his most important role in life. While nature is refreshed by the rain, he is inconsolable because Yelena won't return his love. For Astroff who has a productive existence in not only serving the community but also active in long-term conservation, Yelena represents a break fron his conscientious, purpose-driven life. An ageing irritable professor returns to his deceased wife’s country estate with his beautiful young wife, Yelena. Sophie Plain Jane. Admittedly, however, it remains somewhat difficult to organize these concepts into a coherent theme as they belong more to the play's nastroenie, its melancholic mood or atmosphere, than to a distinct program of ideas. Sofya Aleksandrovna, a.k.a. Vanya compares his state of mind to the environment surrounding him. It has received innumerable revivals since, with actors including Michael Gambon and Peter Dinklage taking on the title role. When Peter Hall met Uncle Vanya – and shouted it down.
The estate has been managed for years by the Professor’s daughter, Sonya, and his brother-in-law Uncle Vanya. Now, in the world of Uncle Vanya, this means that even if she has some smarts, power, and a good work ethic, she's still pretty much made to do one thing and one thing only: marry somebody..
But Chekhov decided to call it Uncle Vanya and we doubt that it's just a coincidence.
Like Yelena, she's a woman (well, obviously). Uncle Vanya premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1899. It is noticeable that Uncle Vanya’s relationships with the Professor and Yelena, he is continually placed in a subordinate position that is comparable to that of a slave. A retired professor has returned to his estate to live with his beautiful young wife, Yelena. You're invited to Uncle Vanya's pity party, starting right now. Directed by Gregory Mosher. With David Warner, Ian Holm, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Ian Bannen. In the case of Vanya, Yelena is a reminder that she is something… someone he wants for himself and not out of familial duty, as he has done for the estate his whole adult life. It's tough to be Sonya. Toby Jones plays Vanya in this new production.
The estate originally belonged to his first wife, now deceased; her mother and brother still live there and manage the farm. Published: 5 Nov 2012
Sonya, a.k.a. His personal self-sacrifice to the Professor and his selfless love towards Yelena leave him powerless, as both individuals do not care for him, disregard or exploit his hard work, and disrespect his dignity. It is their self-sacrifice and toil which has maintained his extravagant lifestyle in the city. The problem with Sonya, though, is that she's not that cute. Vanya, the nickname, takes away a lot of Ivan's formality, and even makes the character seem a little childish.