The 19th Century offered two important developments to Russia, which manifest in the play. In the 1830's, the railroads arrived, an important step in Russia's move into a more international sphere. More importantly, in February of 1861, Russia's vast population of serfs was liberated for good, bringing a long-awaited social change. The railroad facilitates Madame Ranyevskaya coming and going across borders, but the intrigue itself deals with the theme of social change: the aristocratic family loses …showed first 75 words of 1092 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1092 total…the emphasis he places on dialogue and off-stage action, otherwise known as "indirect action." The most important events in Chekhov's plays do not necessarily occur on Chekhov's stage; often, the audience experiences some of the most pivotal and dramatic action not by seeing it, but by hearing about it from the characters. In this concept of indirect action is an innovation on the part of Chekhov, whose impact on theater and literature continues even today.