The Cherry Orchard By Anton Chekhov Departure from Serfdom The Cherry Orchard was penned in the middle of one the greatest ages of social upheaval in the history of the world. Its author, Anton Chekhov, was born in Russia in 1860, the year before Alexander II, czar of Russia, abolished servitude. Chekhov's grandfather was a servant, but his father went beyond "serfdom," and became a grocer. Chekhov elevated himself to an even higher level by becoming …showed first 75 words of 975 total…

…showed last 75 words of 975 total…rk out, that is, if patience is observed. In other words, Lopahin did not have to slaughter the landowning family and steal their land, as Lenin would eventually decree. Ironic as it may seem, had The Cherry Orchard been a true story, its actual owner would have been denounced, and probably murdered in 1917. This is the government of that day, and Chekhov rendered an explication that only a Russian familiar with the system could give.