The Cherry Orchard Theme of Love

For a play about social change, The Cherry Orchard abounds in love. There are love triangles. There is unrequited love. There's physical love. There's spiritual love. Maternal love. Platonic love. Love between master and servant. There's even requited love! Chekhov just couldn't write a play about human beings without showing them in love of all kinds and making decisions, good and bad, inspired by love.

1. Why doesn't Lopakhin propose to Varya?
2. Is Trofimov really "above love," as he claims?
3. How does Lubov's attitude toward love relate to her attitude toward money?
4. What will happen to Dunyasha now that Yasha's returning to Paris? Will she decide to marry Epikhodov?

As Lubov's daughter, Anya offers the love needed to humanize Trofimov's ideals.

Lubov's devotion to love provides a counterpoint to Trofimov's purely sociological perspective.