The characters in The Seagull are crippled by that green-eyed monster, jealousy. They envy their romantic rivals and want sole ownership of their lovers' hearts. When anyone praises one writer or actress, the others rush to pooh pooh his or her achievements.
The young writer wants to be experienced and accomplished, while the older writer, meeting an admiring young woman, sees a chance to relive his youth. The decrepit old uncle, stuck at home, envies the world-traveling doctor, and the doctor seems to covet the creativity of the young writer. Sheesh. These people have a bad case of grass-is-greener disease; they want what they don't have or can't be.
Questions About Jealousy
- Are men or women more susceptible to jealousy in the play? Does Chekhov make a distinction?
- Is Trigorin jealous of Konstantin? How do you know?
- Does jealousy ever exert a positive influence over the characters in The Seagull?
Chew on This
Jealousy motivates characters in The Seagull to strive for aesthetic greatness.
Jealousy is unquenchable in The Seagull, just like the longing for love.