...And Time Keeps Passing - Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov: Act 2

Continuing on my last entry about this play, I say not much has changed. As I expected, Uncle Vanya is a literary work in which nothing happens at all. There's simply a cast of characters living in one depressive house being self-centered and criticizing life all the time. It is very monotonous and simply narrates a normal, boring, life where time passes and nothing goes on. In my past entry I talked about Uncle Vanya and the doctor's negativism, and the way they affected the rest of the characters. Even though most characters were pessimistic I still had a small hope on Elena, being the only happy person in the first act. Nevertheless, I have seen my prediction was wrong. After all, Vanya and his negativism prevailed over the good side of life. When Sonya and Elena were having a deep conversation, Sonya asked Elena "as a friend" if she was really happy. Her answer was no. This might've been predictable but it was disappointing seeing that I still had hope for the play to be a little less pessimistic. Now, as Elena dislikes her husband and the whole house, there is no salvation.

Another interesting thing to mention about the play is the relationship forming between Sonya, the professor's daughter, and Astrov the doctor. Sonya is deeply in love with him but can't express this love, and simply accepts the fact he comes and goes. When he is visiting their house, Sonya is very nice with him, and tries to please him in many manners, offering him food, drinks and having long conversations with him. The doctor doesn't show much of a reaction to this and simply says he is too old to love anyone. He doesn't even notice all the indirect expressions of love Sonya shows him and keeps on complaining about his work and life in Russia. I feel that this relationship isn't going anywhere if Sonya doesn't express her love to him; And, even if she did, it might not work anyways because of the doctor's way of life.