Welcome to Litsy!

Though described as a comedy, I didn‘t find it particularly funny (this translation at least; Ann Dunnigan‘s), but a huge improvement for me from “Ivanov.” Madame Trepleva, Nina and Konstantin all seem like rich roles to play. As with the rest of these I need to read, I bet seeing this onstage would assist in my grasp of it 100x better.

#OnThisDay in 1896 Anton Chekov vowed to never write another play after a rather embarrassing opening night of The Seagull. If you've ever witnessed a toddler or teenager throwing a tantrum, claiming they're never going to do something again, you can guess how long that declaration lasted. The Seagull is now considered the first of Chekhov's four major works with Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. #HistoryGetsLIT

This is one of Chekov‘s early plays and one of his four most famous ones. Its first performance was very badly received, so much so that Chekov renounced writing for the theatre (temporarily).
I found it to be moody and philosophical and kinda depressing, all the characters seemed unhappy with their lives a lot of the time. But interesting to read a play about writers and actresses and their relationships to their art.
6/10
#BookSpin from May

Filling in my literary gaps with this in preparation of seeing the play in London when we are there for March Break. A play within a play, a lot of unrequited love and despair

We are heading to London 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 in March and have tickets to see Emilia Clarke act in this play. I thought I should do some homework. I love Serial Reader

"If my life can ever be of any use to you, come and take it." - Anton Chekhov, The Seagull

Which classic author is your soulmate?? Here‘s mine 😍

https://www.buzzfeed.com/dianabruk/which-classic-author-is-your-soulmate?utm_ter...

I really liked my first Chekhov play. I wasn‘t sure what I thought while I was reading it, but after I finished it it stayed with me and the story grew in my mind.

Thanks again, @SerialReader !

"It is not the honour and glory of which I have dreamt that is important, it is the strength to endure. One must know how to bear one's cross, and one must have faith. I believe, and so do not suffer so much, and when I think of my calling I do not fear life."

You see what doesn't exist. Hopeless love is only found in novels. It is a trifle; all one has to do is to keep a tight rein on oneself, and keep one's head clear. Love must be plucked out the moment it springs up in the heart.

Page 121, lines 11 and 12; here it is.
"If at any time you should have need of my life, come and take it."

"A young girl grows up on the shores of a lake, as you have. She loves the lake as the gulls do, and is as happy and free as they. But a man sees her who chances to come that way, and he destroys her out of idleness, as this gull here has been destroyed."

" I feel as if I had been in the world a thousand years, and I trail my life behind me like an endless scarf. "

"Let him write as he feels and can, but let him spare me his nonsense."

"...I have no rest from myself, and I feel that I am consuming my own life, that for the sake of the honey I give to someone in a void, I despoil my finest flowers of their pollen, tear them up, trample on their roots."

I know this is a world classic but I still didn't like it. Reading plays is not my favourite thing.