Anton Chekhov uses the central theme of change in his tragicomedy The Cherry Orchard. The Cherry Orchard was written to reflect 'the changes in Russian society at the beginning of the twentieth century.?1 The Russian economic struggle and changes in its class system at the time are displayed throughout this play. It is evident in The Cherry Orchard that Lyubov is afraid of change. She tries hard to evade change, yet change inevitably catches up to her in the end.
Lyubov is the protagonist in the play, and rejects any new ideas or ways. It is made obvious that money means very little to her by her. She spends away her family fortune yet she denies the fact that the Andreyevna family is in an economic crisis. The family's economic crisis is made obvious when she does not have enough money to pay the orchestra she rented for the ball. The main theme of change is exhibited with Lyubov's refusal to change and accept the fact that they do not have as much money as before.
Lopahin is an intelligent man who comes up with the idea to save the family's estate. Lyubov cannot settle with changing the cherry orchard or having new occupants living on their land. She hopes that eventually everything will pass and someday life will be back to normal despite the practical Lopahin's warnings. Change in the cherry orchard would cause too much grief and anguish to Lyubov, yet ironically her former slave Lopahin obtains enough money to ultimately buy the property.
The tragicomedy The Cherry Orchard portrays perfectly Russian life at the time. The nave Lyubov procrastinates too much, eventually losing nearly everything. The central theme was used throughout the play with great expertise to display Lyubov's fear of a different lifestyle. Chekhov brilliantly created this play intertwining the central theme of change and touching it off with his use of theremarkable dramatic effects for which he is famous.