In the plays The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, A Doll's .
House by Henrik Ibsen, and Galileo by Bertolt Brecht, the .
protagonists' mental beliefs combine reality and illusion that both .
shape the plot of each respective story. The ability of the .
characters to reject or accept an illusion, along with the foolish .
pride that motivated their decision, leads to their personal downfall.
In The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov, Gayev and Miss .
Ranevsky, along with the majority of their family, refuse to believe .
that their estate is close to bankruptcy. Instead of accepting the .
reality of their problem, they continue to live their lives under the .
illusion that they are doing well financially. The family continues .
with its frivolous ways until there is no money left (the final night .
they have in the house before it is auctioned, they throw an .
extravagant party, laughing in the face of impending financial ruin) .
Even when Lopakhin attempts to rescue the family with ideas that could .
lead to some of the estate being retained, they dismiss his ideas .
under the illusion that the situation is not so desperate that they .
need to compromise any of their dignity. .
Lopakhin: As you know, your cherry orchards being sold to pay your .
debts. The auction is on the twenty second of August. But thereno .
need to worry, my dear. You can sleep soundly. Therea way out. .
Heremy plan. Listen carefully, please. Your estate is only about .
twelve miles from town, and the railway is not very far away. Now all .
you have to do is break up your cherry orchard and the land along the .
river into building plots and lease them out for country cottages. .
Youll then have an income of at least twenty-five thousand a year.
Gayev: Im sorry, but what utter nonsense!.
(Later in the Dialogue).
Mrs. Ranevsky: Cut down? My dear man, Im very sorry but I don.
think you know what you are talking about.
Lopakhin: If we canthink of anything and if we cancome to any .
