Summerfolk: A Classic Drama of Love, Loss, and Longing

Maxim Gorky's Summerfolk is a classic drama that explores the complexities of love, loss, and longing. Set in a summer resort town, the play follows the lives of a group of wealthy Russians as they navigate their relationships and search for meaning in their lives.

Summerfolk was first produced in 1904 and was an immediate success. The play has been praised for its realistic portrayal of Russian society, its complex characters, and its insightful exploration of human nature. Summerfolk is considered to be one of Gorky's masterpieces and is still performed regularly around the world.

Summerfolk takes place in a summer resort town on the Volga River. The play follows the lives of a group of wealthy Russians who have come to the town to escape the heat and boredom of the city.

Summerfolk: Full Text and Introduction (Drama Classics)

by Jeff McCarley

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	232 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	150 pages

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The main characters in the play include:

• Darya Pavlovna, a young woman who is engaged to be married to a wealthy landowner.
• Misha, a young artist who is in love with Darya.
• Zinaida, a wealthy widow who is attracted to Misha.
• Vasily, a landowner who is in love with Zinaida.
• Boris, a doctor who is in love with Darya.

The play follows the characters as they navigate their relationships and search for meaning in their lives. Darya is torn between her love for Misha and her duty to her family. Misha is torn between his love for Darya and his desire to be an artist. Zinaida is torn between her desire for love and her fear of commitment. Vasily is torn between his love for Zinaida and his sense of duty to his family. Boris is torn between his love for Darya and his desire to help the poor.

The play ends with the characters still struggling to find meaning in their lives. Darya and Misha have broken up, and Darya has married the wealthy landowner. Misha has left the town to pursue his art. Zinaida has married Vasily, but she is still unhappy. Vasily has become a successful landowner, but he is still haunted by his love for Zinaida. Boris has dedicated his life to helping the poor, but he is still searching for meaning in his own life.

Summerfolk explores a number of themes, including:

• Love and loss: The play examines the different types of love, including romantic love, familial love, and love of country. The characters in the play experience both great love and great loss, and they learn to cope with the pain of loss.
• The search for meaning: The characters in Summerfolk are all searching for meaning in their lives. They try to find meaning in their relationships, in their work, and in their hobbies. However, they ultimately learn that true meaning can only be found within oneself.
• The nature of happiness: The play explores the nature of happiness. The characters in the play all want to be happy, but they find that happiness is elusive. They learn that happiness is not something that can be found outside of oneself, but rather something that must be created from within.

Summerfolk has been praised by critics for its realistic portrayal of Russian society, its complex characters, and its insightful exploration of human nature. The play has been compared to the works of Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen.

One critic wrote: "Summerfolk is a masterpiece of Russian drama. Gorky's characters are complex and believable, and his exploration of human nature is insightful and moving."

Another critic wrote: "Summerfolk is a timeless classic that still resonates with audiences today. The play's themes of love, loss, and longing are universal, and Gorky's characters are unforgettable."

Summerfolk is considered to be one of Gorky's masterpieces and is still performed regularly around the world. The play has been adapted into several films and television productions.

Summerfolk has had a significant impact on Russian drama. The play's realistic portrayal of Russian society and its complex characters helped to shape the development of Russian drama in the 20th century.

Summerfolk is a classic drama that explores the complexities of love, loss, and longing. The play's realistic portrayal of Russian society, its complex characters, and its insightful exploration of human nature have made it a timeless classic that still resonates with audiences today.

Summerfolk: Full Text and Introduction (Drama Classics)

by Jeff McCarley

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	232 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	150 pages

FREE