Uncle Vanya is a play by Anton Chekhov, first performed in 1899. It tells the story of a family living on a rural estate in Russia. The family consists of the elderly Professor Serebryakov, his young wife Yelena, his daughter Sonya, his brother-in-law Vanya, and the estate's manager, Telegin. The Professor and Yelena have come to the estate to take up residence, much to the dismay of Vanya and Sonya, who have been running the estate in the Professor's absence. Vanya is in love with Yelena, and his feelings of unrequited love lead him to a deep depression. Meanwhile, Sonya is in love with the Doctor Astrov, who is also in love with Yelena. The play follows the characters as they struggle to come to terms with their feelings and the changes that the Professor and Yelena's arrival have brought to their lives. In the end, the characters are left in a state of emotional turmoil, with no resolution to their conflicts.
By Anton Chekhov · First published 1884 · Genre: Drama, Realism, Romance · 5 chapters