The character I am playing in the Cherry Orchard is Varya who is the adopted daughter. To understand my character in more depth, I went through the script and listed all the descriptions labelled about Varya by other characters and listed them on a piece of paper. This has given me more insight into my role and it has helped me to develop myself as Varya in my scene.
Varya is the elder daughter of Lyubov, she seems the only realistic character in the play which is willing to face the harsh and bitter reality of her life.Unlike her sister Anya, Varya holds a lot of responsibility in the family as she owns the entire state which she has to manage on her own. This leaves her feeling very lonely as she sees a lot of the other characters settled, however Varya is in love with Lopahin. She desperately wants to be with Lopahin but refuses throughout the play to propose to him and is in a lot of doubt that he will propose to her.
The wisdom of Varya earns her nothing except homelessness forever. Her realism is very evident when Anya asks her if Lopakhin has proposed her and she responds in the most clear and acute manner:
"His mind is all consumed with his deals, his business; I'm the furthest thing from it... Everyone is saying we're congratulating me, but the truth of it is there's nothing there, nothing at all whatsoever, it's all just a dream".
This leaves Varya quite pessimistic towards other characters as she holds a lot of stress and resentment. I learnt that Varya comes across as a bossy character as she states to Dunyasha the maid: "Dunyasha. Coffee. For Mother." Her assertiveness comes from a place of care as she feels she has to put on a 'strong' front for the rest of the family, however deep down she is lonely and fearful of the world and life without the Cherry Orchard.
Furthermore, Varya is easily wound up during the play and shows this during an argument with Trofimov. She states: " And you're so ambitious? To be a student. All. Your. Life. Is that it?" She has a sarcastic tone and has very high standards for those around her.
She knows the estate is going to be auctioned and nobody will be able to save it all. She is mentally prepared to become a nun adopt the convent. Moreover, Varya wishes to be a nun and leave to go to a convent as the play states: "Varya is just as she used to be, just like a nun." Her inner character is loving and protective yet she shows firm boundaries on the outside to cover up her vulnerable side.
My characters super objective in the play is to keep everything in order, including the estate, her love life and her family.
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