1 Guys, please sit at the tables near windowsGirls, please sit at the tables near cabinets
2 The Cherry Orchard Historical ContextBy: Jessica He, Shama Joshi, Helen Song, Ankit Madhira, Dedeepya Gudipati
3 Important Historical Pieces18th Century: Westernization of Russia by Peter the Great 1890s: Growing working middle class Early 1900s: Poor living and working conditions 1917: Russian Revolution 1861: Tsar Alexander II’s Emancipation Declaration freed the serfs 1894: Tsar Nicholas II comes into power : Foreign wars- Russo-Japanese War, World War I
4 Time Period Early 1900s: extremely unstableTransition period away from feudal system Aristocracy was rapidly losing power Industrialization Emergence of a successful working middle class Poor working and living conditions Need for social reform Zemstvos- elected councils in charge of local areas following the abolition of serfdom More political rights for serfs but also increased taxes
5 Time Period (cont.) Tsar Nicholas II: weak, reckless leaderled Russia into war with Japan made alliance that eventually led to WWI Political divide Proletariat vs. bourgeois Industrial capitalists and noble class formed Constitutional Democratic Party → challenged Tsar’s power Imperialistic: “From the shores of the Pacific and the heights of the Himalayas Russia would dominate not only the affairs of Asia but those of Europe as well.” -Serge Witte, close advisor of Nicholas II
6 Front right table: you guys are the noble class/landlordsFront right table: you guys are the noble class/landlords. The rest of you are serfs/peasants. Landlords, you get to tell serfs where to move to.
7 Emancipation of Serfs -- Background19th century: war = serfs drafted into the military French invasion of 1812 → depopulation Cholera epidemic: 1/28 caught cholera, 1/70 died 1848: Famine Alexander I, Nicholas I Crimean War left Russia with little resources and military power showed Russia’s weak industrial base a factor in Russia’s weak economy
8 Emancipation of Serfs Alexander II wanted to modernize Russia after the devastation of the Crimean War → emancipation of serfs in 1861 with the Emancipation Edict ~52 million serfs and indentured servants were freed
9 Serfs: Discuss what you think you would be able to do after being freed. Get an education? Get a new job? Move out of your village?
10 Emancipation of Serfs Even after the emancipation, there was not much change for the average peasant peasants were placed under the control of village communes required to pay their landlords for freedom The idea of education had mixed reactions from the peasants Noble classes were only gradually getting used to less privileges
11 Social Classes in RussiaThe major change: emancipation of serfs Universities allowed lower class people to also attend, not just nobles All classes of men could be conscripted Great Reforms by Alexander II led to growth of society Late 19th century and early 20th century: transition period for the lower and upper classes
12 Emancipation of Serfs, Social Classes in RussiaConnection to The Cherry Orchard: Trofimov: “Your grandfather, and his father, and his father’s fathers, they owned the people who slaved away from them all over this estate...And owning human beings has left its mark on all of you. Look at your mother and your uncle! They live off the labor of others, they always have, and they’ve never even noticed!” (360).
13 Task: Read your quotes and determine which social class your character belongs to. Figure out his/her opinion on the changes taking place in Russia.
14 Check your answers! Liubov (upper class) Gayev (upper class)Lopakhin (rising middle class) Trofimov (middle class) Pischik (upper class) Carlotta (lower class) Yepikhodov (lower class) Firs (lower class)
15 Recap: Russian RevolutionRise of communism Demanded change in the governmental system and wanted more equality in wealth January 22, 1905, Bloody Sunday occurs- active phase that leads to the Russian Revolution In March 1917, growing civil unrest, coupled with chronic food shortages, erupted into open revolt, forcing the abdication of Nicholas II. On 7 November 1917, Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin led his leftist revolutionaries in a revolt against the ineffective Provisional Government.
16 Russian Revolution and Cherry OrchardThe Play written before the Russian Revolution and the rise of communism. Demand for change in some characters Clues in text: Trofimov’s monologues - some citizens were not working for the change of society (especially the intelligentsia) “ We should stop patting ourselves on the back and get to work” (357) The 2 years after it was written: the Bloody Sunday.
17 Religion in Russia The Orthodox Church remained dominant and there was very little spiritual awakening Beliefs: Principles of belief and faith Worshipping God is belief and hope for salvation Serve one’s neighbor Order and administration for the Church
18 Connections to Cherry OrchardWhile religion isn’t a prominent theme within the play, there are a few references: On page 354, when Liubov talks about her memories, she exclaims, “Oh, dear God, dear God, forgive me! Forgive my sins! Don’t punish me again!” Ties back into worshipping God for salvation as Liubóv seeks refuge from her second husband
19 Role of Women Husbands and eldest sons had ownership of the landWomen had very few rights. For example, they couldn’t vote, couldn’t hold passports, had very little education (even if they did, it was how to raise a household and such) Only noble Russian women could have property (Liubov) “And he was so mean to me, so cruel! I bought a villa….He tormented me from his sickbed” (354)
20 Snack Time! *for men only...sorry
21 So... Women, how do you feel about this?
22 Role of Women (cont.) The question of women's equality slowly began to emerge in 1861, when serfs were freed In fact, a woman named Sofya Perovskaya led the riot against the Tsar that ended in his murder in March 1881 During and after the Russian revolution, women ran organizations to improve their lives, such as the Society for Cheap Lodging February 23, 1917: International Women’s Day, thousands of men and women took to the streets, factories, and military barracks, demanding equality After a mass women’s suffrage demonstration in St. Petersburg, the Russian provisional government allowed women over twenty the right to vote and run for political office in July 20, 1917
23 Mix up your groups so that both genders are represented at each table.
24 Westernization of RussiaRussia’s population doubled from Most people were still farmers despite the large population increase Despite the large agricultural community Russia had difficulty feeding its population due to the lack of advanced tools The lack of good education prevented youth from learning the skills to help advance the country forward in weapons and industry “On one side a shadow row of poplar trees; they mark the limits of the cherry orchard. A row of telegraph poles, and on the far distant horizon on a clear day, you can just make out the city.” (349) - Setting the scene for Act II
25 Westernization of RussiaAfter the Russian Revolution, Russia became much more westernized. They had guns, machines, and were building an industry. Now that they had enough food people were able to be specialists leading to better food and a better economy.
26 Better snacks!
27 Rural vs. Urban Russia (1900s)Rural (setting of The Cherry Orchard) primitive agriculture underdeveloped agricultural technology in the hands of the former serfs and former state peasants (⅘ of the rural population) increased amount of land used for agricultural development Urban Marxists More focus on progression and the industrialization old populists and urban socialists
28 Setting How does the setting affect your character?
29 Summary Russia was very politically and socially unstable during this time Weak leadership of Nicholas II Industrialization → need for worker and social reform Changing social classes: aristocracy losing power while middle class became successful Emancipation of Serfs by Alexander II in the transition period was difficult for the noble class who didn’t want to let go of their serfs Reforms by Alexander II expanded the middle class and gave the lower class better treatment. The demand for change and equality of land and wealth can be seen in the ideologies of the characters (Trofimov) in the Cherry Orchard. Russia was very far behind in westernizing its country. After the revolution however, things started looking up and the country slowly started becoming a world power. Russia was mostly Orthodox. Women didn’t have very many rights at first, but then they revolted and gained suffrage.
30 Kahoot! Please get out your personal devices and join the game.**Top 3 will win a candy of their choice!** https://goo.gl/WTTD2R
31 Any questions?