Clearly a black comedy, Anton Chekhov's The Seagull is a departure from Chekhov's usual style

in that he has many of the characters represent people from his own life.
As a drama of realism, The Seagull exhibits the following:
"A Slice of Life"
Critic Ryan D. Poquette states, the audience perceive the reality of life as they
peek through this imaginary wall and into a certain time period and situation in the characters'
lives.
However, as in real life, there is no clear direction toward a climax, no real beginning, no
definitive end. Instead, Chekhov presents a "slice of life," portraying realistically the selffocused actress Irina Abkadina, who is envious of Nina Zaryechny because of her youth and
beauty; the aging Peter Sorin, who wrestles with his sense of the inevitability of death; the
melancholic Mash Shramaiff, the tragic Boris Trigorin, who measures himself against greats like
Tolstoy; the self-pitying Simon Mediedenko, the schoolmaster who would rediscover his youth
in Nina. In fact, Chekhov's characters do not reach self-fullfillment in life.
Realistic dialogue
The characters--none of whom are stars of the drama--discuss their situations using the same
types of dialogue that audience members might use in their own lives. For instance, Irina
Abkadina prattles in the same manner that an egotistical star of the stage might use. She
demands the attention and adulation of those around her in Act II:
ARKINDINA [o MASHA]
Stand beside me. You are twenty-two and I am almost twice your age. Tell me, Doctor, which of
us is the younger looking?
DORN
You are, of course.

A Focus on Mood and Emotion

Realism, for Anton Chekhov, also focuses on mood and emotion among the characters. For
example, at the beginning of Act III, the melancholic Masha speaks of Constantine with the
author, Boris Trigorin:
MASHA
I am telling you all these things because you write books and they may be useful to you. I tell

you honestly, I should not have lived another day if he had wounded himself fatally. Yet I am
courageous; I have decided to tear this love of mine out of my heart by the roots.
TRIGORIN
How will you do it?
MASHA
By marrying Medviedenko.
TRIGORIN
The school-teacher?
MASHA
Yes.
TRIGORIN
I don't see the necessity for that.
MASHA
Oh, if you knew what it is to love without hope for years and years, to wait for ever for
something that will never come! I shall not marry for love, but marriage will at least be a
change, and will bring new cares to deaden the memories of the past. Shall we have another
drink?
Also, with reference to Chekhov's realistic illustrations of emotion, one critic also comments,
...one can nevertheless make the case that Chekhov intended The Seagullto be a statement on his
literary ideas, specifically by using the character of Treplyov to show that a true symbolist could
not survive in a modern society that was focused more and more on realism.
So, along with the moods of his characters, it seems Chekhov includes his own.