Three Sisters

“We must work, work! Tomorrow I shall go alone, I shall teach in the school, and give my whole life to those who may need it. It’s autumn now; soon it will be winter, everything will be covered with snow, and I shall work, work…” — Olga

Act 1

The Prozorov sisters—Olga, Masha, and Irina—live in a provincial Russian town, longing for a return to Moscow, where they spent their childhood. On Irina’s name day, the household is filled with guests, including military officers stationed nearby. Olga, the eldest, is exhausted from teaching; Masha, married to the dull schoolteacher Kulygin, is disillusioned; and Irina, the youngest, dreams of meaningful work. Their brother Andrey, an aspiring scholar, is in love with Natasha, a local woman considered beneath their social standing. The sisters’ optimism is palpable, but hints of stagnation linger.

Act 2

Several months later, Andrey has married Natasha, who grows increasingly domineering, reshaping the household to her tastes. Irina, now working at the telegraph office, feels unfulfilled. Masha begins an affair with the charismatic Lieutenant-Colonel Vershinin, who philosophizes about a brighter future. Olga, overwhelmed by her teaching duties, fantasizes about Moscow. The sisters’ disillusionment deepens as their dreams seem further away.

Act 3

A fire ravages the town, forcing the household into cramped quarters. Natasha further asserts control, banishing the elderly servant Anfisa to a miserable fate. Andrey, now a gambling addict, is trapped in a loveless marriage. Masha confesses her love for Vershinin, while Irina, despairing of her mundane life, agrees to marry Baron Tuzenbach, though she doesn’t love him. The sisters’ hopes crumble as reality closes in.

Act 4

The military regiment prepares to leave, severing Masha’s affair with Vershinin. Tuzenbach is killed in a duel with the jealous Solyony, leaving Irina devastated. Olga, now headmistress of the school, resigns herself to solitude. Andrey remains trapped with Natasha. As the soldiers depart, the sisters cling to each other, whispering of a future they no longer believe in. The play ends with their unresolved yearning.

Key Ideas

• The crushing weight of unfulfilled dreams and provincial stagnation.
• The tension between hope for the future and the inertia of the present.
• The erosion of family bonds under societal and personal pressures.
• The search for meaning in monotonous, unglamorous lives.
• The contrast between intellectual idealism and harsh reality.

Notable Adaptations