The Seagull

Dorn reads aloud to Masha and Arkadina. Arkadina asks Masha to stand next to her, then asks Dorn which of the two women looks younger. Dorn replies that Arkadina does, and she proudly replies, “There you are. And why? Because I work—I feel things—I do things! You [Masha] don’t stir from the same place—you’re not alive…” (22). Arkadina continues to compare herself to the lovesick Masha, who gives up on defending her sorrowful state. Arkadina takes the book from Dorn, taking that attention away from him and turning it, too, on herself.

Nina enters with Sorin, who walks with a stick, and Medvedenko trails behind with a wheelchair for Sorin. As Sorin takes a seat in the wheelchair, he talks about how pretty Nina is looking today. Arkadina agrees, but adds, “we mustn’t overdo the compliments, it arouses envy in the fates” (24). As the conversation continues, the sound of snoring comes from Sorin’s wheelchair. Arkadina wakes him up and asks if he is taking anything for his ailments. He replies that he would if Dorn would prescribe him something, but Dorn insists there is not much of a point given his age. Eventually he gives in and gives Sorin some valerian drops, but says, “Taking cures when you’re sixty and complaining you didn’t have fun when you were young is frivolous” (25). Sorin is not the only one in the group who uses substances to dull the pain of regrets: Masha excuses herself, and the others comment that she has likely gone out to have a few drinks before lunch.

All of this talk starts to bore Arkadina, and she says she would like to get back to town today. She asks Shamraev to get the carriage horses ready, but he tells her they are busy farming today. Arkadina commands that the farming stop so she can use them, but Shamraev puts his foot down. The argument ends with both parties storming off, and Nina feeling incredulous that Shamraev would dare to defy Arkadina’s wishes. Sorin agrees and sets out after Shamraev to get him to change his mind about the horses, with Nina pushing his chair.

Dorn and Polina are left alone, and it is revealed that the two of them are having an affair. Polina confesses that she wishes he would take her away from Sorin’s estate. She tells him, “we’re not young any more, and if only we could end our days no longer having to hide and pretend” (28). Polina knows that she is not the only woman he is having an affair with, and he is not ready to commit to any one woman. Polina starts to find the courage to confront him about this when Nina returns, telling Dorn that Arkadina is “in tears and [Sorin’s] got his asthma” (29). Dorn leaves at once to give both of them valerian drops. Polina follows, leaving Nina alone.

Konstantin enters holding a gun and a dead seagull. He lays the seagull at Nina’s feet. She asks what he means by it, and Konstantin replies, “I sank low enough today to kill this seagull […] Soon I’m going to kill myself in the same way” (30). He and Nina fight about how they both have changed since the night of his play. Konstantin is still embarrassed and fears Nina believes him to be a failure. Nina tells him that he has been acting strange lately, and she cannot understand what he means by it all. The deeper root of their conflict—Konstantin’s jealousy over Trigorin—comes to the surface as Trigorin approaches them. Konstantin leaves upon seeing the way Nina’s face lights up at the sight of the famous writer.

Trigorin is writing in a small book when Nina goes up to him. The two of them discuss what it is like to be a famous writer. Nina has fantastic ideas about the joy and power it must bring, telling him, “Some [people] can barely drag out their dull, dim lives […] while others […] are blessed with an interesting, brilliant life that means something” (31-32). Meanwhile, Trigorin is much more pessimistic about it, having experienced it firsthand. He tells her that the constant work can be exhausting, and he feels that he has missed out on other important life experiences.

As they continue to talk, Trigorin expresses that he wishes he could stay longer in the country. He takes notice of the dead seagull that Konstantin brought to Nina and begins to imagine a story about it. The story is about a young girl who lives by a lake and is destroyed by a man who has “nothing much to do” (36), much like Konstantin did to the seagull. Just as Trigorin is finishing his story, Arkadina calls from a window to tell him that they will be staying after all.