More from the Moors
SMIRNOV: I'm offering my hand in marriage. Yes or no? You don't want to? You don't need to! (Gets up and quickly goes to the door)
MRS. POPOV: Wait!
SMIRNOV: Well?
MRS. POPOV: Nothing...you can go...go away...wait...No, get out, get out! I hate you! But-- don't go! Oh, if you wonly knew how furious I am, how angry...What are you waiting for? Get out!
SMRNOV: Farewell!
MRS. POPOV: Yes, yes, go away! Where are you going?
(Chekhov 391)
This play reminded me of Wuthering Heights, with the love/hate relationship, and the declarations of devotion chasing the orders of exile. In Wuthering Heights, despite the two very unlikeable main characters, the reader know that the redeeming quality of Heathcliff and Cathy is their love...even if they are constantly making bad choices at bad times.
In "The Bear," love again has its work cut out for it. Between Mrs. Popov, who has already declared herself dead, and Smirnov, a hothead who hates all women, it really doesn't seem as though much of a relationship is possible. First, because any relationship would have to figuratively overcome death itself (since Mrs. Popov has said she is buried within the four walls of her home), and second because Smirnov wants nothing to do with the opposite sex. However, despite all of these obstacles, the two are surprisingly a good match. They've both disappointed by love before, and both claim to have given up on love; they already have a lot in common.
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Josie Rush on More from the Moors: Well, to be fair, it's a one a
Jessica Orlowski on More from the Moors: Kayla- I agree with you. That
Kayla Lesko on More from the Moors: I never read Wuthering Heights
Jessica Orlowski on More from the Moors: I've never read Wuthering Heig
I've never read Wuthering Heights (I can hear hissing coming from the rest of the English majors of the world), but I've heard that the love/ hate relationship is a key aspect. Good job relating the play to an outside text. They do have a lot in common, and I believe that this play could be turned into a novel because the themes running through it could be drawn out into a novel (although it wouldn't be as comedic because the COMEDY part lies in the play's brevity).
I never read Wuthering Heights either (it's on my list, just further down). To me, it kinda seemed like Mrs. Popov latched on to the first guy who showed a stong interest in her.
Kayla- I agree with you. That seems to be a trend for many Americans today...
Well, to be fair, it's a one act play, so for the plot to work, there couldn't be a bunch of different suitors she rejected first.
That's why I kind of wished it was longer. While the comedy does lie in the brevity of the play, I feel like Chekhov could have extended it and it still would have been funny.