- 1
Discuss Masha's intense self-awareness, and how this enriches her as a character.
Masha is a fascinatingly complex character, because she is perhaps the most self-aware person in the play. She pursues her affair with Vershinin almost self-destructively, yet she maintains an honesty in her emotions that the other characters sometimes lack. She knows the price of each of her actions, and she outlines them plainly to Chebutykin in the final act of the play when she says, "When you take your happiness in snatches, in bits and pieces, and lose it, as I'm about to, you gradually turn hard and malicious." Masha is mean and bitter in many ways, but she knows exactly why, which...
Join Now to View Premium Content
GradeSaver provides access to 2368 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11018 literature essays, 2791 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.