Three Sisters

In a play about longing and dissatisfaction, the central symbol and object of yearning throughout the text is Moscow. In Act I, it has been 11 years since General Prozorov moved his three daughters and their brother from Moscow to a small-town district in the country on relocation orders from the army. In the late 19th century, Tsar Nicholas II decided to divide Russia’s enormous empire into 50 smaller provinces, instituting a system of governance made up of 14 ranks of local administrators to run each province. This is illustrated in the play through the district council, led by Protopopov, whom the Prozorovs disdain despite his local authority. The provinces are considered slow and boring, uncultured and uneducated, while Moscow is growing and becoming more modern through industrialization and advancing technology. The four Prozorov siblings have been carefully educated at their father’s insistence, learning multiple languages, musical instruments, and other skills that are appreciated by their fellow aristocrats. For this reason, they long to return to the city to be among others who share and appreciate their talents. However, a year has passed since their father’s death, and although they have no reason or obligation to stay in the small town they hate, they have not taken any action toward making the move.