Psychological Mechanisms in Chekhov

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the psychological mechanisms present in the dramaturgy of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, alongside the psychic transformations undergone by the theatre creator during the process of interpreting and staging these classic texts. Considering the symbolic value of Chekhov’s characters at a social and cultural level, all of which were developed under the auspices of the great cultural and historical shifts of the beginning of the 20th century, the present analysis investigates a series of stage expression methods that the contemporary theatre has exhibited over the past decades. In fact, what this essay questions is the creator’s level of understanding of his own artistic predispositions, needs, or fears. The way the artist navigates through the realm of signs and aesthetic images born from Chekhov’s dramaturgy tests both the discernment that everyone trains in front of the stage, as well as the predilection for certain motives and directorial directions. Moreover, for a theatre-maker, Chekhovian dramaturgy provokes an essential interaction with the emotional and psychological sensibilities of the characters, as it requires great attention to detail in the interpretation and staging of these fine psychological processes.