Chekhov’s characters Dmitri and Anna meet at the seaside resort town of Yalta. It is a fantasy vacation spot, away from the problems of everyday life. There are not many exciting things to do in Yalta, and when people have time on their hands, they sometimes get into trouble. With Yalta as the setting, the story is ripe for an illicit affair. When Dmitri meets Anna and their fling is set in motion, the town instantly becomes infused with romance. Colors, sounds and scents come alive. When they leave Yalta, the town turns gray and dull. Beautiful scenery and floral scents are replaced by descriptions of the arrival of autumn and cold weather. Yalta is a good setting choice because its breezy, lazy environment is perfect for an adulterous affair. Its significance to the story is enhanced by Chekhov’s varying descriptions of the town, which mirror the emotions of the characters and developments in the narrative.
2 thoughts on “What is the significance of the two lovers meeting at Yalta, a resort town?”
Comments are closed.
I agree with you that the setting of the resort town is significant to Dmitri and Anna’s love affair. Yalta signifies an escape from reality. Like you said, the scene is dull at first but becomes a lot more vivid when their affair begins.
I agree with your description of the contrast between being in Yalta and leaving Yalta. The setting of the story goes along with the mood of the characters and the surrounding atmosphere. When Anna leaves Yalta, Dmitri doesn’t feel at home anymore which can be depicted through the illustration of a “cold evening” (5).