Plays of Anton Chekhov

[epictetus]

I have a question for a class which I am finding profoundly difficult to answer due to its obtuse nature and was wondering if anyone had insights on the topic of:

How does Chekhov define "art"?

[A Siege]

Chekhov said that it was an artist's job to raise questions, not necessarily to provide answers. I recommend you check out "The Personal Papers of Anton Chekhov" and/or "Letters of Anton Chekhov." He says that he has a hard time talking about art. His aims as a writer can be gleaned from his responses to his critics. For example, one critic says it was morally irresponsible of him to write "The Horse-Stealers", and he replies that everyone already knows that stealing horses is wrong. His goal with the story was to convey the feeling of stealing horses and portray the subculture of thieves, he says.

[rlisker]

Dear Epictetus: I discuss this in an essay about The Seagull, which is a play about theatre, the world of theatre, and the role of theatre in society. If you are interested, you can go to: www.fermentmagazine.org/seagull.html
Thank you, Lucretius