PAPER ID:IJIM/Vol. 10 (IV)/ August/74-79/12

AUTHOR : Dr. Surender Kumar

TITLE : THE SEMIOTICS OF DISPLAY IN CHEKHOV’S THE CHERRY ORCHARD

ABSTRACT: Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard transforms theatrical space into a visual language that communicates the tensions of a society in transition. The orchard, estate, and stage setting act as signs that reveal the collapse of the old aristocracy and the uncertain emergence of a new social class. Through semiotic analysis, particularly following Roland Barthes’ theory of signification, the play may be read as a text where gestures, silences, and even furniture carry symbolic meaning. Lopakhin’s purchase of the orchard becomes a public display of power, while the sound of the breaking string signifies emotional rupture and the end of continuity. Chekhov’s subtle arrangement of space and action replaces melodramatic dialogue with the silent eloquence of visual symbols, making The Cherry Orchard a study in how theatre can speak through display rather than declaration.

KEYWORDS : Chekhov, Semiotics, Display, Symbolism, Space, Social Change, Visual Language, Lopakhin, Barthes.

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