In a paper that I found online, I found how a patron took a psychoanalytical approach to a production of A Month in the Country that he saw. Dr. Levine states that with A Month in the Country, "Turgenev was primarily concerned with the passions of our hearts and souls, the passions of internal psychic conflict, ambivalence, longing, guilt, envy, and jealousy."
The production that he saw, which was adapted by Irish playwright Brian Friel, Levine states Turgenev "paved a way for Chekov when Chekov wasn't even born." The adapter claimed Turgenev created a theatre of moods where action lies in the internal emotion and secret turmoil and not in external events. As an psychoanalyst, Dr. Levine investigated the internal of emotion and secret turmoil of the play he witnessed.
The production that he saw, which was adapted by Irish playwright Brian Friel, Levine states Turgenev "paved a way for Chekov when Chekov wasn't even born." The adapter claimed Turgenev created a theatre of moods where action lies in the internal emotion and secret turmoil and not in external events. As an psychoanalyst, Dr. Levine investigated the internal of emotion and secret turmoil of the play he witnessed.
Difference Between a Dam and Weir |
Rakitin as Ivan Turgenev |
In A Month in the Country Natalya's husband, Arkady, is building a dam (or as he corrects his friends a weir) behind all the action. It's important to know the significance between a weir and a dam. While a dam stops the flow of a body of water, a weir diverts the direction of the water flow. Levine signifies this as an important metaphor in the play. Most of these characters are trying to dam their emotions. Especially in Natalya. She is not completely blocking her interest in Belayev, but really diverting (with a lot of effort).
Belayev's DragonIn the beginning of the play, Belayev (the newcomer), is working on constructing a kite. While his presence seems delightful and incites the action for the rest of the play, we are left to wonder: why a kite?
It's interesting that the word kite in German, drachen, also means dragon. By creating a kite, he is creating a dragon and is going to release it upon the small group of people in A Month in the Country. It's amazing irony that although he may look and seem calm, the action he brings into this world can cause wildfire. |
Levine says Rakitin is the most tragic character in A Month in the Country. As with Turgenev's chaotic ending, he is a casualty because of the introduction of Belyaev. He leaves the estate in order to restore peace and tranquility, sacrificing himself because he was in love with Natalya. Along with Turgenev's long history with Pauline Viardot, it would seem that Rakitin was molded as Turgenev. Like Rakitin, Turgenev stood by his unrequited love being married to someone, and kept waiting.
Personal Life Into The PlayIt's no surprise that some writers rely on personal experience to write a story. It is also no surprise of how much Turgenev's life reflected A Month in the Country.
In the play we see Natalya, intimidating and strong headed, much like his mother. Rakitin is much like Turgenev himself as seen above. Vera represents the illegitimate child that Turgenev had with a peasant and left her upbringing to his unrequited love. The term dysfunctional is a good term to describe both his life and the environment of this play. |