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Three Sisters - Act 3 - Olga and Natasha

In Act 3 of Anton Chekhov's 'Three Sisters', tensions rise between Olga and Natasha as they argue about the treatment of Anfisa, the elderly servant. Natasha expresses her disdain for Anfisa's presence, insisting on order in the household, while Olga defends the old woman, highlighting her long service. The scene captures the emotional strain and differing values between the characters amidst a backdrop of personal and familial conflict.

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44 views3 pages

Three Sisters - Act 3 - Olga and Natasha

In Act 3 of Anton Chekhov's 'Three Sisters', tensions rise between Olga and Natasha as they argue about the treatment of Anfisa, the elderly servant. Natasha expresses her disdain for Anfisa's presence, insisting on order in the household, while Olga defends the old woman, highlighting her long service. The scene captures the emotional strain and differing values between the characters amidst a backdrop of personal and familial conflict.

Uploaded by

yue587147
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Anton Chekov Three Sisters, Act 3

(Trans. Sarah Ruhl)

Olga and Irina’s bedroom. Their beds are divided with screens.
Two A.M.
Sirens ringing.

OLGA
(Not listening to her) You can't see the fire from here, it's peaceful, this room...

NATASHA
Yes. I must look terrible. (Looking in the mirror) People say I'm "filling out" in the
middle. It's not true! Not a bit! And Masha's asleep, wiped out, poor dear. (To Anfoa,
cold) How dare you sit when I'm standing right here? Get up! And get out!

Anfisa leaves. A pause.

NATASHA
Why you keep that old lady, I can't for the life of me under stand-

OLGA
(Dumbstruck) Excuse me, I do not understand you-

NATASHA
She has no purpose at all here. She's a peasant, she should be put out to pasture ... why
do you coddle her! I like order in the house. Useless people have no place in the home.
(Strokes Olga's cheek) Oh, poor thing, you're all tired out. Our headmistress is tired.
When my little Sofia grows up and goes to school, I'll be afraid of you.

OLGA
I won't be headmistress.

NATASHA
Oh, yes you will, Olya. They've decided already.

OLGA
I'll say no ... I can't ... I don't have the strength. (Drinking water) You were so rude to
Nanny ... I'm sorry, I can't stand it. I can't even see-black dots in front of my eyes ...

NATASHA
(Anxious) Forgive me, Olya, forgive me ... I didn't mean
to make you mad.

Masha gets up, takes a pillow and leaves, angry.

OLGA
Try to understand, my dear-you might say we were raised
strangely, but I will not stand for this. The way you treated
her, it makes me sick, chops my soul to bits.

NATASHA
Forgive me, forgive me ... (Kisses her)

OLGA
Even the smallest blunder, a word said without gentleness, it
makes my stomach churn.

NATASHA
I say too much. On occasion. But you have to agree with me,
my dear: she could go live in the country.

• OLGA
She's been with us thirty years.

NATASHA
But she can't work! Either I don't understand you, or you
don't want to understand me. She can't work. She sleeps,
or she sits.

OLGA
So let her sit.

'NATASHA
Let her sit? She's a servant. (Through tears) I don't
understand you, Olya. I have a nurse and a wet-nurse; we
have a maid, a cook-why do we need that old lady? Why?

A fire alarm rings.

OLGA
This one night and I am ten years older.

NATASHA
Let's come to an understanding, Olya. You live at school, I live at home. You have your
teaching, I have a house to run. And when I say something about the servants, well then I
know what I'm saying, 1 laww what I am saying! ... And by tomorrow morning, I don't
want to see that old bag, that old thief ... (Stamping her feet) ... that witch! Don't you dare
make me mad! Don't you dare! (Catching herself) Truly, if you don't move yourself down
stairs, we '11 be at each other, always. It's terrible.

Kulygin enters.

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