Chekhov's Uncle Vanya: A Study of Indifference and Miscommunication Anonymous College

In his play Uncle Vanya, Anton Chekhov uses many writing techniques to convey a sense of breakdown in communication. While his play has elements of humor in it, making it seem almost farcical at times, Chekhov was truly concerned about the lack of social interconnectedness in Russia during the 19th century. He conveys this frustration in his play through the conversations between his characters, such as when they are highly sarcastic, when they are fragmented, and when they are disconnected to the point where it is clear that each character is solely in his or her own head. He also shows the versatility of this breakdown by conveying it in different types of relationships, such as between parent and child, husband and wife, and two lovers.

While sarcasm can be used jokingly between two close people to convey their comfort and friendship with each other, it can often be used in an ambivalent way and cause miscommunication. The characters in Chekhov’s play seem to have trouble communicating on a level that is straightforward and honest, without any sarcastic humor. This is particularly obvious in the relationship between Mme. Voitskaya and her son, Ivan. While the mother tries to convey issues to her son that she feels he should...