The Seagull Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. Is pursuing perfection in art worth it if it makes you unhappy?
  2. Do you think the characters in The Seagull are capable of contentment? How could they attain it?
  3. What do you think: how much of this play is Chekhov working out his own demons as an artist and a man?
  4. Do you like these characters or do they tick you off?
  5. Who do you like or detest, and why?
  6. How are these characters' struggles for contentment relevant to life today?
  7. Is Chekhov saying that love is impossible?
  8. Is he saying that happiness is impossible?
  9. If you were to pick, which one element of Konstantin's life makes his the unhappiest?
  10. Why does the play end so abruptly?
  11. If you were to write a sequel, where would you place these characters in ten years' time?