Who is Lopakhin?
The complete name of Lopakhin in the play is Ermolai Lopakhin. He is a successful businessman whose forefathers were once slaves or commonly referred to as serfs who worked in the estate of Lyubov. Just like his drunk father, Lopakhin is an uneducated person who himself admits,
Here I've been reading this book, but I understood nothing. I read and fell asleep.
Basically, the character of Lopakhin is a representative of the rise of middle class due to their dedication as well as their use of business mind. Just like the Character of Lyubov, the character of Lopakhin is also a blend of both good qualities and some shortcomings as well. Let's explore:
A Genius Businessman
Lopakhin does not hesitate in accepting the change that shook the upper strata living in Russia. The change that gives him a right to be a master of his roubles enables him to perform wonderfully in the field of business. Due to his thorough indulgence in business, he develops the cynical mind of a businessman who sees nothing but his profit. But we can look at Lopakhin through a lens of kindness because despite having the mind of a businessman, Lopakhin remains faithful to Lyubov. He could have bought the Cherry Orchard in the first place but he gave Lyubov a chance to redeem herself,
Here’s my plan. Please attend carefully! Your estate is only thirteen miles from the town, the railway runs by, and if the cherry orchard and the land by the river are broken up into building lots and are then leased off for villas you’ll get at least twenty-five thousand roubles a year profit out of it.
So, it is evident that Lopakhin is a genius businessman who also sees profit as well as remains faithful to Lyubov simultaneously.
He does not Hide his Past
As mentioned before, Lopakhin belongs to the rising working class who was once under the influence of their masters. Even after becoming a successful businessman, he does not feel shy of concealing his past just like we find in our surroundings. He does not forget about the (minor) atrocities that were inflicted on the serfs by their masters.
I’ve bought the estate where my grandfather and my father were slaves, where they weren’t even allowed into the kitchen.
He wears a simple dress just like in his old past days. He is aware of the fact that the fall of the aristocratic class is their habit of spending lavishly on normal articles of life like expensive clothes and furniture etc.
Lopakhin and Love
Love is a difficult passion for a businessman like Lopakhin to practice. From Act 1 to 4, the topic of marriage between Lopakhin and Varya is discussed. Lopakhin does not seem to dislike the idea of love. But he does not seem to show interest in the idea of marriage. Shmoop suggests four reasons why Lopakhin didn't bother to propose Varya.
- He wants to break from his past of being a serf. How shall he marry a girl that belonged to the family that enslaved his forefathers.
- He wants to focus more on his business.
- He might be in love with Lyubov.
- He does not want to get married at all.
The second point is also validated by Varya herself in the text:
I can’t propose to him myself, little mother. People have been talking about him to me for two years now, but he either says nothing, or jokes about it. I understand. He’s getting rich, he’s busy, he can’t bother about me.
So, it's clear that Lopakhin does not take marriage seriously.
His Lack of the Appreciation of Beauty and Feelings
Lopakhin is a cynical businessman. He only seems to see the materialistic value from the articles of life. When Lopakhin gives the idea to cut down the Cherry trees, Lyubov seriously replies,
Cut it down? My dear man, you must excuse me, but you don't understand anything at all. If there's anything interesting or remarkable in the whole province, it's this cherry orchard of ours.
But this isn't true. Lopakhin is, after all, a human being. He has a slight tendency to be fascinated by the natural beauty. He remarks:
In the spring I sowed three thousand acres of poppies, and now I've made forty thousand roubles net profit. And when my poppies were in flower, what a picture it was! So I, as I was saying, made forty thousand roubles.
So, Lopakhin does appreciate beauty but his sense of being a businessman dominates him to a great extent.
Another shortcoming in the character of Lopakhin is his lack of feelings. He does seem to be feelingless when he orders to cut the Cherry trees in front of Lyubov. But the most brutal of all is his soliloquy of victory:
The cherry orchard is mine now, mine! [Roars with laughter] My God, my God, the cherry orchard’s mine! Tell me I’m drunk, or mad, or dreaming.... [Stamps his feet] Don’t laugh at me! If my father and grandfather rose from their graves and looked at the whole affair, and saw how their Ermolai, their beaten and uneducated Ermolai, who used to run barefoot in the winter, how that very Ermolai has bought an estate, which is the most beautiful thing in the world!
His speech is equally fascinating as well as ugly. But to call him a feelingless shall be an injustice to him. Because when he meets Lyubov after the auction, he cries before her,
Why then, why didn’t you take my advice? My poor, dear woman, you can’t go back now. [Weeps]
This clearly shows how meek his uncivilized heart can get.
Conclusion
Conclusively, Lopakhin is a major character with whom a great deal of symbolism is associated. He is a prime example of the success that he achieved by accepting the change.
