The Sea Gull (International Pocket Library)

Inspired by a real-life incident of the death of a seagull, this is hailed as the best written play by Chekov. It tells a poignant love story centered on literaray nonentity Konstantin's tragic quest for a burgeoning actress Nina. Swirling around the country estate are characters who reflect Konstantin's pain and suffering in their own harshly realistic ways. Chekov introduces a brand new form of literature to emphasize characters other than plot. Instead of placing characters beneath a steady frame, Chekov lets his characters guide the subtle movement of the sad tale of devastated dreams and hopes. The dying seagull symbolises the emptiness of defeat and further stressing the beauty of life.