The Seagull Characters

Konstantin's Identity CrisisSo Konstantin's having a quarter-life crisis. He's having a really bad quarter-life crisis. As Arkadina's son, he associates his self-worth with his creative potential....

Arkadina the ActressLike many of the characters in this play, Arkadina's personality is primarily shaped by her profession. She's an Actress with a capital A. (She's also a Diva with a capital D.)...

Nina: Idealistic or Starstruck?Nina is the nineteen-year-old neighbor of Sorin. In Act 1, she and Konstantin are in love and she's starring in his play. She's so happy: "My heart's overflowing with...

Trigorin the WriterTrigorin is a famous writer, and the lover of both Arkadina and Nina. His whole personality circles outward from this core identity of "writer." The need to write and to be read...

Sorin is Arkadina's big brother. He's sixty years old and lives with Konstantin on the farm. He's a friendly old guy with bad health and bad luck, and he hasn't achieved the things he wanted in lif...

Dorn is the local doctor and a friend of the family. He's fifty-five, handsome, well-educated and well-traveled. Women love him, and he loves them back. He flirts with Arkadina and Nina and carries...

Masha is the daughter of Shamrayev and Paulina. She's dramatic and depressive and she always wears black. A moody type—think goth—Masha's attracted to Konstantin's Edgar Allan Poe act:"You shou...

Paulina is Shamrayev's wife and Masha's mom. She's having an affair with Dorn. Just as Sorin serves as a cautionary tale for Konstantin, Paulina should be one for Masha. She's trapped in a loveless...

Shamrayev manages Sorin's farm, is husband to Paulina, and is father to Masha. He's a blowhard and a bully. He calls Arkadina "Madame," and tries to impress her with stories of old actors and singe...

Medvedenko is Masha's suitor and then husband. He's a small-minded schoolteacher; a wimpy character Chekhov clearly enjoyed throwing into the mix. In Three Sisters, another Masha is married to anot...