Appearance and behavior
As befits a well-trained servant, Firs is neat and clean, as the nobles who dominate him taught him. The old footman went to meet his mistress Lyubov Andreevna Ranevskaya, who had returned from Paris, dressed in an old livery and a tall hat. In the house he wears a jacket, white vest, and shoes. Before serving the gentlemen at the table, he puts on white gloves. At a ball hosted by Ranevskaya, Firs serves in a tailcoat and serves seltzer water to the guests.
Despite the fact that Firs is leaning on a stick, he walks hastily, trying to have time to please his masters and take care of them. At 87, he is hard of hearing and mutters quietly to himself. His mind has not yet been clouded by senile insanity and other “charms” of old age.
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Character, outlook on life
Firs represents the past. It is thoroughly imbued with antiquity, not only physically, but more from an internal feeling. Firs was born and lived the first half of his life under serfdom. He calls the abolition of serfdom a misfortune; he still remembers the mysterious signs that, in his opinion, foreshadowed this misfortune: an owl screamed and the samovar hummed continuously. This is a sign that the hero is a fatalist by nature - a person who completely worships fate, who believes that something has been “predestined” for him from above.
Born a servant? Know your place. Nature doesn't have bad weather. It does exactly what it should: arranges living beings into hierarchies. To the judicious and rational Firs it seems fair and logical that a small percentage of people dominate, and the majority submit to the will of others only on the basis of ephemeral status, being chosen by God, etc. His thoughts are based on traditions and customs accepted in society. Essentially, from those things that cannot be rationally comprehended, but only need to be accepted, merging with society.
Serfdom for this old servant is the embodiment of stability, reliability, and order. In this he is similar to Ipat, a character in N. A. Nekrasov’s poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'” (chapter “The Foundling”). Both of these serfs did not approve of the abolition of serfdom; they wanted to continue to be faithful slaves of their noble masters.
Firs's attitude towards the cherry orchard is a symbolic attitude towards the old time, the old order. He recalls how earlier on the Ranevsky estate they made jam from cherries, pickled them, soaked them, and sent the dried ones by carts to Moscow and Kharkov, and this brought great benefits. Then they knew a way to dry cherries so that they were juicy, soft, and fragrant, but this method has already been forgotten.
Despite the oddity of his character, the old footman deserves respect for those character traits with which he is gifted in abundance - honesty, patience and hard work. It also honors the memory of the parents of the current owners of the estate.
Firs
The works created by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov are deservedly included in the list of works that form the basis of classical drama. The play “The Cherry Orchard” is present in the repertoire of most drama theaters and is considered one of the most frequently chosen for production on stage.
The work presents the reader with characteristic characters characteristic of Chekhov's philosophy. The secondary characters also stand out against the background of the foreground heroes. This includes the valet Firs.
History of creation
Writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
The old man has been serving in Ranevskaya’s house for more than half a century. He personifies the past of Russia, since his biography is closely connected with times long past. Firs was a servant under the grandfather of the main characters when the trees of the cherry orchard were young.
The old way of life shapes the views of the valet, who panders to the old order. The prototype of the image of Firs can be considered Ipat, a lackey described by Nekrasov in the poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'.”
Just like Firs, Ipat renounced personal freedom after the abolition of serfdom and preferred the role of a servant, which he had become accustomed to over the years of working in the prince’s house.
Like Ipat, Firs recalls the youth of his masters, their whims and obsessions. Contrary to Ipat's satirical characterization, Firs receives support from the author. Chekhov understands his hero and favors him. Phrases come out of the valet's mouth describing the playwright's thoughts and the idea of the play.
Firs is distinguished by a love of order, manifested in actions and in everyday life. In old age, he analyzes the atmosphere around him in the country and in the house and understands that the usual way of things has disappeared, that everything has become disorganized. Other characters in the work also feel instability.
Firs
The author, through the mouth of Firs, calls him and other characters “klutzes,” people unable to accept life. This is clearly depicted in the description of the attitude towards the cherry orchard. Firs sees him as young as in the past, Gaev sees him as an opportunity to trump him, and Lopakhin cuts down trees, trying to save him. Anya and Petya are thinking about creating new gardens, and not about preserving the old one.
The fate of Firs is tightly connected with the estate. Chekhov described him as a faithful servant. This type of hero is found in the works “The Minor” by Fonvizin, “Eugene Onegin” by Pushkin, and “Oblomov” by Goncharov. A representative of old Russia, its spirit, culture, traditions and faith, this multi-faceted, deep character is compared with the heroes proclaiming the ideals of the new time.
Play "The Cherry Orchard"
Illustration for the play “The Cherry Orchard”
A fan of serfdom, old Firs demonstrates the indestructible bond between servant and master, cherished for centuries. The abolition of habitual bondage destroys his life, since now he becomes superfluous and unnecessary in a society where until recently the entire life relied on him.
Therefore, an incomprehensible chaos reigns around the man. Firs acts as a kind of guardian of the family nest, looks after the household, remains a nanny for the barchuks who have grown up before his eyes, continuing to monitor their appearance.
Despite his detachment from the realities of life, Firs retains the ability to think rationally.
The hero’s attachment to his owners is associated with sincere feelings, since he spent his life on them. Therefore, he cries touchingly when meeting Ranevskaya and continues to straighten Gaev’s clothes.
Remaining in a house locked for the winter, before his death Firs does not think about his needs, although the newfound freedom encourages him to do so. He is more concerned about how his wards feel, who have forgotten about him.
Ranevskaya and Gaev
The unlucky dandy Yasha, who is with the dim-witted young lady Ranevskaya, looks in contrast against the backdrop of the solid Firs. The old man dies without attention, because no one cares about him, although those around him see his condition.
Chekhov draws peculiar parallels between masters and servants. In comparison with Dunyasha and Yasha, who copy the morals of the masters, Firs personifies the qualities that today’s nobles lack. Wise, faithful to his work and dear people, devoted and kind Firs earns the respect of the author and reader.
Film adaptations
The play “The Cherry Orchard” is in demand among theater producers. Every director sooner or later turns to Chekhov’s work, which contains ideas whose relevance does not lose over time.
The playwright’s philosophy is also interesting to film producers, which is why the work is often filmed. “The Cherry Orchard” could be seen on screens since 1936. The first director to pay attention to the play was Chieko Hagiyasyama.
Then colleagues from Britain and Germany offered the public multi-part television projects based on the play.
The first full-length works based on Chekhov's work appeared in the second half of the 20th century.
Igor Ilyinsky as Firs (still from the film “The Cherry Orchard”)
Actor Igor Ilyinsky embodied the image of an old valet in the 1983 film. He also directed the film. Paul Curran played the role of a servant in the 1991 film.
Alexander Grave appeared as Firs in Anna Chernakova’s 1993 film “The Cherry Orchard. Fantasies on the theme." In the 1999 film by Michalis Kakoyannis, Fiers was played by Michael Gough.
Igor Yasulovich portrayed the valet of Gaev and Ranevskaya in the film “Garden” by Sergei Ovcharov, filmed in 2008.
Attitude towards others
Firs treats his masters with great love; they are the closest people to him. When Ranevskaya arrived, who had not been to the estate for five years, Firs even cried with joy. “My lady has arrived! Waited for it! Now at least I can die...” he says joyfully. The old servant tries to serve Lyubov Andreevna as best as possible: he himself fusses around the coffee pot when she wants coffee, puts a pillow under her feet to make it comfortable.
According to tradition, Firs teaches young people based on his valuable experience as a person who has known a lot of things in life. Mr. Gaev is over fifty years old. But this does not in the least prevent the old lackey from caring and being needed by the carefree Leonid Andreevich. He really takes care of Gaev: he makes sure that the owner goes to bed on time, undresses and dresses him himself, cleans his clothes with a brush, makes sure that he dresses for the weather, brings him a coat and makes him put it on so that he doesn’t catch a cold. Even remaining forgotten in the boarded-up house, the old servant worries that he did not look after Gaev and that he rode in a light coat, and not a fur coat. He often says about Leonid Andreevich: “Young and green!” Firs cares so much about his master and talks to him like a child, instructively, sometimes even reproachfully, that Gaev once told him: “I'm tired of you, brother!”
Firs has a formed opinion about the relationships between people. The strongest are - no, not family or even friendly - but the relationship between slave and master. The old servant is only for close relationships, because he has no one else except his masters. But what about freedom - the inalienable right of any person? For some this is a right, but for Firs there is an incomparable feeling of unhappiness and abandonment. He calls the abolition of serfdom a misfortune and says that “he did not agree to freedom, he remained with the masters.”
Firs treats the maid Dunyasha strictly. When she reported at a ball that a postal official had paid her a compliment, the footman warned her to be careful: “You’ll get twisted.”
Firs calls Dunyasha a klutz when she forgot to bring cream for Ranevskaya’s coffee, and Yasha when he said that Firs was boring him. And finally, at the end of the play, finding himself locked in a boarded-up house, he says to himself: “Oh, you... klutz!..”
Firs' essay in the play The Cherry Orchard (Image and Characteristics)
In the work of A.P.
Chekhov's “The Cherry Orchard” has a large number of minor characters, different in character and worldview. The writer created this literary work during the period of radical transformations that took place after the end of the slave system. The writer was going to demonstrate the differences between the followers of the past structure of life and a new type of people who found the strength to adapt to the new reality. Firs is among the first heroes of the literary work. It not only complements the general contrast of “The Cherry Orchard,” but also clearly shows all the differences in the work. Firs is a smart old man, he always worked as a servant for the landowner Ranevskaya. He has long turned 87, but he doesn’t want to retire at all. In appearance, the character does not stand out in any way from all people of a similar rank. He is dressed in a shabby sleeveless vest, shirt and jacket. Below, Firs has worn trousers and sparkling dark shoes. The servant tries to take care of his clothes. He is neat and clean. Doesn't pay attention to his own decrepitude, Firsu maintains a sober head. Even his masters, Ranevskaya and Gaev, can envy his resourcefulness and sobriety. This character tries to carefully handle the property of the owners, knowing its value. But at the same time, he has a positive attitude towards landownership. The elder thinks that such a reality makes the continuous development of the country possible. He is not even shocked by the torment of the villagers and other residents of the lower classes.
Firs is mentioned in a small number of events, which makes it quite difficult to verify his interpersonal relationships with the rest of the characters in the story. But it can be emphasized that Firs is respectful to his own masters. Even after the abolition of serfdom, he did not leave them and did not stop serving selflessly. The servant understood that his masters would not be able to last even a day without his support. For example, Gaev, at 50 years old, cannot fit into his trousers. The 87 year old man never stops serving them. He turned out to be some kind of benefactor who raises his children from his knees. The boyars do not see the troubles and help of Firs and treat him as movable property. They think he doesn't deserve their attention.
Firs' passing away at the end of his literary work is unusual and tragic. The remaining characters, having gotten rid of the estate and garden, leave the house. They do not remember their gray-haired servant. As a result, the destitute old man finds himself alone with himself and leaves for another world. This picture contains the main value of the work. The writer sought to show that Firs, as an adherent of the norms and traditions of bygone times, ceases to live and fades away. With the death of this individual the present age of slavery disappears. And the emigrated characters found the strength to accept the new world order, which was unusual for them, and set off towards their dream. Despite Firs's friendly nature, he would not be able to adapt to new realities. Because of this, the servant was abandoned by everyone as a relic of the past.
Fate of Firs
Firs lived all his long life on the Ranevsky estate and served these nobles. He did not wish for a different fate for himself, and was not burdened by his serfdom. This man loved his masters with all his soul. When serfdom was abolished in Russia, Firs did not agree to leave the Ranevsky estate and served his masters as before. He was the senior valet, and there were servants under his command. Now there are no numerous servants on the estate of the impoverished Ranevsky nobles, and Firs complains that he is the only one in the whole house. When Ranevskaya, seeing that he is unwell, sends him to bed, the old footman says with a grin: “...and without me, who will serve, who will give orders? One for the whole house."
Firs considers himself a manager in the house. So what, what about a lackey? Any master would consider such a servant a gift from fate. In fact, Firs cannot control anything or anyone while in a subordinate position.
Firs is so submissive to his masters that he is not able to think about his future life after the sale of Ranevskaya’s estate. “Wherever you order, I’ll go there,” he says to Lyubov Andreevna. The lady decided to send the sick old man to the hospital, but did not care where he would live later.
As a result, Firs, who at the beginning of the play rejoiced at the lady’s arrival and said: “I’ve waited! Now at least I’ll die…” – indeed, he’ll be forced to die in a boarded-up house. His masters, whom he served faithfully all his life, did not bother to find out for sure whether Firs was sent to the hospital.
The old footman, realizing that he was left alone in a boarded-up house, says to himself: “Life has passed, as if he had never lived. <…> Eh... you klutz!..” He wanted to die in the estate of his beloved gentlemen, and, indeed, the gentlemen, although not intentionally, leave him to die in a boarded-up house.
The role of the image of Firs in the play is that his memories of former times emphasize the insolvency and spiritual emptiness of the current owners of the estate. The fate of Firs is a verdict on the lack of spirituality of the nobility.
Essay about Firs
Gogol's works were always filled with themes that excited the minds of his contemporaries, forcing them to think about this or that issue; in other words, he made people think, trying to guide them on the path of enlightenment and awareness, no matter who these people were.
So in his work “The Cherry Orchard” he discusses with the reader the topic of the abolition of serfdom, the possible consequences of this event, and other things that would be nice to think about together. Actually, he did just that in his work. Namely, in this work he reflects through the image of Firs.
Through his image, the author conveys to us the whole range of emotions that the old generation, accustomed to established norms and rights, experienced. Through the image of Firs, the problem of conservatism can also be traced, that is, the denial of everything new and revolutionary, since the old society was accustomed to established rules and did not want to change them, which explains Firs’ excessive conservatism. He is simply afraid of losing the life to which he is accustomed and which he loved with all his heart. And in the process of the story, we learn that this very life, one might say, was taken away from him, which is why he is very indignant, since he is used to obeying and being obeyed. The only stronghold of his old life is the cherry orchard, in which he feels as if in the past, transported to a time that is pleasant and radiant for him. Based on all this, the image of Firs becomes understandable and as clear as possible.
Firs is a man of the old era, does not perceive anything new, and does not want changes in his life; in truth, he can easily be called a person of a very conservative character and lifestyle. Since he is accustomed to everything old, the abolition of serfdom, which in itself is very new for Russia, makes him feel very uncomfortable even at home, and only in his cherry orchard can he feel complete safety and serenity.
Also, through his image, the author speaks to the reader, discussing the question of the correctness of the decision of the authorities to abolish serfdom, since he was tormented by similar thoughts, and he often thought about what could ultimately happen after this event. Where will the vector of development of his homeland turn after the abolition of such a terrible thing as serfdom?
