The Seagull
Anton ChekhovMasha has resolved to kill her love for Treplev, who has recently tried to kill himself, by marrying Medvedenko, who's affection she does not truly return. She relates her plan to Trigorin, a famous writer who she has known only for a short time.
MASHA:
I'm telling you all this because you're a writer. You may be able to use it. I tell you honestly: if he had seriously wounded himself, I would not have gone on living another minute. But I have courage, all the same. I've made up my mind to tear this love out of my heart - tear it out by the roots.
I'm going to get married. To Medvedenko... (Beat.) To love without hope... to spend whole years waiting for something... But when I marry, there'll be no more of that, new cares will stifle the old. Anyhow, it will be a change...
Don't look at me like that. Women drink more often than you imagine. Only a few drink openly, as I do, the majority drink in secret...
Good luck! You're a very unassuming person, I'm sorry to be parting from you...
My schoolmaster is none too clever, but he's kind, and a poor soul, and he loves me very much. I'm sorry for him...
Well, I wish you all the best. Don't think badly of me. I'm very grateful to you for your friendly interest. Do send me your books, and be sure to autograph them. Only don't write: "To my esteemed friend,"; but simply: "To Masha, who doesn't know where she comes from or why she is living in this world." Good-bye!
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