Non-Stop Laughter

I would not say The Cherry Orchard is one of the funniest plays or books I have ever read, but comedy is present in a weird kind of way. Some of the characters are straight up crazy, like Firs and Gayev. In the middle of his sentence Gayev will "...yellow into the side pocket..." (377). I do not know why he does this but maybe it is to cope with his misery due to the loss of the cherry orchard or maybe it is because he is a raving lunatic. Either way it is kind of funny. Another part of the play that I guess could be funny is the very end. After a sad goodbye that everyone says to their former home, we find out that Firs was never actually in the hospital, he was in the locked room. Ha. It is just so ridiculous that the people would lock someone in a room that it is a little funny, but since Firs happens to be dying the humor is lacking. Firs himself is pretty comical. The whole play he has rambled on about things not even remotely related to what anyone else is talking about. Then, he changes completely and shows extreme maturity by being able to accept his death, realizing "there's no strength left in [him]", nothing's left, nothing" (380). And then he reverts to the crazy old Firs that we have come to know and love when he says, "Ach, you...addlepate" (380)!