The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is all about forces of change, resistance to change and supremacy of future over the past. If studied carefully the play is more of a comedy than a tragedy since it deals with ridiculous beliefs of people that makes them remain stuck in the past. The cherry orchard tree represents the past and the bygones. It is a symbol of old values and traditions, which had to be replaced by more modern values as times changed. But the owner of the house, Lubov Andreyevna Ranevsky refuses to accept change and wants to stay with the house and its cherry orchard. The play opens with the jubilation that was generated by the news of Ranevsky's return from Paris where she had had a sordid affair with an abusive person. She is returning with her daughter Anya and the play progresses we notice that Ranevsky has lost a great deal of money in Paris and is good amount of debt.
             In order to pay off the debts, Lopakhin, a businessman who had once been a serf suggests that the estate must be sold and some villas should be built in its place. These villas should then be rented out and this would bring in the much-needed money to clear off debts. However Ranevsky is stuck in the past and she doesn't want to part with the estate even though Lopakhin's suggestion is clearly the only way out. While all this is going on, Ranevsky is in touch with her lover back in Paris. Gaev who is Ranbevsky's beloved brother is equally clueless about how to resolve the problem of debts and foolishly wants to hold on to the cherry orchard and the estate.
             The only really progressive soul is that of Lopakhin who has made a great deal of money by using his shrewd business thinking and wants to help out these people too. His suggestion is however turned down till the point that there remains no other option and the property is auctioned off. Lopakhin buys the property and the play ends with the sound of chopping down the trees
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