The Cherry Orchard: Reality, Illusion, and Foolish Pride
             In the plays The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, A Doll's House by
             Henrik Ibsen, and Galileo by Bertolt Brecht, the protagonists' mental beliefs
             combine reality and illusion that both shape the plot of each respective story.
             The ability of the characters to reject or accept an illusion, along with the
             foolish pride that motivated their decision, leads to their personal downfall.
             In The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov, Gayev and Miss Ranevsky, along
             with the majority of their family, refuse to believe that their estate is close
             to bankruptcy. Instead of accepting the reality of their problem, they continue
             to live their lives under the illusion that they are doing well financially.
             The family continues with its frivolous ways until there is no money left (the
             final night they have in the house before it is auctioned, they throw an
             extravagant party, laughing in the face of impending financial ruin) Even when
             Lopakhin attempts to rescue the family with ideas that could lead to some of the
             estate being retained, they dismiss his ideas under the illusion that the
             situation is not so desperate that they need to compromise any of their dignity.
             Lopakhin: As you know, your cherry orchard's being sold to pay your
             debts. The auction is on the twenty second of August. But
             there's no need to worry, my dear. You can sleep soundly.
             There's a way out. Here's my plan. Listen carefully, please.
             Your estate is only about twelve miles from town, and the
             railway is not very far away. Now all you have to do is break
             up your cherry orchard and the land along the river into
             plots and lease them out for country cottages. You'll then have
             an income of at least twenty-five thousand a year.
             Gayev: I'm ...