Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Uncle Vanya: Personification 1 key example

Definition of Personification

Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Act 2
Explanation and Analysis—Estate as Tomb:

Throughout the play, Chekhov employs a range of devices—including metaphor, simile, and personification—to capture the estate's negative connotation in the minds of his characters. At the start of the second act, Serebryakov complains that no one around him seems to appreciate his contributions. In a metaphor, he compares being at home to being in a tomb:

I work all my life for learning, I’m used to my study, the lecture hall, colleagues I esteem – and then, I end up for no good reason in this tomb, see fools here every day, listen to worthless conversations…