Marina

Marina Timofeyevna (Марина Тимофеевна) 

Quick Biography
With the absence of Serebryakov as the father and with Vera’s untimely death, Marina played a significant role in raising Sonia. Within the past few years, she has become very good friends with Astrov, through his intermittent visits. She is a religious woman, and undoubtedly transferred some of this quality into Sonia.

Analysis
Like Telyeghin, who is a portrait of the country man, Marina is the portrait of a country woman and like Serebyrakov, who is a portrait of an aging man, Marina is the portrait of an aging woman. Her religiousness and kindheartedness is the salient point which is framed by her character.

However, unlike Serebryakov, who is aging and complaining often, Marina suffers the same pains of a failing body, but bears it well. The two characters oppose and foil each other, such that Serebryakov seems unnecessarily difficult, whereas Marina is given the image of an incredibly peaceable, patient woman who endures her pain.

What’s in a name?
Marina can be an allusion to Agia Marina, a saint in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Marina is known in other forms of Christianity as well; however, most of the world calls her Saint Margaret. Agia Marina is the patron saint of childbirth, peasants, and nurses. Marina’s peasant-like charm, as well as her soothing ability to take care of conflicts is reflected in name given to her by Chekhov.