Heartbreak House

Set against the backdrop of pre-war Europe, the play explores the cultural and moral decay of a society on the brink of disaster. Influenced by Russian playwrights like Tchekov, it reflects on the futility and ennui of the upper class, as depicted through their interactions in a stifling drawing-room atmosphere. Tolstoy critiques this world with harsh realism, advocating for a radical awakening, while Tchekov adopts a more fatalistic view, suggesting that these charming yet complacent figures are destined for downfall.