Ivanov, married to Anna, who gave up her family and faith for him and is now dying of tuberculosis, is trying to escape in any way, from the asphyxiating atmosphere of his surroundings. Ivanov is one of the most common names in the Russian empire and Chekhov here relates it to dreams that are broken when our first youth comes to an end, and with feelings of emptiness, apathy, emotional stagnancy and eventually, death. In the face of Ivanov, we see all people who dreamed of a better world in their youth, but were let down by life and not given a second chance and whose only refuge now is to follow the road towards absolute silence.