Elena Andreyena

Elena Andreyena, who is also known by the names Helena and Yelena, is a 27 year old beauty born in Petersberg. In her youth she studied at a conservatory and is now seen by others as an idle and board in her life of privilege. She is accused of using her beauty to bewitch men. She is the wife of Serebryakov, an elderly professor. The fact that Elena has given away her youth to the professor is a constant theme in the play. Elena and the professor have just recently moved back to the estate and joined up with Sophie, Elena’s step-daughter. Elena is extremely unhappy in her marriage and can no longer stand her bitter grumbling old husband. She did marry for what she thought was love only to find out that her love was false. Even with all the accusations of bewitching beauty and the love (or lust) of both Uncle Vanya and the doctor, Elena stays faithful to her husband. There is a sense that Elena is in love with the doctor as well but she will not give into this feeling as it would not only hurt her marriage but it would hurt her step-daughter Sophie, who is in love with the doctor as well. Elena is seen as slightly mysterious because she does not have many monologues. Not much is known about her past other than her birthplace, where she studied and her love of music. In the end Elena opts to leave the estate rather than deal with the affections of both Uncle Vanya and the doctor.