The play's opening scene takes place on the day of Irina's birthday, and all three sisters express their desire to return to Moscow. The first act sets up the family dynamic, with all three sisters longing to escape from their existence in the town.

As the plot unfolds, we see each of the sisters struggling to find meaning in their lives. Olga is stuck in a job she does not enjoy, Masha is unhappy in her marriage to local teacher Kulygin, and Irina is yearning for her idealized Prince Charming. All of them believe their salvation lies in returning to Moscow.

The play is a commentary on the human condition and the futility of our pursuit of happiness. Chekhov shows that no matter how much we long for something, we can never escape the mundanity that surrounds us. In the end, the sisters' dreams remain unfulfilled, and they are stuck in the same place as before. The desire for a better life is universal, but the path to attaining it is uncertain.

Despite the tragic ending, the play is not entirely pessimistic. Chekhov offers a glimmer of hope in the character of Baron Tuzenbach, who represents the utopian dream that the sisters cling to. He is a dreamer, who also longs for a better life, but he is not willing to give up his ideals for temporary happiness.