The Proposal

Anton Chekhov
1) Sketch the character of Lomov.

Ans: Lomov one of the protagonist character of Chekhov’s one act play ‘The Proposal’, is a
nervous and funny person. He is unmarried and neighbor of Chubukov. He comes to propose
Natalya, the daughter of Chubukov in his critical age. According to him Natalya was a good house
keeper and good looking. Lomov has number of illness including nervous disorder. Suffering from
palpitation, Lomov was an argumentative character with unusual excitement. Impute of
proposing he started quarrelling with Natalya on several issues like ‘Oxen Meadows’ and about
the superiority of their pet dogs. So he failed to make the proposal. Under Chubulov’s instruction
he got married to Natalya with complete dizzy head. Lomov’s nature and continuous physical
abnormality make the readers to enjoy the drama. Thus Chekov’s creation of the character
Lomov to portray the drama as farce gets complete success.

2) Comment on the title of the play, ‘The Proposal’.

Ans: Anton Chekov’s, ‘The Proposal’ presents a classic commentary on erstwhile Russian society
with fun and satire. As the play unfolds, the story centers round with the marriage proposal of
Lomov, a landowner to his affluent neighbor Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya. All the three
characters are really materialistic, with a common desire of marriage. According to them, only
marriage can bring economic stability the society. The drama however got an unexpected turn
and twist when the couple started a strong verbal battle over laud property and later pet dogs.
This stalemate finds edge over the marriage proposal. Here, Chekhov’s satirical tone portrays the
then Russian society. Those three characters are attacking themselves below the belt forgetting
about the main thought of ‘marriage’. This title brings unmixed fun and satire at the same time.
Truly the title is apt and appropriate.

3) Sketch the character of Chubukov in the light of the play.

Ans: In the play ‘The Proposal’ Anton Chekhov has presented three characters. Stepan
Stepanovitch Chubukov, a landowner, a man having the attitude of shrewd business man, is the
father of the ‘grown up’ daughter. He was very quarrelsome man but he had a habit of speaking
politely to everyone initially. He welcomes Lomov with some ‘sweet words’ but remains doubtful
about Lomov’s purpose of visiting his home. He portrays himself as a supportive father when he
talks the side of his daughter against the argument with Lomov. Chubukov had lack of personality
as he uttered some really objectionable words towards Lomov and then to invite him cordially.
He played a major role to put the seal of anent to Lomov’s marriage proposal. That showed that
he fell relieved after the marriage of his daughter. Chubukov is projected as a loving father but a
greedy personality who lacked sensibility to seek materialistic gain only.
4) Describe Natalya, as you find in the play ‘The Proposal’.

Ans: Natalya is one of the protagonist characters of Chekov’s one act play ‘The Proposal’. She
was a young unmarried girl of twenty five years. She lived in the neighborhood of Lomov, a young
unmarried man. She was an excellent home keeper and was not bad looking. She was thirsting
for love. Her father called her a ‘lovesick cat’. But really stubborn by character, she was well
educated. Her quarrelsome attitude and abusive words brings the attention when she had bitter
arguments with Lomov over the land. After hearing that Lomov comes to propose her, she forgot
all fairness and unfairness. She forced her father to call him back. But in no time she started to
quarrel with him about the superiority of dogs. In haste, she married Lomov to start their ‘marital
bliss’. Being the only woman character of the play, she has played the most important role.

5) Why does Lomov think Natalya will make an acceptable wife?

Ans: Lomov comes to Chubukov’s house to propose his daughter Natalya thinking that she will
make an acceptable wife for him. He is well and is that he is already thirty five and he requires a
settler married life. At the same time he knows that Natalya is an educated girl of twenty five as
well as accomplished in domestic works. Again, is also presentable so far feminine beauty is
concerned. Thus Lomov considers Natalya acceptable as his wife. Lomov knows very well that he
can no longer hesitate to take decision. Nor can he expect to get a more beautiful lady than
Natalya because he suffers from so many ailments. This is why Lomov think Natalya to be the
fittest choice as his wife.

6) Make a brief sketch of social life as you see in the play.

Ans: ‘The Proposal’ focuses a spotlight on the contemporary Russian society of Chekhov’s time.
It is known that marriage used to be negotiated ridiculously and often without considering the
age gap in between the spouses. Marriages were mostly arranged and the quality, qualifications,
temperaments, attitudes etc hardly mattered. In most case, marriage was either a case of
economic benefits or of other gains. Girls could not decide or choose their partners. Daughters
were considered economic liability. Natalya was not an exception. Stepan Stepanovitch
Chubukov felt great relief when he could put Natalya’s hand in Lomov’s. Thus the play, ‘The
Proposal’ can be considered as a piece of contemporary Russian social life.

7) What aspects of the human condition and society does the play make fun of?

Ans: The one-act-play, ‘The Proposal’ has made fun of the following aspects of human condition
and society. Marriage proposal is never formally completed in the play. Lomov wants to marry
Natalya though he is suffering from a number of chronic nervous disorders. Natalya has no fixed
opinion about her marriage. Both Lomov and Natalya are interested to argue over the ownership
right regarding Oxen Meadows. They use most of their time arguing on the superiority of their
respective does. Chubukov seems worried when he finds Lomov fainted. To him, unmarried
Natalya is an added economic burden from which he wanted relief. Therefore when he could
bring Lomov and Natalya very closer by putting her hand into Lomov’s especially when the latter
was unconscious of what was happening was the time of extreme joy. We should not forget that
Chubukov and Lomov used a number of slangs during the haughty exchange of words.