The Proposal
Chapter Sketch
The proposal is a one act play by the Russian short story writer and dramatist Anton Chekov. The play is set in a rural countryside of Russia. A long time wealthy neighbour of Stepan Chubukov, Ivan Lomov, comes to seek the hand of Stepan’s daughter, Natalya As three of them are very proud and quarrelsome, they start fighting over petty issues.
The proposal of marriage is made finally but the quarrelling continues.
About the Characters
- Stephan Stepanovitch Chubukov →He is a landowner and the father of a young girl named Natalya
- Natalya →She is young girl. She is fussy and argumentative.
- Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov →He is a young man who wishes to marry Natalya. He is also very argumentative.
OVERVIEW OF THE CHAPTER
Lomov at Chubukov’s House:
The play begins with the scene set in Chubukov’s house.
Lomov comes there and meets Chubukov
Chubukov is extremely happy to meet him. He asks him to sit down and also enquires why was he wearing an evening dress. Lomov tells him that he has come there with a purpose. He tells him that he wants to request him about something. Suddenly he gets excited Chubukov feels that he must have come to borrow money from him. Lomov starts to speak and talks about random things. Finally he tells him that he has come there to ask for Natalya’s hand. Chubukov gets excited at hearing this.
Chubukov’s Reaction to the Proposal:
Chubukov gets so happy that he starts to behave idiotically. He hugs Lomov and kisses him. Lomov asks Chubukov that he wants his consent for the marriage. Chubukov tells him that he was always hoping that he would come to ask for Natalya’s hand.
Lomov Thinks About Natalya and his Life
Lomov starts trembling due to over excitement. He says that if he would have looked for a perfect partner he would have never got one and would have remained unmarried. He feels that Natalya is a good housekeeper. He says that she is not bad-looking and is very well educated. He feels he is already too old to get married and now he should lead a quiet and regular life. He starts to jump like a mad person.
Talk Between Lomov and Natalya:
Natalya comes and asks Lomov why had he not come there for a long time. She informs Lomov about the harvest. She asks him why was he dressed in an evening dress and enquired if he was going to a ball. Before Lomov told Natalya his purpose for the visit, they were off the point. He starts telling her that he has known his family for a very long time. He also tells her how he inherited his land and how he respects her father. He tells Natalya that his Oxen Meadows touch Natalya’s Birchwood. On hearing this, Natalya says that the Oxen Meadows are theirs.
Argument Regarding Land Ownership:
Natalya gets serious and tells him that Oxen Meadows do not belong to him. They actually belonged to them. Lomov clarifies that he is talking about the Oxen Meadows that are between her Birchwoods and Burnt marsh. Natalya insists that they are theirs. Lomov refuses it. He tells her that his aunt’s grandmother gave those meadows to her father’s grandfather. The peasants used the land for forty years.
Argument Continues Between Natalya and Lomov:
Natalya refuses and sticks on her point that those Meadow’s are theirs. Lomov on the other hand says that he has the documents to prove that it is his land. Natalya tells him that they had that land for nearly 300 years now.
Both of them continue fighting over the ownership of the land. Lomov offers to make a present of them to Natalya. She also says that she can make a present of them to him. They start shouting at each other.
Chubukov Takes Natalya’s Side:
Chubukov also enters the room. Natalya asks him to tell Lomov that the Oxen Meadows are owned by them. Chubukov also supports Natalya and regards the meadows as theirs. Lomov refuses. Chubukov says that by shouting Lomov cannot prove that the Oxen Meadows are owned by him. He accuses Lomov by saying that he cannot talk to him so disrespectfully as he is twice of his age. Lomov says that he is calling his land as his and wants him to speak to him politely. He calls Chubukov a land grabber.
Lomov threatens that he would take Chubukov to the court. A lot of abuses are exchanged between them. Chubukov says that Lomov’s grandfather was a drunkard. His younger aunt Nastasya ran away with an architect. Lomov felt that he was dying so he could not say anything at that time. Natalya also calls Lomov a rascal. Chubukov calls him a villain and a scarecrow. He also calls him a monster who has the courage to propose.
Chubukov tells Natalya the Purpose of Lomov’s Visit:
As soon as Lomov leaves their home, Chubukov tells Natalya that he came to propose her Hearing the word propose, Natalya enquires him. Chubukov tells him that Lomov had come there to propose Natalya for marriage. Hearing this Natalya starts crying. She asks Chubukov to bring Lomov back at once.
Fight Over the Dogs:
Lomov enters again. Natalya begs to be excused. They shift their talks to the dogs as Natalya tells him that the Oxen Meadows are his. They now talk about the dogs. Lomov tells Natalya that his best dog casted him 125 roubles. Natalya says that it is too much. She tells him that her father had given just 85 roubles for the Squeezer (her dog). She says Squeezer is better than his dog. Lomov refuses and says that his lower jaw is shorter than his upper jaw. Natalya says that Squeezer is of the finest pedigree. They both continue fighting over the breed of their dogs. Chubukov enters and enquires about the matter. Chubukov also says that Lomov’s dog is old and short.
Lomov Drops to the Ground:
Lomov suddenly falls. Natalya asks her father what has happened to him. Chubukov thinks that he has difficulty in breathing. Natalya says that she feels Lomov is dead. Chubukov then calls for water as well as a doctor.
Chubukov asks Lomov to Marry Natalya:
Chubukov seems helpless. He starts accusing himself. He asks for a knife and a pistol. He calls himself the most unhappy of men. Lomov starts reviving. Lomov says he sees stars. He asks where he is Chubukov says that he should hurry up and marry Natalya He also tells him that she is willing to marry him. Natalya becomes extremely happy on hearing this. Chubukov also feels happy and offers some champagne for this occasion.
Chapter Highlights
- Lomov goes to Chubukov’s house to seek hand of Chubukov’s daughter.
- Lomov tells Chubukov the purpose of his visit. Chubukov consents him to marry his daughter.
- Lomov starts talking of his land that Natalya thinks it is owned by her.
- Lomov explains Natalya that he owns the land. Argument continues between Lomov and Natalya.
- Chubukov arrives and takes side with Natalya.
- Agrument continues and Lomov leaves their house.
- Chubukov tells the purpose behind Lomov’s visit to Natalya.
- Natalya tells Chubukov to call Lomov. Lomov arrives and they quarrel again regarding whose pet dog is better.
- Lomov becomes unconscious. Chubukov gives her daughter’s hand to Lomov.
WORD MEANINGS
Squeeze →To press something firmly
Treasure (here) →Used to address a person you like
Privilege →A special right
Pardon →To excuse
Aloud →Very loudly
By Jove →Used to express surprise or emphasis
Interrupt →To ask questions or say things while another person is speaking
Continual →For a long time
Consent →To give permission for something
Tremble →To shake slightly as you are afraid, nervous, excited etc
Lovesick →Sick with love
Palpitation →Expressing surprise, anger or affirmation
Twitch →(of the heart) to beat quickly and strongly and often in a way that is not regular because of excitement, nervousness etc
Lunatic →A crazy person
Neglige →Gown
Splendid →Glorious
Rot →To decay
Ball →A large formal gathering for social dancing
Late →No longer alive
Inherited →Received from somebody
Regard →A feeling of respect and admiration for someone
Meadow →A place for grazing cattle
Marsh →A place with loose earth and water
Perpetuity →The state of continuing for a long time
Peasant →A farmer
Reckon →Believed
Wedged →To force into a narrow space, squeeze
Implore →To make a very serious or emotional request to someone
Principle →A moral rule that helps one know what is right and wrong
Behaviour →The way in which one acts or conducts onself, especially towards others
Threshing →Process of separating the grains from the plant
Gypsie →A homeless person
Impudent →Failing to show proper respect and courtesy
Grab →To obtain immoraly
Carafe →A galss container that has a wide mouth and is used to serve drinks
Mower →A person who cuts grass
Clutch →To hold with the hand
Hoarse →Loud
Restrain →To stop somebody from doing something
Yell →To say something very loudly especially as you are very angry
Excruciating →Very painful; causing great mental or physical pain
Accustomed →Habitual
Temporary →For some time
Agitating →Disturbing, exciting or angering someone
Embezzlement →One who argues about small issues To steal the money of your employer
Lunacy →Madness
Drunkard →A person who is drunk or who often gets drunk
Hump backed →Having a hump at the back
Guzzle →Eat or drink (something) greedily
Gambler →One who gambles
Intriguer →Cheater
Stagger →To move unsteadily from side to side
Rascal →A cruel or dishonest man
Scarecrow →A person who is very badly dressed, odd-looking or thin
Impudence →Quality of not showing respect for others
Confounded →Used for emphasis, especially to express anger or annoyance
Stuffed →Having things put inside something
Wizen-faced →Wrinkle-faced
Frump →A colourless person
Grown up →Adult To cry
Beating →Pulsation or throbbing, typically of the heart
Fetch →To go after and bring back someone
Evidence →Proof
Misfortune →Bad luck
Lame →Having an injured leg or foot that makes walking difficult or painful
Twisted →Forced out of its natural or proper shape
Bitten →To cut into someone with teeth
Expense →Expenditure
Pedigree →The history of the family members in a animal’s past especially when it is good or impressive
Assure →Convince
Thoroughbred →Of pure and unmixed breed
Worn-out →Tired
Overshot →Having the upper jaw extending the lower
Heaps (here) →Much