Meanings to some words:
Farce: a comic dramatic work
dessiatins = a measurement of
land in Russia
Pardon- forgive or excuse (a
person, error or offence)
Awfully- very; extremely
Inherited- received as an heir at
the death of the previous holder
Affectionate- readily feeling or
showing fondness or tenderness
Oxen meadows- a land full of
grass for animals to graze in
Birchwoods- a wood of birch trees
Assistance- the action of helping
someone
Desire- a strong feeling of
wanting to have something or wishing for something
to happen
Idiotic- very stupid; silly
Consent- agreement to do
something
Egad- exclamation (expressing
surprise, anger, or affirmation)
Lovesick- longing, yearning or
desiring
Trembling- shaking or quivering,
typically as a result of excitement, anxiety or
frailty
Hesitate- pause in indecision
before saying or doing something
Housekeeper- a person who manages
a household
Palpitations- a noticeably rapid,
strong or irregular heartbeat due to agitation,
exertion or illness
Twitch- a sudden quick moment or
feeling
Lunatic- a person who is mentally
ill (not in technical use)
Neglige- form of nightgown
Gypsies- a group of nomadic
people who travel from one place to another
Impudent- not showing due respect
for another person
Carafe- an open-topped glass
flask used for serving wine or water in a
restaurant
Hoarse- sounding rough and harsh
Restrain- prevent from doing
something; keep under control or within limits
Excruciating- intensely painful;
severe; acute; extreme
Palpitation- heartbeat
Hump- A rounded protuberance
found as an abnormality on the back of a
person
Guzzling- greedy (here)
Gambler- a person who gambles;
speculator
Intriguer- someone who tricks,
deceives or cheats
Malicious-intending or intended
to do harm
Numb- deprived of the power of
physical sensation
Rascal- devil
Impudence- audacity
Perpetuity- the state or quality
of lasting forever
Summary:
Lomov is a 35 year- old gentleman who suffers from palpitations, gets upset very easily. He thinks it is the best age for him to get married and he is happy that he has his mind made-up about Natalya. According to him, Natalya is average-looking and a good housekeeper. When Natalya arrives, Lomov begins the conversation about how grateful and glad he is that both their families are on good terms since the very beginning.
While continuing to talk about his land, he somehow mentions about Oxen Meadows. The property was in a dispute earlier, but it belongs to him now. Natalya believes that Oxen Meadows belong to her family. Both of them enter into a heated discussion and act childishly when Chubukov enters just to get the conversation more heated. They shout and scream while Lomov suffers from extreme pounding of the heart, a side pull, and a numb foot. They throw Lomov out of the house and continue cursing him.
While speaking ill of him, Chubukov unintentionally reveals that he had come with a marriage proposal for Natalya. Natalya is surprised and regrets sending him out. She tells her father to bring him back immediately and Chubukov curses himself on being a father of a grown-up daughter.
When Lomov returns, Natalya tries to deviate to another topic and starts talking about shooting. Soon they enter into an argument involving their dogs. Natalya feels that her Squeezer is better than Lomov’s Guess. They continue arguing when Chubukov enters the scene only to make the situation worse, once again. Everyone gets hyper and Lomov finally falls due to his palpitations. Even then, the cursing continues when suddenly Natalya notices that he is unconscious. When they fail to make him drink some water, they think that he is dead.
Textual Questions and Answers
Thinking About the Play (Page
157)
1. What does Chubukov at first
suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says ‘And I’ve
always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your
answer from the play.
At first, Chubukov suspected that
Lomov had come to borrow money as he was in his evening dress. He was not
sincere when he told Lomov that he had always loved him and that he was like
his own son, because he had decided to not give any money to Lomov.
2. Chubukov says of Natalya: “…….
as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat……”
Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.
Yes, Natalya is in love. This is
clear by the way she behaves when she gets to know that Lomov had come to
propose to her. She starts weeping and asks her father to bring Lomov at once.
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