The Proposal - Anton Chekhov

 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:

The curtain rises with Lomov entering his neighbour Chubukov’s house fully dressed up in his evening attire. Chubukov is surprised to see him well-dressed and asks him the occasion. Chubukov anticipates that he must have come to ask for money which he doesn’t intend on giving. Lomov reveals that he has come to make a request. On being revealed that Lomov had come to ask for Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya’s hand in marriage, Chubukov gets filled with excitement and leaves to call Natalya.
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.

It is only when Lomov moves a little bit, they feed him some water and Chubukov forcefully hands over Natalya’s hands to him, gives his blessings and asks them to kiss. Lomov, still not fully conscious doesn’t understand what is going on. When he finally comes to his senses, he expresses his excitement and kisses Natalya’s hands. Natalya, being childish as she is, manipulates him into accepting that Squeezer is better than Guess but Lomov, being adamant as he is, refuses to accept it. Thus, once again, the quarreling continues.

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.