9.

The Proposal
I. The Proposal Introduction
The Proposal is a one-act play that begins with a young man, Lomov presenting a marriage proposal to his neighbour’s
daughter. Before he could actually convey it to the girl, they enter into an argument about Oxen Meadows. Chubukov, the
lady’s father also joins the heated discussion. After they end this, they enter into another argument about their dogs and
which one is better than the other. In the midst of all this, proposal gets forgotten until Lomov falls off due to his palpitations
and Chubukov instantly puts her daughter’s hands in Lomov’s. Unfortunately, the quarrelling still continues.
II. Theme of the Lesson
The play highlights how anger and argument can spoil a relationship. It also shows the fate of such marriages which are done
with the purpose of cheating the spouse. The kind of matrimonial alliances entered into by the wealthy people whose main
purpose is to amass riches has been depicted.
III. Summary
The Proposal, is a comedy-drama that is based on the tendency of two wealthy families who seek ties with each other to
increase their estates by encouraging marriage that would improve their wealth. The play began with Ivan Lomov, who
visited Stephan Chubukov, a wealthy neighbour of Lomov. Lomov was a wealthy person himself who was dressed neatly
and had come to seek Chubukov’s twenty-five-year-old daughter, Natalya Stepanovna’s hand in marriage. Initially,
Chubukov was curious about Lomov’s sudden visit and assumed that the young man had come to ask for money which he
might not return.
Lomov was a thirty-five-year-old gentleman who suffered from severe heart-throbbing and became upset easily. He thought
that Natalya was an excellent housekeeper, a well-educated and average-looking woman who would be an ideal partner to
marry. However, when Chubukov heard about the proposal, he was glad and embraced Lomov. He immediately rushed
inside to call his daughter, Natalya.
When Natalya arrived, Lomov began the conversation about how both families share a cordial relationship. As he spoke
about his land Oxen Meadows, which was a disputed property, Natalya objected that the land belonged to her family. Lomov
yelled back, stating that the land belonged to him. Both of them had a heated argument on this topic until Lomov had a
sudden palpitation attack with numbness in his feet. In no time, Natalya’s father, Chubukov, arrived, and the father-daughter
duo started abusing Lomov. Feeling insulted, Lomov rushed out of the house. As Chubukov continued to defame the young
man, he accidentally mentioned Natalya about Lomov’s marriage proposal. Hearing this, Natalya immediately regretted
insulting Lomov and asked her father to bring him back.
Chubukov rushed out of the house immediately to call Lomov. When the young man returned, Natalya started a conversation
about their dogs. In no time, a second round of debate ensued between her and Lomov, where she mentioned that her dog
Squeezer was better than Lomov’s Guess. Soon, Chubukov entered the scene, and the argument worsened. All three people
began quarrelling, and soon Lomov fainted with another attack of palpitation.
Seeing this, Natalya asked her father to wake up Lomov as she expressed her desire that she like him too. Suddenly when
Lomov made a movement, they offered him some water to drink, and Chubukov put Natalya’s hand over his hand. They
agreed to marry, but the quarrel persisted as Natalya said that Squeezer was better than Guess. However, Lomov was
adamant and refused to accept that his dog, Guess, was worse than Squeezer, Natalya’s dog. The curtain went down as the
verbal fight continued among the characters.
Conclusion
The chapter – The Proposal displayed the quarrelsome nature of the characters of the play and how a wealthy family
ruthlessly encouraged marriage with another wealthier family as a means to enhance their economic condition.
IV. Extract Based Questions
A. “It’s cold… I’m trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my
mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I’ll never
get married. Brr… It’s cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. What more
do I want? But I’m getting a noise in my ears from excitement. [Drinks] And it’s impossible for me not to marry. In the
first place, I’m already 35 — a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I
suffer from palpitations, I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and
there’s a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go
off, when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head… I jump up like a
lunatic, walk about a bit and lie down again, but as soon as I begin to get off to sleep there’s another pull! And this may
happen twenty times…”
Q1. Who is saying, “I’m trembling all over as if I had got an examination before me”?
Ans. Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov
Q2. What is the great thing that the speaker is talking about?
Ans. The speaker is talking about real love and marriage.
Q3. What state of Lomov’s mind does the passage reflect?
Ans. His mind reflects that way he would never get married because it is difficult to get an idea or real love.
Q4. Why did Lomov not want to wait for real love?
Ans. This was because he was anxious to get married.

B. “Lomov ; He is old, but I wouldn’t take five Squeezers for him. Why, how can you? Guess is a dog, as for Squeezer;
well it’s too funny to argue. Anybody you like has a dog as good as Squeezer…
You may find them under almost every bush. Twenty-five rubles would be a handsome price to pay for him.”
Q1. Who does ‘he’ refer to , “He is old”?
Ans. He refers to ‘Guess’ the dog.
Q2. Whom does Squeezer belong to?
Ans. Squeezer belongs to Chubukovs.
Q3. Who is the speaker of these lines?
Ans. Lomov
Q4. What would be a handsome price to pay for Squeezer?
Ans. It would be twenty-five roubles.
C. “CHUBUKOV : Who’s dead? [Looks at Lomov] So he is! My word! Water! A doctor! [Lifts a tumbler to Lomov’s
mouth] Drink this! No, he doesn’t drink. It means he’s dead, and all that. I’m the most unhappy of men! Why don’t I put
a bullet into my brain? Why haven’t I cut my throat yet? What am I waiting for? Give me a knife! Give me a pistol!
[Lomov moves] He seems to be coming round. Drink some water! That’s right.
LOMOV : I see stars… mist… where am I?
CHUBUKOV : Hurry up and get married and — well, to the devil with you! She’s willing! [He puts Lomov’s hand into
his daughter’s]
She’s willing… I give you my blessing and so on. Only leave me in peace !”
Q1. ‘Who is Chubukov giving his blessing to?
Ans. The speaker gives his blessing to Lomov and Natalya.
Q2. Why is Chubukov giving his blessing?
Ans. Because both are willing to marry each other and Chubukov agrees to it. So he is giving his blessings.
 Q3. Find the phrase from the given extract which matches the description.
“To be dazed or rendered unconscious by a blow to the head, sometimes perceiving actual flashing lights as a result”
Ans. To see stars.
Q4. What is she willing for?
Ans. She is willing for her marriage.
D. “I can make you a present of them myself, because they’re mine! Your behaviour, Ivan Vassilevitch, is strange, to say
the least! Up to this we have always thought of you as a good neighbour, a friend; Last year we lent you our threshing
machine, although on that account we had to put off our own threshing till November. You behave to us as if we were
gipsies. Giving me my own land indeed! No really, that’s not at all neighbourly! In my opinion, it’s even impudent if you
want to know.
LOMOV : Then you make out that I’m a landgrabber? Madam, never in my life have I grabbed anybody else’s land and I
shan’t allow anybody to accuse me of having done so. [Quickly steps to the carafe and drinks more water] Oxen Meadows
are mine!”
Q1. What did the speaker do last year?
Ans. Last year the speaker lent their threshing machine.
Q2. Find the word which matches the description. “ members of a race of people who traditionally spend
their lives travelling around from place to place”
Ans. Gipsies
Q3. How did Natalya try to prove that they were at least good neighbours?
Ans. harvesting to November.
Q4. Why Chubukovs had to delay their threshing till November.
Ans. This was because; they had lent it to Lomov, their neighbour.
E. “I’ll show you the documents, Natalya Stepanovna!
No, you’re simply joking, or making fun of me. What a surprise! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years and
then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These Meadows aren’t
worth much to me. They only come to five dissipations and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness”.
LOMOV : Hear me out, I implore you! The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I have already had the honour of
explaining to you, used to bake bricks for my aunt’s grandmother. Now my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them a
pleasant…
Q1. Who is making fun of whom?
Ans. Lomov is making fun of Natalya.
Q2. For how long did they have the land?
Ans. They had the land for nearly three hundred years.
Q3. Who is the speaker of these lines “No, you’re simply joking, or making fun of me”?
Ans. Natalya
Q4. What has been unfair with the speaker?
Ans. The land that the speaker has had for nearly 300 years has been taken away from them.
F. “Well, that’s a way to start your family bliss! Have some champagne!
LOMOV : He’s better!
NATALYA : Worse! Worse! Worse! CHUBUKOV : [trying to shout her down] Champagne! Champagne!”
Q1. Who speaks the above lines and on what occasion “Well, that’s a way to start your family bliss! Have
some champagne!”?
Ans. Chubukov speaks about these lives on the occasion of Natalya and Lomov’s marriage.
Q2. Name any conflict they’ve had before starting the ‘family bliss’.
Ans. Their conflict over the dogs i.e., Guess and Squeezer.
 Q3. Who were ‘Guess’ and ‘Squeezer’?
Ans. Guess was Lomov’s dog and Squeezer was Natalya’s dog.
Q4. What were the positive and negative points of Squeezer?
Ans. Squeezer was young but was overshot and did not have a strong grip.
G. “The peasants of your father’s grandfather, as I have already had the honour of explaining to you, used to bake bricks
for my aunt’s grandmother. Now my aunt’s grandmother, wishing to make them pleasant…”
Q1. Who is the speaker?
Ans. Lomov
Q2. What did the peasants do?
Ans. The peasants baked bricks for Lomov’s aunt’s grandmother.
Q3. Who is the speaker talking to?
Ans. Natalya
Q4. Which land was under dispute?
Ans. Oxen Meadows
H. “And are you a hunter? You only go hunting to get in with the Count and to intrigue Oh, my heart! You’re an
intriguer!’’
Q1. Who is speaking and to whom?
Ans. Lomov is speaking to Chubukov
Q2. Which character trait of the listener is being emphasized?
Ans. The trait is that of being an intriguer.
Q3. Who is an intriguer?
Ans. Chubukov
Q4. Find the word which means the same as the given description. “One who forms plots, or pursues an object
by secret means.”
Ans. Intriguer

I. “Then you make out that I’m a land grabber? Madam, never in my life have I grabbed anybody else’s land and I
shan’t allow anybody to accuse me of having done so. Oxen Meadows are mine!”
Q1. Who is ‘Madam’ in the above lines?
Ans. Natalya
Q2. In which situation does Lomov call himself a ‘land grabber’?
Ans. Natalya accused Lomov of grabbing Oxen Meadows. So, Lomov says that he is not a land grabber.
Q3. What had happened to the speaker?
Ans. The speaker got infuriated with Natalya for having called him a land grabber.
Q4. What was Lomov accused of?
Ans. He will not allow anybody to accuse him of having grabbed anyone’s land.
J. “The peasants used the land for forty years and got accustomed to it as if it was their own…”
Q1. Who speaks this line?
Ans. Lomov is speaking this line.
Q2. Who is the speaker speaking to?
Ans. Chubukov
 Q3. Which land is being referred to?
Ans. Oxen Meadows
Q4. Who gave the free use of this land to whom?
Ans. Lomov’s aunt was awarded by the grandmother of Chubukov’s grandfather as a result of donating their
property to the peasants.
V. Short Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers) (Class Work)
Q1. Which qualities are common in all three characters of the play ‘The Proposal’?
All the characters in the play are argumentative, full of pride and possessiveness. They are always ready to argue about petty
things.
Q2. How does Lomov come to Chubukov’s house? What for does he come? How is he received? [ CBSE 2012]
Lomov came to Chubukov’s house in the evening dress with gloves on. He comes to propose to his daughter Natalya. He is
received with all the respect by Chubukov.
Q3. How does Chubukov react when Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter?
When Lomov says that he has come to ask for the hand of his daughter, Chubukov gets off balanced with joy. He embraces
and kisses Lomov, sheds a tear of joy and calls for God’s blessing for Lomov and Natalya.
Q4. Why did Lomov want to get married? Or Which two issues about himself convinced Lomov of his decision to get
married?
Lomov wanted to get married as he was already 35 years old. Moreover, he was suffering due to a weak heart and sleep-
sickness and wanted the company of someone to look after him.
Q5. What happens to Lomov when he is in an excited state?
When Lomov is in an excited state his heart beat increases, lips tremble and there is a twitch in his right eyebrow. When he
goes to sleep in such a state something pulls him from his left side and he jumps like a lunatic
Q6. How does Natalya excite Lomov to the point of verbal fighting?
Natalya repeatedly insisted that Oxen Meadows are theirs and told Lomov that up till now she considered Lomov as a good
neighbour and friend. This excited Lomov to the point of verbal fighting
Q7. How does Lomov react when Chubukov says that he is not used to misbehaviour by a young man like Lomov?
Lomov reacts by saying that Chubukov thinks that he is a fool. He says that he cannot talk to him calmly and politely as he is
making a false claim to his property. He further accuses Chubukov of being a grabber.
Q8. Why does Natalya ask her father Chubukov to fetch Lomov in at once? Why does she accuse her father?
Natalya asked her father to fetch Lomov at once as she had come to know that Lomov had come to propose to her. She
accused Chubukov of driving Lomov out of their home.
Q9. How does Natalya react when she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose? [CBSE 2014]
When Natalya came to know that Lomov had come there to propose to her she was shocked. She wails, changes her stance
and asks her father to fetch Lomov.
Q10. When Chubukov later states, “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son,” is he being
sincere? Draw support for your claim from the play.
Chubukov first thought Lomov had come to borrow money. Chubukov didn’t mean it when he claimed Lomov was like his
own son and that he had always adored Lomov. Chubukov had made up his mind that if Lomov tried to borrow money from
him, he would not give him any. He wouldn’t have considered withholding the money if he had honestly meant what he had
said. Only because Lomov had arrived with a proposal to marry his daughter did he say as such.
VI. Long Answer Questions (Class Work)
Q1. The principle ‘forgive and forget’, helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our neighbours. Do you think
Anton Chekov conveys this message in the play ‘The Proposal’?
The message that Anton Chekov does express is that the tenet of “forgive and forget” is very helpful in keeping friendly
connections with one’s neighbours. The play’s neighbours Lomov, Natalya, and Chubukov started out squabbling over little
matters. By fighting over little concerns, they were putting major issues to the side and squandering their time. They began
yelling insults at one another as these confrontations turned into fights over time. Their friendship with one another was
harmed by this.
Natalya left the matter of the disagreement behind when she learned that Lomov had come to propose to her. Also, she
begged Lomov’s pardon and urged him to get straight to the issue. Hence, if one wishes to have peace of mind, they must
“forgive and forget.”
Q2. Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good relationships can be maintained?
Why in today’s time do we see so many people going away from each other?
The play “The Proposal” shows us how easily disagreements and rage can destroy a relationship. So, it is crucial to manage
your anger if you want to keep a decent relationship. Arguments about trivial or minor matters are extremely destructive and
time-wasting. If someone makes a mistake, one should be willing to overlook it and go on rather than getting upset and
arguing with the offender for hours on end. Many strive to only see the good in other people these days, and they do not
readily accept their flaws. Thus, it is getting increasingly difficult to keep up positive, courteous relationships with other
people.
Q3. It is a common observance that more attention is paid to unimportant issues at the cost of important ones. The
play ‘The Proposal’ beautifully portrays this fact. Suggest some steps on how we can avoid this unhealthy practice.
“People are strange: They are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they
hardly seem to notice.” -Charles Bukowski
It is somewhat true that people frequently let unimportant issues take priority over their priorities. Similar to how Natalya
was presented with a suggestion by Lomov, but they were unable to address it because of their differences. Setting your
priorities in life becomes essential as a result. It is necessary to dismiss trivial issues. The conversations concerning them take
a lot of time. One should avoid spending too much time on unimportant matters. Using this energy to some useful and
important issues that have a beneficial impact may help save time and relationships and hence produce positive outcomes.
Q4. Farce is a kind of comedy which includes situations and dialogues that are ridiculous, exaggerated and even
absurd. Evaluate the play, The Proposal, as a farce. [CBSE SQP 2021-22]
‘The Proposal’ by Chekhov has been intended to be presented as a farce basically to satire the materialistic temperament of
the Russians who think of making money from every aspect imaginable. This one-act play tells the story of two wealthy
families who seek a matrimonial alliance. The main idea is to seek a rise in profits in their property. The play is highly
humorous. The setting has three characters all meet each other with a motive but all that ends up in the three planning to
increase their share of the property. Humour is not possible without exaggeration. Hence Lomov’s soliloquy thinking of his
old self at thirty-five being full of ailments and nervousness would make every reader giggle. But as soon as Natalya appears
in a negligee, they begin fighting over the ownership of a piece of land. When that ends, they begin over a new issue which is
each other’s pet dogs. Their agreement to tie the nuptial knot and its effects thereafter can well be imagined.
Q5. Natalya and Ivan argued about the ownership of Oxen Meadows and the superiority of their respective dogs in
the play, The Proposal. Imagine yourself as the playwright of the play. Based on your understanding of the
personality traits of Natalya and Ivan, write a dialogue based on an imaginary event, showcasing another argument
between them.
Scene: Natalya enters Ivan’s house furious.
Natalya: My meadow is destroyed by your dog. Why are you allowing them to go unchecked?
Ivan: My dogs are on my property. How do you know that your meadow was destroyed by my dog and not by anyone
else’s?
Natalya: It took place in the dead of night. I heard the cows mooing when the dogs entered the meadow, and woke
up.
Ivan: You ought to have repelled them. Why did you not?
Natalya: They fled before I entered the meadow. The sound of the cow mooing alarmed them. Make sure you secure
your pets to a pole before going to bed the next time. Now, you ensure that my meadow is cleaned up.
She furiously rushes out of his home.