Chapters
NCERT Class 10 English | Ch-9| |The Proposal
1- The Proposal
Summary
In this scene from Anton Chekhov's play "The Proposal", we witness a comical and escalating argument between Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov and Natalya Stepanovna Chubukov, which begins with Lomov's attempt to propose marriage.
Summary:
Lomov's Visit: Lomov visits Chubukov to propose to his daughter, Natalya. He is dressed formally, which Chubukov initially finds odd but is soon overjoyed to hear Lomov's proposal. He leaves to call Natalya, believing Lomov's visit is a formality to discuss marriage.
NCERT Class 10 English | Ch-9 | The Proposal
Dispute over Land: While waiting for Natalya, Lomov starts to feel anxious and discusses a land dispute. He claims ownership of Oxen Meadows, which Natalya believes belongs to her family. This land dispute becomes the center of their argument.
Heated Argument: Natalya and Chubukov both insist that the Meadows are theirs. The argument escalates, with Lomov becoming increasingly agitated and suffering from palpitations. He insists on his ownership based on historical usage by his family’s peasants, while Natalya and Chubukov dismiss his claims.
Personal Attacks: The argument degenerates into personal insults and accusations. They criticize each other’s families, with accusations of dishonesty, drunkenness, and bad behavior. Lomov is particularly affected by the stress, experiencing physical symptoms of his agitation.
Revelation and Reconciliation: Amidst the chaos, Chubukov reveals that Lomov’s original purpose was to propose. Natalya, realizing this, is initially distressed by the missed opportunity and orders Chubukov to bring Lomov back. Chubukov, feeling burdened, reluctantly agrees.
Final Dispute: When Lomov returns, the argument continues, now focused on their dogs—Lomov’s Guess versus Natalya’s Squeezer. Both parties argue about the superiority of their dogs, further fueling their conflict.
The scene ends with a chaotic mix of personal grievances, unresolved arguments, and physical distress, highlighting Chekhov's talent for combining humor with social commentary.
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