First Flight – Chapter 9: The Proposal

About the Author: Anton Chekhov was a famous Russian playwright and short-story writer. He is known for his humorous and satirical works.

Summary: "The Proposal" is a one-act comic play about a young man named Lomov who goes to propose to his neighbour's daughter, Natalya. However, the proposal gets delayed as Lomov and Natalya get into a heated argument over a piece of land called "Oxen Meadows". Lomov suffers from palpitations and other health issues, which worsen during the argument. Chubukov, Natalya's father, joins the argument. After several rounds of fighting, they finally bring Lomov back to propose. However, they immediately start arguing again over whose dog is better. The play ends with Lomov finally proposing, and Natalya accepting, but the arguments continue. The play is a satire on the greed, pettiness, and hypocrisy of the Russian upper class.

Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov: Lomov is a nervous, hypochondriac landowner who suffers from palpitations and anxiety. He is 35 years old and wants to get married to settle down. He is argumentative, proud, and sensitive about his property. He cannot control his temper and gets into fights over trivial matters like land and hunting dogs. Despite his intention to propose, his arguments overshadow his purpose. He is a comical character representing the pettiness of the upper class.

Natalya Stepanovna: Natalya is the daughter of Chubukov. She is also argumentative, stubborn, and strong-willed. She is not interested in Lomov initially but becomes desperate when she learns that he came to propose. She fights fiercely over the ownership of Oxen Meadows and later over the quality of their dogs. She is as petty and materialistic as Lomov. However, she is also practical and wants to get married.

Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov: Chubukov is Natalya's father and a landowner. He is initially happy when Lomov comes to propose, but he quickly gets drawn into the arguments. He is hypocritical, as he calls Lomov a "sheep" behind his back but pretends to be friendly. He is also greedy and protective of his property. He represents the older generation's materialism and lack of genuine emotions.

Answer: Lomov visits Chubukov's house to propose marriage to his daughter, Natalya. He is 35 years old and wants to settle down with a suitable wife.

Answer: Lomov suffers from palpitations, anxiety, and other nervous disorders. He gets easily excited and agitated. His health condition makes him highly emotional and prone to arguments. He often complains about his heart and his leg, which makes him appear comical and exaggerates the trivial issues he fights over.

Answer: The first thing that Lomov and Natalya argue about is the ownership of a piece of land called "Oxen Meadows". Lomov claims that the land belongs to him, while Natalya insists that it belongs to her family.

Answer: Lomov reacts angrily and defensively. He argues that his dog, Guess, is a superior breed and that Squeezer is overfed and has no good qualities. He gets highly agitated and his palpitations worsen.

Answer: Lomov finally proposes because he is exhausted and his health is failing. He is dizzy and can barely stand. He wants to get the proposal done before he collapses. Chubukov helps him by bringing Natalya and pushing them together. Exhaustion and desperation lead to the final proposal.

Answer: The humour in the play arises from the absurdity of the situation. Lomov comes to propose but gets into arguments over trivial issues like land and dogs. The characters are highly argumentative and petty. They shout, insult each other, and even faint, all over matters that are insignificant. The irony is that they want to get married, but their pride and stubbornness prevent them from achieving their goal. The exaggeration of their emotions and the rapid escalation of arguments create a farcical and comic effect.

Answer: The play satirizes the greed, pettiness, hypocrisy, and materialism of the Russian upper class. Lomov, Natalya, and Chubukov are landowners who care more about property and possessions than genuine emotions. They argue fiercely over a small piece of land and the quality of their dogs. Their pride and stubbornness make them behave foolishly. Chubukov's hypocrisy is seen when he calls Lomov a "sheep" but still wants him to marry his daughter. The play exposes the shallow nature of the upper class, where marriage is seen as a practical arrangement rather than emotional union.

Answer:
(i) The sunset looked splendid over the ocean.
(ii) He came from a wealthy family but was very humble.
(iii) She was proud of her achievements.
(iv) No human being is infallible; we all make mistakes.
(v) The argumentative student always disagreed with the teacher.

Palpitations: rapidly throbbing or fluttering of the heart
Hypochondriac: a person who is abnormally anxious about their health
Oxen Meadows: a piece of land that is the subject of dispute
Infallible: incapable of making mistakes
Agitated: feeling troubled or nervous
Insult: a disrespectful remark
Impertinent: not showing proper respect; rude
Farcical: resembling a farce; absurd and ridiculous
Satire: the use of humour to criticize or ridicule
Squeezer: the name of Natalya's dog
Guess: the name of Lomov's dog
Hysterics: a state of uncontrollable emotion

Answer:
(i) Lomov is speaking to Chubukov, Natalya's father.
(ii) The purpose of his visit is to ask for Natalya's hand in marriage.
(iii) This reveals that Lomov is nervous but determined. He is 35 years old and wants to settle down. He has been thinking about marriage for a long time.

Answer:
(i) The dispute is about the ownership of a piece of land called "Oxen Meadows".
(ii) Natalya claims that the land belongs to her family and has been passed down through generations.
(iii) This shows that Natalya is argumentative, stubborn, and possessive about her property. She is willing to fight over even small pieces of land.

Answer: Lomov is a comical character who is nervous, hypochondriac, and highly argumentative. He is 35 years old and wants to marry Natalya to settle down. He is proud of his property and his dog. He suffers from palpitations and anxiety, which worsen during arguments. Despite his good intentions, he gets distracted easily by trivial issues. He is sensitive to criticism and cannot control his temper. He represents the petty, materialistic, and foolish nature of the Russian upper class.

Answer: The title "The Proposal" is ironic because the proposal of marriage is overshadowed by arguments and fights. Lomov comes to propose, but instead of expressing love, he gets into disputes over land and dogs. The play is not about romance but about the absurdity of human behaviour. The proposal itself is delayed until the very end, and even after it is accepted, the characters continue to argue. The title thus highlights the contrast between the expected purpose of the visit and the actual events.

Answer: Chekhov creates humour through exaggeration, misunderstanding, and rapid escalation of conflicts. Lomov's nervous condition and his habit of getting agitated over small matters are exaggerated to comic effect. The characters' pride and stubbornness lead them to argue over trivial issues like a piece of land and the quality of their dogs. The timing is also comic: as soon as one argument ends, another begins. The absurdity of the situation – a marriage proposal turning into a shouting match – is the main source of humour. The play is a classic farce that mocks human pettiness.