Class 10 : English – Lesson 9. The Proposal
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
💠 Explanation
🌟 Introduction to the Lesson
The Proposal is a one-act play written by Anton Chekhov. It is a satirical comedy that highlights the materialistic approach of marriage in 19th-century Russia. Instead of love or romance, marriage is treated as a business deal, leading to humorous quarrels and ironies.
📚 About the Author
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) was a Russian playwright and short story writer, considered one of the greatest dramatists of all time. Known for his wit, realism, and satire, he often exposed the follies of human behaviour through humour.
💡 Setting / Context
The play is set in a rural Russian household. Ivan Lomov, a wealthy landowner, visits his neighbour Stepan Chubukov’s house to propose marriage to his daughter, Natalya. Instead of romance, the play is filled with arguments about land, dogs, and trivial matters.
🎭 Key Sections / Episodes
Lomov’s Proposal Plan: Nervous and formal, Lomov asks Chubukov for his daughter Natalya’s hand. Chubukov is delighted.
Quarrels Begin: When Lomov speaks to Natalya, they begin quarrelling about the ownership of Oxen Meadows.
More Arguments: Their heated exchanges continue about whose hunting dog is superior.
The Twist: Natalya only learns later that Lomov came to propose, and insists on calling him back.
The Ending: Despite constant quarrels, Chubukov hurriedly marries them off, tired of the chaos, and ironically, the quarrels continue after the proposal is accepted.
🖋️ Tone, Style, and Devices
Tone: comic, satirical, ironic.
Devices: situational irony (proposal turning into quarrel), hyperbole (exaggerated fights), and satire (criticism of materialism in marriage).
🕊️ Themes and Takeaways
Materialism in Marriage: Focus on property and wealth rather than love.
Human Folly: People argue over petty issues while ignoring bigger matters.
Satire on Society: Chekhov mocks social practices and greed.
Irony of Relationships: Even proposals can become battlegrounds of ego and pride.
💠 Summary
The Proposal is a humorous play by Anton Chekhov set in Russia. A landowner, Ivan Lomov, visits his neighbour Stepan Chubukov to propose to his daughter Natalya. Instead of romance, he ends up quarrelling with her over trivial issues like the ownership of Oxen Meadows and whose dog is better. When Natalya learns of his true purpose, she demands to bring him back. Finally, Chubukov hurriedly announces their marriage to stop further arguments. Ironically, the couple continues quarrelling even after the proposal is settled. The play satirises the greed, pride, and foolishness that often overshadow genuine relationships.
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PASSAGE
PASSAGE
“Lomov: It’s not true, my dear fellow! I’ll prove it. I’ll send my mowers out to the Meadows this very day!
Chubukov: What?
Lomov: My mowers will be there this very day!
Chubukov: I’ll send mine out too.
Lomov: And don’t you dare to call them yours!
Chubukov: Oxen Meadows are mine, mine, mine!”
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What were Lomov and Chubukov quarrelling about in this passage?
Answer: They were quarrelling about the ownership of Oxen Meadows, each stubbornly claiming it as their own property instead of discussing Lomov’s actual purpose of proposing marriage.
💠 (Multiple Choice)
What was the original purpose of Lomov’s visit?
A. To borrow money
B. To quarrel about property
C. To propose marriage to Natalya
D. To sell Oxen Meadows
Answer: C. To propose marriage to Natalya
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Lomov threatened to send his __ to Oxen Meadows that very day.
Answer: mowers
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Chubukov shouted that Oxen Meadows are __.
Answer: mine, mine, mine
💠 (Assertion and Reason)
Assertion (A): Lomov and Chubukov behaved calmly during the property discussion.
Reason (R): Both wanted to settle the dispute peacefully for Natalya’s sake.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: D. Both A and R are false.
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What does this quarrel show about Lomov and Chubukov’s characters?
Answer: The quarrel shows both are greedy, short-tempered, and egoistic, giving more importance to property and pride than relationships or the real purpose of Lomov’s visit.
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OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
🔴 Q1. Who is the author of The Proposal?
🔵 Answer: Anton Chekhov.
🔴 Q2. Who are the three main characters in the play?
🔵 Answer: Ivan Lomov, Stepan Chubukov, and Natalya Stepanovna.
🔴 Q3. Why did Lomov visit Chubukov’s house?
🔵 Answer: Lomov visited to propose marriage to Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya.
🔴 Q4. What is the main quarrel between Lomov and Natalya?
🔵 Answer: They quarrel over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.
🔴 Q5. How does Chubukov react when he hears about the proposal?
🔵 Answer: He becomes delighted and excited, praising Lomov as a suitable match.
🔴 Q6. How does Natalya react when she learns Lomov came to propose?
🔵 Answer: She gets shocked, regrets quarrelling, and insists on calling Lomov back immediately.
🔴 Q7. What was the second quarrel between Lomov and Natalya about?
🔵 Answer: They quarrel about whose hunting dog is superior—Lomov’s “Guess” or Natalya’s “Squeezer.”
🔴 Q8. Why does Lomov suffer from palpitations and nervousness?
🔵 Answer: Lomov is extremely anxious, quarrelsome, and short-tempered, leading to health problems like palpitations and nervous breakdowns.
🔴 Q9. What role does Chubukov play in the quarrels?
🔵 Answer: Instead of calming them, he joins in and worsens the quarrels, siding with his daughter and insulting Lomov.
🔴 Q10. What is ironic about the ending of the play?
🔵 Answer: Lomov and Natalya finally get engaged, but instead of showing love, they continue quarrelling even after the proposal is accepted.
🔴 Q11. What aspects of Russian society does Chekhov satirise in the play?
🔵 Answer: He satirises materialism in marriage, obsession with property, ego, and the foolishness of quarrelling over petty issues.
🔴 Q12. Describe Lomov’s character in brief.
🔵 Answer: Lomov is wealthy, nervous, quarrelsome, and egoistic. Though he comes to propose marriage, he gets distracted by arguments over land and dogs.
🔴 Q13. What message does The Proposal convey?
🔵 Answer: The play mocks materialistic marriages and human folly, showing how pride and greed overshadow love and real relationships.
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