ENGLISH [NCERT] UNIT QUE [3M]

Lomov came to Chubukov to request him to allow him to propose to his daughter Natalya. At that time he was suffering from weakness. His limbs became numb. Whenever he was excited, his heart started palpitating. His foot often became numb and he was unable to bear the shock in life.

Lomov and Natalya were fighting over the oxen meadows because oxen meadows has been a disputed property between two families over generations.

Chubukov was sure that Natalya would give her consent for the proposal because Natalya was in love with Lomov. Therefore, she would give her consent for the marriage proposal. Moreover, she wanted to get married.

Chubukov is surprised at Lomov's wearing of a formal evening dress as there was no formal occasion known to him. He asked Lomov if he was going somewhere in such a nice dress. Lomov told him that he had come to his house to propose Natalya.

Ivan Lomov is well dressed. He comes to visit Chubukov. Chubukov notices his dress. He is surprised to see Lomov wearing a dress-jacket and white gloves. He is in a formal evening dress. It appears as if he were paying a New Year's Eve visit. Only later on, Chubukov comes to know that Lomov has come in that formal dress only with a proposal for marriage.

Natalya thinks that Lomov's behaviour is quite strange. He is only joking and making fun of her. She claims that they have Oxen Meadows for nearly 300 years. She is suddenly told that it is not theirs. It is strange that Lomov is making a present of the Meadows to them which are not owned by him. It is unlike a good neighbour and a friend.

Lomov fought with Natalya for a piece of land. Both of them wanted to have a claim for the same piece of land, i.e., Oxen Meadows. The second time they fought for their dogs to establish the superiority of one over the other.

Lomov and Natalya are not able to decide whose dog is superior as Natalya is proud of her dog, Squeezer who is young and belongs to a pedigree, whereas Lomov considers it to be uppershot and boasts of his pet 'Guess' who he thinks is a first rate dog. But Natalya considers 'Guess' to be old and as ugly as a worn out cab horse.

OR

Value Points

• Chubukov's strange remarks
• His behaviour towards Lomov
• His reaction at the dress of Lomov
• His eccentric behaviour
• Sudden change in the behaviour

Natalya asks her father to fetch Lomov at once as she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose her. She accused Chubukov of driving Lomov out of their home.

Lomov went to Chubukov in a formal dress in order to propose marriage to his daughter, Natalya.

Lomov is a middle-aged man of thirty five years. He thinks that it is a critical age. He should now think of leading a peaceful and regular married life. Natalya, the daughter of a rich landlord and neighbour Chubukov, can be a suitable life-partner for him. Lomov thinks that Natalya is an excellent housekeeper. Moreover, she is educated and not bad looking. All these qualities qualify Natalya is an ideal life partner for him.

He was very critical age to get married. He said that Natalya was a excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, and also well educated.

Lomov has his reasons to think that Chubukov is not a good neighbour but a land-grabber. His aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows for temporary' and free use of Chubukov's grandfather's peasans. He doesn't intend to give up his claim over the Meadows. Good neighbours don't behave like that. Only landgrabbers behave in this fashion.

Natalya was a good housekeeper so he wanted to propose to her. ... Instead of proposing to Natalya, Lomov calls her and her family land grabbers. The quarrel continues and Lomov becomes sick so he has to leave in a hurry.

Lomov, a landlord, pays a visit to Chubukov. The purpose of his visit is quite clear. He has come with a proposal of marriage. He is interested in marrying Natalya who he considers a good housekeeper and not bad looking. Chubukov misunderstands the purpose of Lomov's visit. He thinks that he has come to borrow money from him. However, when he comes to know that he has come with a marriage proposal, he is overjoyed and excited.

At first, Chubukov suspected that Lomov had come to him to borrow money because he was in his evening dress. He was not sincere when he told Lomov that he had always loved him and he was like his own son as he had decided not to give any money to Lomov.

When Chubukov came to know that the reason of Lomov's coming to their house is to marry Natalya, he was overwhelmed with joy. He embraced and kissed Lomov and told him that he was hoping for it for a long time. He told Lomov that he had always loved him as if he was his own son.

Oxen Meadows become a bone of contention between the two families. Lomov thinks that Oxen Meadows that touch the birch forest of Chubukov, belong to him. His aunt's grandmother gave the free use of the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya's father's grandfather. In return, they were to make bricks for them. Natalya opposes it by saying that their land extends to Burnt Marsh. It means that Oxen Meadows belong to them.

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 company of someone to look after him. Moreover he knew Natalya's family for a long time and liked her a lot.

Chubukov was overjoyed to know that Lomov wanted to propose to his daughter Natalya. He thanked him for taking this decision. He was happy as Natalya had passed the marriage age.

Lomov and Natalya are not able to decide whose dog is superior as Natalya is proud of her dog, Squeezer who is young and belongs to a pedigree, whereas Lomov considers it to be uppershot and boasts of his pet 'Guess' who he thinks is a first-rate dog. But Natalya considers 'Guess' to be old and as ugly as a worn out cab horse.

Lomov and Chubukov are landlords. They are neighbours too. According to Lomov, he has been coming to Chubukov for help. Chubukov has helped him even earlier. There seems to be a dispute over the ownership of Oxen Meadows. Each one claims that the land belongs to him. Lomov is interested in marrying Chubukov's daughters, Natalya and considers her a suitable match for her.

All the characters in the play are argumentative, full of pride and possessiveness. They are always ready to argue for petty things. They even fought over the breed of dogs.

Lomov's opinion about Squeezer was not positive. He considered Squeezer a bad hunter. Lomov was sure that dog's lower jaw was shorter than the upper one. He thought it to be of inferior quality.

A one act play is a short play that focuses on a single scene and a single day that covers the happenings of a single act. Anton Chekhov's play "The Proposal" is a perfect example of a one-act play. This farcical play revolves around the story of Natalya Stepanovna and Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov and their relationship.

Chubukov is a rich landlord and a neighbour of Lomov. He is short tempered and rash in behaviour. He wants Lomov to be married to Natalya. But he forgets the main issue and joins the quarels between Lomov and Natalya. He adds only fuel to the fire. He can be abusive and insulting. However, he grabs the opportunity and blesses Natalya and Lomov in the end.

Natalya is a woman of twenty five years. Lomov considers her a good housekeeper and not bad looking. She likes to get married with Lomov. However, she indulges in unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and dogs. She even insults Lomov with harsh words. However, good sense prevails upon her and she doesn't lose the opportunity of marrying Lomov.

In the initial part of the story, Lomov is seen to have a very kind and warm opinion about the Chubukovs. He said that he had been knowing the Chubukovs since his childhood. He reminded Natalya that his uncle and aunt had great respect for her family.

Lomov described the qualities of his dog whereas Natalys said her dogs are of better quality. They disagreed and fought on this controversy.

`The Proposal' is a one-act play. Actually, it is a farce written by Anton Chekhov in 1888-89. The play is about the tendency of wealthy families to seek matrimonial ties. The real purpose is to increase their estates and landed properties.

he Proposal' is a one-act play. Actually, it is a farce written by Anton Chekhov in 1888-89. The play is about the tendency of wealthy families to seek matrimonial ties. The real purpose is to increase their estates and landed properties.

Lomov is suffering from weakness or depression. His limbs become numb. Whenever he is excited his heart starts palpitating. His foot often becomes numb and he is unable to bear the shock in life.

Lomov has come with a proposal of marrying Natalya. When he falls down unconscious in an armchair, both Natalya and Chubukov are unerved and worried. She starts crying thinking him dead. Chubukov calls for a doctor. He threatens to shoot himself or cut his throat. When Lomov comes to senses, Chubukov grabs the opportunity and blesses them for a happy married life.

When Lomov is in an excited state, his heartbeat 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.

What does Lomov think when he is alone? Answer: Lomov thinks that Natalaya is an excellent housekeeper, not bad looking, well educated. It is impossible for him not to marry.

Chubukov asserts that Lomov was not a hunter at all and should sit at home. Explanation: In the short story, "The Proposal", Lomov went to the house of Chubukov to ask for the hand of his daughter Natalya in marriage.

Lomov told Natalya and Chubukov that his aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use of Chubukov's grandfather's peasants. So he is the rightful owner of the open meadows.

At first, Chubukov suspected that Lomov had come to him to borrow money because he was in his evening dress. He was not sincere when he told Lomov that he had always loved him and he was like his own son as he had decided not to give any money to Lomov.

Lomov told Natalya and Chubukov that his aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use of Chubukov's grandfather's peasants. So he is the rightful owner of the open meadows.

Throughout the play, the characters are seen arguing and hurling abuses at each other over petty issues. They are angered very easily and never hesitate to blame the other person for nothing. The important thing to learn here is how to control our anger. Some people get easily excited and lose control. But anger has many ill-effects too. The person who gets angry easily is prone to many diseases like high blood pressure, nervous breakdown, heart attack, etc. So it is of utmost importance to maintain one's calm even in the worst of the situation. Follow these simple rules to manage your anger.

• Take deep breaths to keep stress at bay.
• Count till 10 to minimise your angry feelings,
• Have a glass of cold water to calm your nerves. More importantly, avoid retaliating at once.

Both Chubukov and her daughter Natalya have a dual personality. Natalya welcomed him warmly and talked with him pleasantly. But when Lomov referred to the Oxen Meadows, a disputed piece of land, as 'My Oxen Meadows, she objected strongly saying that the land belonged to them. The argument went on for some time. When she came to know that Lomov wanted to marry her, she at once changed her tactics and hysterically told her father to bring Lomov back. Like her father, she also turned out to be very selfish. As she was about to pass the marriage age, she was desperate to get married. In spite of the differences in their thought and opinions, she agreed to marry him. I don't like Natalya as she is too self-centered, short tempered and eccentric. Just to settle down in her life, she agreed to marry Lomov, with whom she had much differences. One should always be honest in one's behaviour. Never compromise on your values.

Anton Chekov has aptly titled the play, 'The Proposal'. The title justifies the main theme-the marriage of Natalya and Lomov. No doubt, both Lomov and Natalya want to be life partners. However, unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and their dogs Squeezer and Guess temporarily spoil their game. The message is very clear. The main issue must not be clouded and lost sight of by indulging in unnecessary and avoidable quarrels.

When Natalya realises that Lomov had come to propose to her, she agrees that the Oxen Meadows were indeed Lomov's property and that is how the Oxen Meadow's matter is settled.

We can know that Natalya was in love with Lomov because when Natalya came to know that Lomov came to propose her, she cries for her bad behavior. After the quarrel over the matter to whom the meadows belonged, Natalya and her father chided Lomov to leave.

Lomov and his rich landlord Chubukov are neighbours. A piece of land known as Oxen Meadows becomes a bone of contention between the two families. Both of them claim their ownerships over the Meadows. Lomov says that Oxen Meadows were given to Chubukov.

In the end, Chubukov loses no opportunity and says “Be quick and get married.” Natalya embraces and blesses Lomov and they are blessed by Chubukov. They start their married life by picking up a fresh quarrel over Squeezer and Guess.

Chubukov and Natalya indulge in all sorts of abuses and insults for Lomov. However, Chubukov discloses the real purpose of Lomov's visit. She comes to know that Lomov has come there with a proposal of marrying her. She grows hysterical. She blames her father for not telling it before. She cries to bring him back. She threatens to die if Lomov is not brought back.

Natalya repeatedly insists that Oxen Meadows are theirs and tells Lomov that upto now she considered Lomov a good neighbour and friend. This excites Lomov to the point of verbal fighting. Though he has the documents to prove his possession but Natalya refuses his claim.

In the beginning Lomov speaks quite warmly about Chubukov's family. He reminds Natalya that he knows the Chubukovs since his childhood. His aunt and uncle too had a great respect for her family. Both the families have been most friendly and close neighbours. Lomov changes his opinion about the Chubukovs when he picks up a quarrel with Natalya and Chubukov over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.

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. He also threatens Chubukov to take him to the court.

Soon the misunderstanding is cleared. Chubukov comes to know that Lomov has not come to borrow money instead he has come with a proposal of marrying his daughter Natalya. He is extremely happy to hear it. This is exactly what he wants. He embraces and kisses Lomov. He calls him "darling" and "angel". He tells Lomov that he has been hoping it for a long time. He is ready to bless them.