Class 10 English — First Flight · Chapter 9 NotesThe Proposal

The play opens in Chubukov's drawing-room. Lomov arrives formally dressed in a dress-jacket and white gloves, which makes Chubukov suspect he has come to borrow money. After much nervous stammering, Lomov reveals that he has come to ask for the hand of Natalya Stepanovna in marriage. Chubukov is overjoyed, embraces and kisses him, and calls him 'my angel' and 'my own son'. He goes to fetch Natalya. Left alone, Lomov admits he is trembling as if before an examination. He reasons that Natalya is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking and well-educated, and that at thirty-five he must marry and settle down. He also lists his many ailments — palpitations, a twitching eyebrow and disturbed sleep. The scene establishes the economic logic behind the match.

• Lomov is a wealthy neighbour of Chubukov
• Natalya Stepanovna is Chubukov's twenty-five-year-old daughter
• Lomov is thirty-five and suffers from palpitations and nervousness
• Chubukov first suspects Lomov has come to borrow money

When Natalya enters, Lomov tries to explain the long friendship between the Lomovs and the Chubukovs. He mentions that his Oxen Meadows touch her birchwoods. Natalya immediately objects, claiming the Meadows belong to her family. Lomov explains that his aunt's grandmother had given the free use of the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya's grandfather for forty years in return for making bricks, so the land is his. Natalya insists her family has owned it for nearly three hundred years. The argument grows louder. Chubukov joins in and takes his daughter's side. Insults fly — Lomov is called a landgrabber, a pettifogger and a rascal, while he calls Chubukov an intriguer. Lomov clutches his heart, complains of numbness in his foot, and staggers out of the house.

• Oxen Meadows are wedged between Natalya's birchwoods and the Burnt Marsh
• Natalya says the Meadows are worth about 300 roubles and cover five dessiatins
• Lomov threatens to take the matter to court
• Chubukov says he would rather give the Meadows to the peasants than to Lomov

After Lomov leaves, Chubukov reveals to Natalya that Lomov had actually come to propose marriage. Natalya is shocked and immediately falls into hysterics, wailing and demanding that Lomov be brought back. Chubukov runs after him. When Lomov returns, still exhausted and complaining of palpitations, Natalya quickly changes her tone. She says she now remembers that Oxen Meadows really are his, and asks him to sit down. Lomov insists he acted on principle, but Natalya tries to change the subject. She asks whether he is going to start shooting soon. This sudden reversal shows how quickly the characters abandon their principles when their interests are at stake.

• Natalya falls into hysterics when she learns of the proposal
• Chubukov runs out to bring Lomov back
• Natalya suddenly agrees that the Meadows belong to Lomov
• Lomov continues to talk about principle and evidence

Trying to make pleasant conversation, Lomov mentions that his dog Guess has gone lame. He says he paid 125 roubles for the dog. Natalya says that was too much and claims her father paid only 85 roubles for Squeezer, who is far better. Lomov disagrees, pointing out that Squeezer is overshot — his lower jaw is shorter than the upper — which makes him a bad hunter. Natalya hotly denies this. The argument escalates until Chubukov enters. He takes Natalya's side, saying Squeezer is the best dog in the district, though he admits Guess is purebred and firm on his feet but old and short in the muzzle. Lomov recalls that on the Marusinsky hunt his Guess ran neck-and-neck with the Count's dog while Squeezer was left a whole verst behind.

• Lomov's dog is named Guess; Chubukov's dog is named Squeezer
• Lomov paid 125 roubles for Guess; Chubukov paid 85 roubles for Squeezer
• Squeezer is described as overshot, meaning his lower jaw is shorter than the upper
• The quarrel becomes so heated that Lomov falls into an armchair and calls for a doctor

The quarrel over the dogs becomes so violent that Lomov feels he is dying. He cries out about his heart, his shoulder and his foot, and falls into an armchair. Natalya screams that he is dead. Chubukov panics, offers water, and laments that he is the most unhappy of men. When Lomov begins to revive, Chubukov seizes the moment. He puts Lomov's hand into his daughter's hand, declares that she is willing, and gives them his blessing. Lomov is confused at first but soon understands. They kiss, and Lomov says he is happy. Yet even in this moment of joy, Natalya and Lomov begin arguing again about whether Guess or Squeezer is better. Chubukov tries to drown them out by shouting for champagne as the curtain falls.

• Chubukov joins Lomov's and Natalya's hands and gives his blessing
• Lomov and Natalya kiss and declare they are happy
• The quarrel about the dogs continues even after the engagement
• Chubukov calls for champagne to silence the argument

Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov is a wealthy landowner of thirty-five. He is nervous, excitable and full of complaints about his health. He claims to act on principle but is easily provoked into shouting and insults. Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov is a landowner and Natalya's father. He is loud, hypocritical and quarrelsome. He welcomes Lomov warmly when he thinks a proposal is coming, but quickly turns abusive during the dispute. Natalya Stepanovna is twenty-five, an excellent housekeeper according to Lomov. She is strong-willed and argumentative, yet desperate to marry. She reverses her position on the Meadows the moment she learns of the proposal. All three are quarrelsome people who let petty issues nearly ruin a sensible match.

• Lomovnervous, hypochondriac, argumentative, claims to act on principle
• Chubukovloud, hypocritical, abusive, eager for the match
• Natalyastrong-willed, quarrelsome, eager to marry, quick to change her stand
• All three are wealthy landowners concerned with property and status

The Proposal satirises the tendency of wealthy families to seek ties with other wealthy families in order to increase their estates. Lomov does not speak of love. He lists Natalya's practical qualities — she is a good housekeeper, not bad-looking and well-educated — and decides that marriage is the sensible thing for a man of thirty-five. Chubukov is delighted because the match will join two neighbouring estates. The quarrels over Oxen Meadows and over the dogs show how pride and stubbornness can override even economic self-interest. Chekhov uses farce — exaggerated behaviour, rapid dialogue, physical comedy and repeated insults — to expose the foolishness of people who cannot stop arguing even on the happiest occasion of their lives.

• Marriage is treated as an economic arrangement rather than a matter of love
• Oxen Meadows symbolise the petty property disputes that divide neighbours
• The dogs Guess and Squeezer represent pride and the need to be right
• Farce is used to expose human foolishness and quarrelsomeness