The document discusses Anton Chekhov's play 'The Proposal,' which humorously critiques marriages of convenience lacking love. The plot revolves around Ivan Lomov's attempt to propose to his neighbor Natalya, but their heated arguments about land ownership and dogs prevent him from doing so until her father, Chubukov, intervenes. Ultimately, despite the ongoing quarrels, Lomov and Natalya are wed, highlighting the importance of mutual respect and love in marriage.

1. THE PROPOSAL
ANTON CHEKOV
By Ms Gunjan Chawla
Class 10
Meerut Public School,Vedvyaspuri

2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a
Russian playwright and short-story
writer who is considered to be among
the greatest writers of short fiction in
history. His career as a playwright
produced four classics, and his best
short stories are held in high esteem
by writers and critics.

3. THEME OF THE STORY
‘The Proposal’ written by Anton
Chekov, a famous Russian playwright,
is a highly humorous play which
satirises marriages of convenience that
are solemnized without any feeling of
love or affection between the partners,
The play, with three quarrelsome
characters, is replete with comic
situations that generate a lot of humour.

4. CHARACTERS OF THE STORY
Lomov Chubukov
Natalya

5. EXPOSITION
• Ivan Lomov, a thirty-five year old
bachelor, comes to Stepan Chubukov’s
house, his neighbour.
• Lomov wants to propose his daughter,
Natalya Stepanovna.
• Lomov tells Chubukov about the purpose
of his visit, the old man who feels it a
burden to be the father of a grown up
daughter, gets very excited.
• He is certain that Natalya would readily
give consent for the proposal.

6. RISING ACTION
• He rushes in to call out Natalya.
• Lomov thinks Natalya is a good wife material.
• However, when Natalya comes to the drawing
room, she is surprised to see Lomov in a
formal dress as she doesn’t know the purpose
of his visit.
• After exchanging a few pleasantries, when
Lomov is just on the verge of proposing to the
girl, there crops up a controversy between
the two of them regarding the ownership of a
piece of land ‘Oxen Meadows’.

7. RISING ACTION
• Both Lomov and Natalya claim to be the
real owner of this property. Initially both of
them claim it very politely.
• However, soon the argument becomes very
heated and they start shouting at each
other.
• Lomov insists that the documents prove the
Oxen Meadows belong to him, although at
one time they were a subject of dispute.
• Natalya counters this claim by telling that
their land extended till Burnt Marsh, which
means the Oxen Meadows were theirs.

8. RISING ACTION
• In the meantime, Chubukov also makes his
entry and joins the two in the argument.
• After a lot of accusations and mudslinging
at each other’s family, the flared up Lomov
becomes unwell and his heart starts
palpitating dangerously.
• He leaves the father and the daughter in a
fit of temper.
• Soon after he leaves, Natalya gets to know
from her father that he had come to
propose her.

9. CLIMAX
• She tells her father to get back Lomov
immediately. Both the father and the daughter
accuse each other of driving Lomov out. The
father runs after Lomov to get him back.
• This time Natalya is very sweet to Lomov but
she doesn’t know how to make him propose to
her.
• Unfortunately, there is yet another argument
between the two before the proposal.
• This time they started quarrelling over the
superiority of their respective dogs. Natalya
finds fault with Lomov’s dog ‘Guess’ whereas
Lomov feels that his dog is better than
Chubukovs’‘Squeezer’.

10. FALLING ACTION
• Both of them flare up once again and
Chubukov joins them. They abuse and
accuse each other repeatedly.
• Lomov, too frail to argue, falls into a chair
exhausted.
• Natalya, considering him to be dead,
starts wailing.
• Chubukov is confused too, but after
realising that he’s not dead, he puts
Lomov’s hand into his daughter’s hand and
gives consent for the wedding on
Natalya’s hand.

11. RESOLUTION
• He gives his blessings and makes them
kiss each other. He rushes to get the
entire drama through so that the weight of
marrying Natalya is off his shoulder.
• However, though the proposal matures,
Lomov and Natalya still continue to argue
with each other about the superiority of
their dogs.
• When the curtain drops, the reader is left
guessing about the fate of this couple
after the two get married.

12. MESSAGE OF THE STORY
Marriage is a pious bond between two individuals which should be based on
mutual respect and love.
Thus, we should not spoil the sacred relationship of marriage by quarrelling and by
being mean and selfish.
Marriage is pious and there must be a perfect accord between the partners who
should be free from all prejudice and selfishness.
Short-temper, rage, intolerance, pride and unnecessary arguments ruin the
relationship.
So, these should be controlled and kept under check.

13. TITLE
‘The Proposal’ is a play in which Lomov, a thirty-five year old bachelor,
apprehensive of never getting a bride of his choice, comes to proposal to
Natalya, his neighbour’s daughter.
Natalya is more than eager to be proposed by someone.
However, he fails to propose her but despite the failure, the proposal
turns into a marriage by the intervention of Natalya’s father, Chubukov.
Hence, the title clearly lays out the content of the play.

14. THANK YOU 