The Proposal

The Proposal

Q. What kind of a man is Lomov? 

Ans. Lomov is a comical character. He is a very funny person. He is thirty-five years old. Yet he is unmarried. He comes to Natalya's house to propose to her for marriage. But he starts quarrelling with the girl and fails to make the proposal. He has no confidence and no self-control. 

Q. What kind of a girl is Natalya? 

Ans.Natalya is the heroine of the play 'The Proposal'. She is twenty-five years old. She is still unmarried. She wishes that somebody should love her and propose to her. Her father calls her ‘a love-sick cat'. She is very abusive and quarrelsome. 

Q. Why does the proposal remain unmade during Lomov's first visit ? 

Ans. Lomov comes to kake a proposal to Natalya. But he starts quarrelling with her about a piece of land. He gets very much excited and leaves the room. He cursed and threatened the old man and his daughter, Natalya. He forgets all about the proposal. Thus the proposal remains unmade. 

Q. Why is Natalya so anxious to marry Lomov ? 

Ans. Natalya is an ugly, middle-aged woman. She knows that only a fool like Lomov can marry her. So, the moment she comes to know that Lomov had come to propose for her hand, she cries and shouts and forces her father to bring Lomov back. 

Q. Why is Lomov anxious to marry Natalya?

Ans. Lomov is a man of thirty five. He thinks that it is now time for him to lead a quiet and regular life. He thinks that Natalya is an excellent house-keeper, not bad-looking and well educated. Thus he is anxious o marry him.

Q. How does Chubukov join the quarrel between Natalya and Lomov ? 

Ans. When Chubukov comes, he finds Natalya and Lomoy quarrelling over the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. He also becomes angry. Instead of calming them down, he also joins the quarrel. He claims to be the owner of the Meadows. He insults Lomov as well as his ancestors.

Q. Why did Lomov go to the house of Chubukov? 

Ans. Lomov was a rich bachelor. He was twenty five years old yet unmarried. He wanted to marry Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya. So he went to the house of Chubukov to propose to her. 

Q. What is the ailment that Lomov is suffering from? 

Ans. Lomov is suffering from palpitations (rapid beating of the heart). He is easily gets excited. He cannot even sleep peacefully. As soon as he tries to sleep, he feels a pull in his heart. 

Q. Write a note on the title of the play, 'The Proposal'. 

Ans. The play is about a young man's proposal of marriage to a young girl. The young man comes to the girl's house. But instead of making the proposal, he starts quarrelling with the girl and her father. After a lot of clowning, the proposal is finally accepted without being made. 

Q. Why is Chubukov surprised at Lomov's wearing of a formal evening dress when Lomov comes to meet him? 

Ans. Lomov wants to marry Chubukov’s daughter Natalya. So he comes to Chubukov’s house to propose to her in a formal evening dress. Chubukov does not know the purpose of Lomov's visit. That is why he is surprised to see Lomov in that dress. 

Q. Why does Ivan Lomov come to meet Stepan Chubukov? What does Chubukov think he has come for? How do you know? 

Ans. Lomov wants to marry Chubukov’s daughter Natalya. So he comes to Chubukov’s house to propose to her. But Chubukov thinks that Ivan has come to borrow some money. We know this through an aside in which Chubukov says, “He's come to borrow money. Shan't give him any !" 

Q. Why does Chubukov suspect Lomov when he comes to his house ? 

Ans. Lomov had borrowed money from Chubukov once or twice already. So Chubukov suspects that Lomov has again come to borrow money from him. That is why he says to himself, “He has come to borrow money. Shan't give him any !" 

Q. Relate briefly the first quarrel between Lomov and Natalya. 

Ans. Lomov comes to Natalya's house to propose to her. While talking to her, he says that his Oxen Meadows touch Natalya’s Birchwoods. At this Natalya says angrily, "Oxen Meadows are not yours; they are ours." The argument turns so hot that Lomov becomes nervous and starts quarrelling with her. 

Q. How do Lomov and Chubukov abuse each other during their quarrel over the Oxen Meadows ? 

Ans. Chubukov calls Lomov a pettifogger. He calls Lomov's grandfather a drunkard, and his father a gambler. Lomov says that Chubukov's grandfather was tried for embezzlement. He says that Chubukov's mother was hump-backed. Chubukov says, "You Lomovs had lunacy in your family, all of you." 

Q. Why has Chubukov to go to Lomov's house to call him back ? 

Ans. After Lomov has gone, Chubukov tells Natalya that Lomov had come to propose to her. On hearing this, Natalya begins to cry. She says that she has lost the opportunity of getting married. She compels her father to go and bring Lomov back. 

Q. Why does Chubukov curse himself for being the father of a grown-up girl? 

Ans. Lomov leaves Chubukov's house after a quarrel. Now Chubukov tells his daughter Natalya that Lomov had come to propose to her. On hearing this, Natalya begins to cry. She says that she has lost the opportunity of getting married. Now Chubukov curses himself for being the father of a grown-up girl. 

Q. How is the quarrel about the Oxen Meadows settled at last ? 

Ans. Natalya forces her father to go and bring Lomov back. When Lomov comes, Natalya says to him, “Forgive us, Ivan, we were all a little heated. I remember now : Oxen Meadows are really yours.” Thus the quarrel is at last settled. 

Q. What is the cause of the second quarrel between Lomov and Natalya ? 

Ans. Lomov has a pet dog named Guess. Natalya has a dog named Squeezer. Lomov calls his dog a first-rate dog. Natalya says that Squeezer is heaps better than Guess. Each starts finding fault with the other's dog. The quarrel grows so bitter that Lomov faints and falls into an armchair. 

Q. What does Natalya say about Guess ? 

Ans. Guess is Lomov's pet dog. Natalya says that her Squeezer is far better than Guess. She calls Guess old and ugly. She says that Guess is a worthless dog and should be shot dead. 

Q. How is the proposal finally made or not made? 

                        Or 

How does Natalya accept the proposal for marriage? 

Ans. During the second quarrel Lomov becomes so excited that he faints. Natalya thinks that he is dead. She strts crying. At once Chubukov put Natalya’s hand into Lomov’s hand. He says, “Hurry up and get married. She is willing.” Thus Natalya accepts the proposal for marriage even though it is never made.