The Proposal
The Proposal by Anton Chekhov is a humorous one-act play in which a marriage proposal keeps turning into a quarrel. The page gives a clear summary, the theme, the main characters, and exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the events of the play.
- Understand the comedy and theme.
- Describe the three characters.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Summary
Lomov, a wealthy but nervous and sickly landowner, visits his neighbour Chubukov to ask for the hand of Chubukov's daughter, Natalya. Chubukov is delighted and calls Natalya in. However, before Lomov can actually propose, he and Natalya fall into a fierce argument over who owns a piece of land called Oxen Meadows. When Chubukov joins in, the quarrel grows worse and Lomov, agitated and unwell, leaves in a huff. On learning that Lomov had come to propose, Natalya is upset and demands that he be brought back. Lomov returns, but soon a second quarrel breaks out, this time over whose dog is better — Lomov's Guess or Natalya's Squeezer. In the middle of the shouting, Chubukov hastily declares the couple engaged and joins their hands. The play ends comically, with the newly engaged pair already beginning to argue again.
Theme
The play is a farce that satirises the custom of marriage among the landed gentry, where property and status matter more than love. It humorously exposes human pettiness, quarrelsomeness and pride, showing that the couple argue endlessly even at the moment of their engagement.
The characters
Lomov is anxious, hypochondriac and argumentative, more concerned with land and dogs than with romance. Natalya is equally quarrelsome and stubborn, yet anxious to marry once she learns of the proposal. Chubukov is a greedy, excitable father, eager to get his daughter married and quick to flatter or abuse as it suits him.
About the author
Anton Chekhov was a celebrated Russian writer of short stories and plays. 'The Proposal' is a one-act comedy that uses exaggeration and constant quarrelling to poke fun at the trivial concerns and hot tempers of its characters.
Key definitions
- Farce
- A comedy using exaggerated, absurd situations to make people laugh.
- Hypochondriac
- A person who worries excessively about being ill, like Lomov.
- Gentry
- People of high social class who own land.
- One-act play
- A short play performed in a single act.
Solved examples
Q1. Why does Lomov visit Chubukov?
Solution: To propose marriage to Chubukov's daughter, Natalya.
Q2. What are the two things the couple quarrel over?
Solution: The ownership of Oxen Meadows and whose dog is better (Guess vs Squeezer).
Q3. How does the play end?
Solution: Chubukov hastily joins the couple's hands and declares them engaged, even as they keep arguing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the proposal is made smoothly (it keeps turning into quarrels).
- Confusing the two quarrels — land first, then dogs.
- Mixing up the dogs' names (Lomov's Guess, Natalya's Squeezer).
- Forgetting that the engaged couple argue again at the end.
The Proposal — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
Lomov visits Chubukov in order to:
Practice questions
Short answer
Why does Lomov come to Chubukov's house?
To propose marriage to Natalya.
What do Lomov and Natalya first quarrel about?
The ownership of Oxen Meadows.
How does Chubukov resolve things at the end?
He hurriedly joins the couple's hands and declares them engaged.
Long answer
How does 'The Proposal' use quarrels for comic effect?
The humour of 'The Proposal' lies almost entirely in its quarrels. Lomov arrives intending to propose to Natalya, but instead of a romantic scene the play gives us one absurd argument after another. First, before he can even propose, Lomov and Natalya fall into a heated dispute over who owns Oxen Meadows, with Chubukov joining in until Lomov storms off. No sooner is he brought back than a second quarrel erupts, this time over whose dog — Lomov's Guess or Natalya's Squeezer — is the better animal, and the shouting grows wilder than before. The comedy comes from the trivial nature of these disputes, the characters' exaggerated tempers, and Lomov's constant complaints about his health. The crowning comic touch is that the moment they are finally engaged, the couple immediately begin to argue again, suggesting their marriage will be one long quarrel.
What does the play satirise about marriage in the landed gentry?
Through its comedy, 'The Proposal' satirises the marriage customs of the landed gentry, where matches are driven by property and convenience rather than love. Lomov decides to marry Natalya not out of affection but because it is the sensible, suitable thing to do at his age, and because their estates are neighbours. Chubukov is delighted by the proposal largely for his own advantage, and is quick to flatter Lomov as a fine son-in-law one moment and abuse him the next. Natalya, too, is keen to marry once she hears of the proposal, even though she has just quarrelled bitterly with the suitor. The endless squabbling over land and dogs shows that pride, possessions and pettiness, rather than genuine feeling, govern these relationships, and Chekhov mocks this gently but pointedly.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
What does the couple's constant quarrelling suggest about their future marriage?
It suggests their marriage will be full of arguments, but also that, since both are quarrelsome by nature, they may be oddly well-matched and continue together despite the bickering.
Why does Chekhov make the disputes so trivial?
The trivial subjects — a meadow and dogs — heighten the comedy and expose how easily pride and stubbornness can turn small matters into fierce fights.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Lomov comes to propose to Natalya (Chubukov's daughter).
- Quarrel 1: ownership of Oxen Meadows; Lomov leaves angrily.
- Quarrel 2: whose dog is better — Guess (Lomov) vs Squeezer (Natalya).
- Chubukov joins their hands; the engaged couple argue again. Farce satirising property-based marriage.
Key takeaways
- The play is a farce built on endless quarrels.
- It satirises marriage based on property, not love.
- The characters are petty, proud and quarrelsome.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote The Proposal?
The Russian writer Anton Chekhov.
What are the two quarrels about?
The land called Oxen Meadows and whose dog is better.
How does the play end?
Chubukov declares the couple engaged, and they immediately start arguing again.