A Marriage Proposal

- Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

Choobookov and Lomov are landowners who are good friends and neighbours. Lomov is a 35 years old bachelor who is over-sensitive toward his health. Choobookov has a 25 years old daughter, Natalia, who is a shrewish woman. Both Lomov and Natalia have crossed the appropriate age for their marriage. So, they are anxious to get married.

One day Lomov visits Choobookov’s house in a formal dress. Choobookov is surprised to see his neighbour in a formal dress. After a little hesitation, Lomov reveals his motive for the visit. He has come there to ask Choobookov his daughter’s hand. Hearing the proposal, Choobookov is overjoyed. He says that both he and his daughter like Lomov very much.

Choobookov sends his daughter to the place where Lomov is waiting for her. Lomov is quite nervous to propose to Natalia. Because of his nervousness, Lomov can’t propose Natalia directly. So, he starts with a rather long background about the two families’ relationship to each other. But when he says the Ox Meadows is his, Natalia shrewdly protests. She claims that the Ox Meadows belongs to her family. They have a long and childish debate on this matter because Lomov is also a short-tempered person and doesn’t want to accept the defeat.

After some time, Choobookov arrives there and engages himself in the debate. They give each other’s families various bad names. Lomov threatens them to suit a case in court and leaves.

When Lomov is away, Choobookov informs his daughter that Lomov wanted to propose to her. She changes herself outright. She starts crying. She makes her father call Lomov back. When he arrives again, she welcomes him and talks to him in a friendly way. Meanwhile, she accidentally says that her dog is superior to his dog. They again begin fierce debate. Each of them boasts of their own pets. Choobookov arrives again. Pitifully, again he is also drawn into the debate. When the debate is heated, Lomov feels difficulty in his heart. He faints. Both Natalia and her father are worried.

When Lomov regains his consciousness, Choobookov joins his hand with Natalia’s and tells them to kiss each other. They cheerfully do it. Choobookov gives his blessings to his daughter and son-in-law. But both Natalia and Lomov are still arguing about the superiority of each other’s dog when Choobookov outshouts for champagne. It shows that marriage is a compromise.

Questions:

1. Why is Choobookov surprised at the appearance of his visitor? (058,061)
2. Write about the purpose of Lomov’s visit to Choobookov’s house in the play.
3. How does the topic of dogs bring about exchange of heated words? (062)
4. Why does Choobookov have to shout for champagne at the end? (063)
5. What is Lomov’s idea of marriage? (064)
6. What are the pains and anxieties of the father of a grown-up daughter as experienced by Choobookov? What makes Choobookov so desperate as to wish to put a bullet through his own head? (057)
7. Make a comparison of the characters of  Choobookov and Lomov. (060)
8. Narrate the series of changes in the attitude of Natalia toward Lomov. (065)