THE PROPOSAL By Anton Chekov: Broad Answers Type Questions. BAQ

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 The Proposal By Anton Chekov Broad Answers Type Questions:

1. What is a one-act play? Estimate “The Proposal” as a one-act play.

        Ans- A one-act play is a play that takes place in a single act. An ‘Act’ is a unit of time within a part of the story of a drama unfolds. Each act runs between thirty and sixty minutes. The story is simple and the characters are understandable. It must have unity of plot and action. The play should concentrate on a single issue. 

      “The Proposal’ written by Anton Chekhov should be regarded as a successful one-act drama. The play must concentrate on a single issue of the marriage proposal. The plot of the play is simple and the characters are transparent and understandable. It is a story of two Russian middle-class families. The storyline is very simple. It is about a man named Ivan Vassilavitch Lomov. He is in his mid-thirties. He proposes to marry his neighbor’s daughter. The humor arises out of the situation and dialogues. In this sense, it is one of the most successful one-act play.

2. Describe the character of Lomov.

Or Write a short note on the character of Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov.

     Ans. Lomov is one of the main characters in the play “The Proposal” written by Anton Chekhov. He is a neighbour of the Chubukov family. He has his inherited property. He is in his mid-thirties, a critical age. He needs to get married. So, he visits the Chubukov family because he wants to propose to Natalya, Chubukov’s daughter. He thinks that Natalya would be his best match as she is beautiful, well educated and a good housekeeper. To him, love doesn’t appear to be important. However, he doesn’t have any problem in shouting at and quarreling with his would-be wife when possession of land becomes the subject of discussion. Lomov addresses his future father-in-law as ‘honoured Stepan Stapanovitch’, but the same man can threaten Chubukov to drag him to the court and even insults Chubukov’s mother. Like the rest two characters, his politeness is skin-deep. At the same time, his nature is highly comic. He suffers from palpitations. From his proposal to Chubukov to kissing Natalya, he remains a great comic element in the play.

3. What is your opinion of Chubukov’s character?

      Ans- Chubukov is one of the main characters in the play “The Proposal” written by Anton Chekov. He is an old man and a sensible father of a grown-up daughter. He needs to marry off his daughter urgently as she is a grown-up girl of 25. He is looking for a wealthy person for his daughter. The way he welcomes Lomov, makes us believe that he is very polite. However, when he doubts the purpose of Lomov’s visit without any reason, we realize that he is a hypocrite. He can address his future son-in-law both as ‘My precious’ and as a ‘Pettifogger’. He doesn’t even hesitate to call Lomov’s father a ‘guzzling gambler’. He is a short-tempered man. He considers his daughter to be a social burden. That’s why he doesn’t delay the engagement after Lomov comes round and gets back his sense. He is both angry and ridiculous. However, we enjoy what he does and says in the play.

4. Comment on the title of the play ‘The Proposal’.

     Ans. “The Proposal” written by Anton Chekhov is a thorough fun. The title ‘The Proposal’ directly expresses the theme of the play. The storyline centers on Lomov’s marriage proposal to his neighbour Chubukov’s daughter, Natalya. Lomov wants to marry Natalya. He visits Chubukov’s house with a formal evening dress. He is very much excited to unfold his proposal of marriage. He expressed his desire before Chubukov to marry Natalya. Chubukov is delighted. He sent Natalya to meet Lomov and discuss freely. When Natalya meets Lomov, the situation tunes to the comic end. Instead of proposing to Natalya, Lomov begins hot arguments with her over petty matters like oxen meadows or pet dogs. After a long chain of funny incidents, the marriage takes place without the proposal. The title nicely brings out the fun and satire in the play. So the title is appropriate.

5. Describe the character of Natalya.

     Ans- Natalya is the one and only female character in Anton Chekov’s one-act play ‘The Proposal’. She lives with her father and looks after him and his property. She is the perfect counterpart of Lomov, the hero of the play. Natalya is 25 years of age. She is a good housekeeper, beautiful, well-educated and she owns land. She is also a responsible daughter. She is argumentative in nature and suffers from hysteria. She is stubborn and quarrelsome in nature. She equally challenges Lomov in the hot debate. When Lomov exits, and she comes to know from her father about his marriage proposal, She behaves like a Lovesick cat’. She requests her father to bring him back. She readily accepts Lomov as her husband for a happy married life.

6. “The Proposal” is a great comedy and full of great humour. Explain the statement.
Or Do you find the play “The Proposal” funny? Discuss in your own.

    Ans. The play ‘The Proposal’ written by Anton Chekov is really a great comedy. It is full of great humour. This is caused by the foolish behaviour of Lomov, Natalya and her father Chubukov. There are lots of situations and dialogues that have made the play a funny one. Lomov is a man of 35 and he is very much eager to marry Natalya. He thinks he should not wait for anymore. Lomov comes to Natalya’s house to propose. Instead of proposing, he talks of the Oxen Meadows as their own. Lomov says that they are his. But Natalya says they are theirs. The argument is highly comical. They start accusing each other. Lomov says Chubukov’s mother was ‘hump-backed. Chubukov says Lomov’s father was a gambler. His younger aunt ran away with an architect. They call each other intriguer, Pup’, ‘Old rat’, etc. These are highly humorous. At the end when Lomove gets back his sense, he was confused. When Chubukov asks Lomov to kiss his daughter, Lomov asks Kiss to whom? This is again high humour. All the above-mentioned incidents and dialogues make the play really a funny one.

7. Explain the socio-economic background of Russia as reflected in the play “The Proposal”
Or Make a brief sketch of social life as you see in the play “The Proposal”.

     Ans—‘The Proposal’ is a one-act play written by Anton Chekov. It is a mini sketch of middle-class Russian society. We can find a typical feudal society in the Play. The play focuses on the social life of Russia during Chekov’s time. The land and property is the symbol of social status. The dress expresses the mood of a person. In the play, it is seen that love, romance, ideals are less important to settle up marriage. The girl is considered as social and economic liabilities. To relieve his own responsibility, Chubukov wanted his daughter to marry Lomov. Chubukov felt great relief when he could put Natalaya’s hand on Lomov’s hand. Chubukov was typical in his interest. In those days property ego was more important than the need for marriage and love. Natalaya did not love Lomov but she accepted him to pair up for her own interest. It’s interesting that characters know much about their family. However, they don’t hesitate to insult one another’s forefathers. Girls in those days were directly involved in harvest, farming and cooking as we find Natalya talking about shelling peas and stalking hay. We also come to know that hunting expedition arranged by aristocrat families was an important event and hunting dogs were highly valued. Thus, we find an interesting slice of social life in the play ‘The Proposal.’