"... and not one has ever been tried for embezzlement, like your grandfather!"-Who said this and about whom? Analyse the character of the speaker under the light of the above statement.

"... and not one has ever been tried for embezzlement, like your grandfather!"- Who said this and about whom? Analyse the character of the speaker under the light of the above statement.

Lomov said this about Chubukov grandfather.

Lomov was a long-time neighbour of Chubukov. As he was 35 years old, he decided to get married to Natalya and in order to propose her, he went to Chubukov house. The playwright described him as large and hearty but a very suspicious landowner. Lomov, Natalya and Chubukov got involved in an argument regarding the ownership of Oxen Meadows and that argument, helped to reveal the reality of these characters. Through the argument, we came to know that Lomov could not stand unfairness and he was logical in showing his point of view. He was short-tempered and when he got angry, he faced several physical illnesses. According to him, Lomovs were honourable people and no one of his family ever cheated anyone. From this statement, we came to know that Lomov loved his family members so much that he did not want to hear a single word against them. Through him, Chekhov satirised the attitude of the Russian upper middle class towards marriage.

"Oh, unhappy man that I am! I'll shoot myself! I'll hang myself!"—Who is unhappy? Why does the speaker wish to die?

In the above-quoted line, Chubukov is unhappy.

Lomov, Natalya and Chubukov get involved in a heated argument regarding the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. According to Lomov, that land belongs to the Lomovs as his aunt's grandmother gave the free use of the land to the peasants of Chubukov grandfather and they had used it for forty years. But Natalya disagrees with him and quarrels with Lomov along with her father. Soon Lomov becomes ill and leaves their house. But as soon as Natalya hears about his intention of coming to their house, she freaks out and requests her father to bring him back. Chubukov becomes awestruck at his daughter's changed behaviour and gets confused. Unable to decide what to do, Chubukov wishes to die.

"Bring him back! Back! Ah! Bring him here."-Who says this to whom? When is it said? Why is the speaker so excited? What light does the line throw on the character of the speaker?

"What have they done to me! Fetch him back!"-Who is the speaker? Who is 'him'? What ironic about the speaker's request to bring 'him' back?

"Forgive us, Ivan Vassilevitch, we were all a little heated." - Who is the speaker? Who is referred to by 'us'? Why were the persons referred to 'a little heated'? Why does the speaker ask for forgiveness?

"Oh, what a burden .... to be the father of a grown-up daughter!"—Who is the 'father'? Who is the 'daughter'? Why is the daughter a burden to the father?

"My land is worth little to me, but the principle .."-Who is the speaker? Which land he referring to? What 'principle' does he mean? What made him utter such a statement?

"He got left behind because the Count's whipper-in hit him with his whip."- Who is 'he' in this sentence? Name the master of him. Name his two contenders. When did the speaker say this?

"What sort of a hunter are you?"-What does Natalya want to say and why does she say so? What suggestions does she make after that?

"I've noticed that those hunters argue most who know least."-State context and explain the content.

“My heart's bursting!" —Who is the speaker? What happens immediately after the above comment?

"I give you my blessing and so on. Only leave me in peace!"—Who is the speaker? Why did the speaker say so?

"I give you my blessing and so on. Only leave me in peace!"-What does the speaker intend to mean by this comment?

"I ... I'm happy too. ..."- Who is the speaker? When did the speaker say this? What happened then?

"I ....I'm happy too. ...." -Who says this and when? Why is the speaker 'happy? How would you explain her happiness?

"What a weight off my shoulders...!"-What aspect of the social condition is revealed by Chubukov through this comment?

"But ... still you will admit now that Guess is worse than Squeezer."-Who is the speaker? Whom is the speaker addressing? Describe the incident involving Guess and Squeezer.

"... that's a way to start your family bliss!"-Who is the speaker? What way has been referred to here? Give your view on what the speaker says.

Discuss 'The Proposal as a farcical satire.

Comment on the theme of marriage in this play. How do Lomov and Natalya contribute to this theme?