Comment on the father-daughter relationship as depicted in the play. | Describe the physical problems that Lomov thinks he has.

Comment on the father-daughter relationship as depicted in the play.

In the play The Proposal' written by Anton Chekhov there is a special bond between Natalya Stepanovna and her father Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov. It is natural that parents and children share a relationship of love and trust. However, the need to get married cast a shadow over such a pristine bond. When Lomov comes to propose marriage to Natalya, Chubukov, the sensible father warns her of Lomov's real intention by saying, "Go, there's a merchant come for his goods". Both father and daughter support each other strongly when either of them gets into an argument with Lomov. After Lomov's departure when Natalya learns his actual intention was to propose marriage to her, she blatantly accuses her father of everything. Like a willful child, she asks her father to call him back. The loving and dutiful father, forever plagued with the worry of finding a suitable match for his daughter, now seems visibly upset. He does not like Lomov at all, who has insulted him. Yet, for his daughter's future, he does whatever he can to get them engaged. Thus Chubukov and his daughter always share an understanding relationship.

Describe the physical problems that Lomov thinks he has.

Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov is a landowner and a neighbour of Chubukov. He is always obsessed with his health problems. He is extremely prone to anxiety. He feels cold and trembles all over as if he has an examination coming up. He thinks he hears a noise in his ears out of excitement. Lomov is in need of a normal regular life because he suffers from palpitations. He himself thinks, "I'm excitable and always getting awfully upset.. my lips are trembling .. a twitch in my right eyebrow." The way Lomov describes the way he sleeps proves that he is obsessed with various physical problems. He jumps like a 'lunatic' in his sleep and feels 'pull' whenever he is ready to sleep. Later in the play, he thinks several times, "I'm dying .... My foot's quite numb...". Finally, Lomov's heart cannot bear any more excitement during the argument and he faints down on the ground. The frequency with which Lomov talks of his ailments leads us to think that he is a hypochondriac. Thus we see that most of Lomov's illnesses are psychological and imaginary.

Why does Lomov think Natalya will make an acceptable wife? Explain your answer.

Why did not Lomov directly ask Natalya to marry him?

Why did Lomov leave Chubukov house?

How did Lomov regain his senses finally by Chubukov? How was the marriage between Lomov and Natalya accomplished?

Who made the proposal and to whom? What was the proposal? How was the proposal realised?

How did the illness of Lomov help to unite Lomov and Natalya?

The playwright has used some funny adjectives with which the characters use to blame each other. How do they contribute to the comic elements of the play?

Do you find the play funny? Support your answer with illustrations from the text.

Do you think "The Proposal can be defined as a play of contradictions? Support your answer with reasons.

Make a brief sketch of social life as you see in the play.

What is the focus in the play? Is it a character? Is it an action? Is it the unpredictability of the people? Explain your answer.

Write a brief note on Chekhov's depiction of aristocratic society in 'The Proposal'.

Why does Chekhov choose only three characters to deliver his message to us?

What aspects of the human condition and society does the play make fun of?

What is Anton Chekhov trying to say about the manner in which neighbours interact/ behave? Support your answer with evidence from the play.

How would you best describe the personalities of each of the characters in the play?

How does Chekhov alternate the actual proposal and the arguments? Explain your answer.

What are the effect of this alternating the proposal and the arguments? Explain your answer.