"Forgive us, Ivan Vassilevitch, we were all a little heated." | "Oh, what a burden .... to be the father of a grown-up daughter!"

"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?

The speaker is Natalya Stepanovna. The speaker has referred to herself and her father as 'us'.

While conversing with each other, Lomov spoke of Oxen Meadows as his property to which both Chubukov and Natalya protested and told him that Oxen Meadows belonged to them. Lomov refused to accept their claim. This led to a bitter argument that made the persons 'a little heated.'

The bitter argument over who was the real owner of Oxen Meadows turned into abusing each other's family, which excited Lomov greatly. Lomov felt unwell and stormed out of the room. Later Natalya came to know that Lomov arrived there in order to propose her. Hearing this, she forced her father to bring him back and when he came back she apologised so that Lomov could forget the quarrel and give his marriage proposal to her.

 

"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?

Here, the father is Chubukov and the daughter is Natalya Stepanovna.

In the evening Lomov comes to Chubukov house to propose Natalya, the Chubukov daughter. Immediately after this all three of them engage themselves in an argument. When the situation becomes more critical, Lomov leaves the house, feeling sick. Natalya learns about the proposal when Chubukov confesses that Lomov's actual purpose of visiting their house, was to propose her. Now, she becomes desperate and asks her father to bring him back. Back then a young girl in her twenties was supposed to get married as soon as possible. Both she and her parents would become desperate for marriage as society would leave no other option open for an honourable young woman. As Natalya is an unmarried girl of twenty-five, it is her father's duty to get her married to someone. That is why she is a burden to Chubukov and for her sake, Chubukov has to call back Lomov again.

"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?

How did Chubukov welcome Lomov when he paid them a visit?

How does Chubukov react to Lomov proposal?

On what issues did Lomov and Natalya quarrel at first? How did their argument come to an end?

Why did Lomov think about taking a decision about getting married? Whom did he want to marry? Why?