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?

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

In the one-act play 'The Proposal', Anton Chekhov uses only three characters so that the message he wants to convey is intensified and does not get diluted. The three characters have been used so effectively that the play truly serves its purpose. It is through the interaction of these three characters that the play satirises the upper-class society, courtship and marriage. The introduction of other characters would have been frivolous and would have complicated the plot unnecessarily. Hence, the playwright has concentrated upon these three characters, whom he has sketched with such perfection that though the three of them occupy the stage for most of the time, they never cease to entertain us with their antics and dialogues sparkling with wit and humour.

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

The Proposal' written by Anton Chekhov, makes fun of the upper-middle-class society, the custom of courtship and marriage where there is no place for love and trust. In this play, Lomov declares that he must marry without thinking about love because his search for real and ideal love is bound to remain fruitless. So he decides to marry Natalya as she is an excellent housekeeper and by marrying her he will also gain the land owned by her father. Though both Natalya and her father dislike Lomov and quarrel with him, yet she is desperate to marry him. Their countless arguments over silly issues even before they actually get married highlights the poor state of marriage in society. It is reduced to a mere business deal without any place for love and mutual regard which are essential for conjugal bliss. These people only seek the opportunity to meet their own interest. Lomov's nervousness and his constant worrying about health symbolise the decay in the aristocratic society.

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.

Comment on the setting of the play with reference to costume, customs and mannerism. Does it relate to the socio-economic background of that period?

Discuss the reasons why the marriage proposal is important to all the characters.

Discuss the significance of the title 'The Eyes Have It'.

Establish 'The Eyes Have It' as a good short story.

What instructions were given to the girl by her parents before she started her journey? Do you think the narrator started to like the girl from the very beginning? Support your answer with reference to the text.

....my voice startled her."- Who is the speaker here? Who is mentioned as "her"? Why was she "startled" by the voice of the speaker? What did she do afterwards?

"I didn't see you either", I said. "But I heard you come in.' Was it not a hint for the girl to understand that the narrator was blind? What did the narrator think before stating this?

What was the destination of the narrator in the story The Eyes Have It'? What description of his destination did he give? How could he give such a description in spite of being blind?

"Oh, how lucky you are." -Who is the speaker here? Who is "you" referred to? Why is the person spoken to being called "lucky"?

"Yes, October is the best time”- Who is the speaker? On what occasion is the remark made and to whom? Why is October the best time?

“...she thought me a romantic fool"- Who might be thought a romantic fool? When and ... why did the speaker doubt so?

"Then I made a mistake"-What 'mistake' did the speaker make? Why was it a 'mistake'? What removed the speaker's doubts? What did the speaker do then?

"Why don't you look out of the window?"- Who said these words to whom? Why? Describe the action of the listener.

"Do you see any animals?" -Who asked this and to whom? What was the reply? How could the person give the answer?