The Proposal

The Proposal is a play written by Russian writer, Anton Chekhov. There are merely three
characters in this play namely Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov, his daughter Natalia Stepanovna and their
neighbor Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov. The plot of the play is so hilarious and entertaining. It simply
enlightens readers that two people who fall in love each other can never be entirely united if they do not
throw away selfishness. In this play, each character actually holds different identifying features but in
general we can conclude that they share the same attitude, i.e. egoistic, stubborn, and high self-esteem.
The Plot
In the evening, Lomov comes to Chubukovs house. He wears evening dress, gloves, hat, and so
on. Chubukov is surprised but feels so glad. Lomov says that he wants to propose Natalya, Chubukovs
daughter. Chubukov is very happy and accepts the proposal. Lomov feels he is not a proper man to
Natalya. It is the right time for Lomov to ask Natalya in marriage.
Natalya seems happy and shy when she meets Lomov. When he says that Oxen meadows belong
to him, Natalya becomes angry. She quarrels with Lomov and calls him a Land-grabber. Lomov accuses
Chubukov that he has taken the Meadows from Lomovs family.

The situation becomes more critical. Lomov and Chubukov humiliate each others family.
Lomovs heart cannot stop from palpitating. Then he decides to leave that house. After Lomov leaving
them, Chubukov reveals that he came to propose Natalya. Natalya is shocked and urges the father to fetch
him soon. When Lomov comes back Natalya acknowledges that Oxen Meadows belong to him.

Next, Natalya and Lomov talk of something else. When they talk about their dogs, Lomov argues
that Guess is the best dog. But Natalya disagrees and says that squeezer is better than Guess. They
humiliate each other and Chubukov also joins the dispute.

Suddenly, Lomov feels numb and collapses. Natalya shouts that Lomov is dead. When Lomov
gets his conscious Chubukov holds the couples hands and tell them they are married. They kiss each
other as a mark of marriage. But, they continue their argument.

Chubukov, in fact, agrees to the marriage proposal proposed by his neighbor toward his daughter.
But gradually he changes his mind when Lomov starts the debate that the meadows belong to his family.
Indeed, Natalia and her father get mad. They simply yet totally debate and argue trivial matters such as
dogs and meadows. The ultimate goal, the marriage proposal, should have been achieved earlier if Lomov
doesnt start the debate and Natalia doesnt respond to every trivial matter in which Lomov states.
The play consists only a single scene. It most likely leads the readers to come up with the idea
that it is easily-to-read text play. In this text play, dialogue plays a very significant role and it provides the
readers with funny and entertaining dialogue among the three characters. These kinds of dialogue will
simply make the readers understand the text comprehensively because readers seems to enjoy a lot a text
play with witty and amusing dialogue rather than serious and complicated ones. Comedy is the generic
convention of this text play, for the indication says sothe humor mostly comes from the three
characters arguments about the meadows and the dogs. The story also employs a tone of irony. Those
three characters wish the marriage to be held and done but their insensitivity almost postpones the
marriage. As a whole, the story is ended by an open ending. It remains blur to where the story will go but
at least, the dispute is resolved.