Describe the reaction of Natalya and her father thinking that Lomov is dead.

In the play, ‘The Proposal Anton Chekhov develops funny situations to the level of a hilarious one. In the final scene, Lomov faints down on the ground because of the excitement caused by the heated argument with Natalya and Chubukov. Chubukov and Natalya believe for a moment that he is dead. Natalya pulls Lomov’s sleeve to see if he is really dead. She is shocked and shouts, “What have you done to me?” Chubukov is equally astonished. He shouts for water and lifts a tumbler to Lomov’s mouth to make him drink. Chubukov thinks that Lomov is dead. He wants to kill himself because his daughter may have missed the chance of getting married. He blames his misfortune and calls out for a knife and pistol to kill himself. However, Lomov soon revives and Chubukov is the first one to notice that. Now Chubukov, knowing the importance of getting his daughter married, does not waste time and orders them to hurry up and get married.

Is Lomov really ill or is he hypochondriac? Give reasons for your answer.

Lomov is a very interesting character as drawn by Anton Chekhov. The play ‘The Proposal’, begins with his arrival. From the very beginning, Lomov constantly refers to his various physical problems. He is actually a hypochondriac (a person who thinks that he is always sick). Lomov thinks he has several illness-though most of them are imaginary. He gets excited easily and he is extremely nervous. In the play we often see him feeling cold or trembling all over. He hears noises, suffers from palpitations, gets awfully upset and does not feel any sensation in his foot at times. He also mentions the problems he faces while sleeping. Although he comes to propose marriage to Natalya, he forgets about it and gets involved in arguments. Lomov really is a hypochondriac who mentions his illness in every piece of dialogue in this play.


Do you think Chubukov and Lomov are good neighbours? Give reasons with reference from the play.

What change of behaviour and tone do you notice in Natalya as she heard that Lomov’s actual intention was to propose to her for marriage?


What is ironic about Natalya’s request to bring Lomov back?

What are Lomov and Natalya’s actual feelings and opinions about each other?


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

Describe the physical problems that Lomov thinks he has.


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’.