Chapter 9 – The Proposal Solutions

Content structure

1. About the author – Anton Chekov
2. Theme of The Proposal
3. Summary of The Proposal
4. Word Meanings
5. Exercise questions and answers (NCERT)
- 4A. Thinking about the play
- 4B. Thinking about Language
- 4C. Speaking and Writing

1. About the author – Anton Chekov

Anton Chekhov is a famous Russian writer and playwright who was born on 29th January 1860. He is known for his short stories, which show a deep understanding of human nature. He writes in simple language with powerful, deep thoughts about everyday life and the emotions of ordinary people. He wrote famous plays like The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Seagull. In addition to being a writer, he was also a doctor, which enabled him to observe people carefully and include more realistic elements in his stories. His work explores complex characters and situations with gentle humor and quiet sorrow. He died on 15th July 1904.

2. Theme of The Proposal

The play shows that two wealthy people get married to increase their property which leads only to arguments, selfishness, and an unhappy life.
It shows that repeated arguments or fighting can lead to health problems and damage relationships. As a result, many people lose their relationships because of their attitudes and meaningless quarrels.
It also shows that marriage should be about love and trust not about land, property, or becoming richer. The play teaches us that understanding and kindness are more important than always trying to win an argument.

The author uses the silly fights between Lomov and Natalya to show how people forget love and understanding when they care only about money or proving they are right. The story reminds us that real happiness comes from kindness, respect, and honest feelings, not from wealth.

3. Summary of The Proposal

The Proposal is a short comedic play written by Anton Chekhov. It presents a funny scene involving two wealthy families who wish to increase their property through the marriage of their children. Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov is a 35-year-old wealthy landowner who suffers from poor health and nervousness. One day, he visits his neighbour, Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov, to ask for his daughter Natalya Stepanovna’s hand in marriage. Lomov dresses formally for the visit and looks very nervous. At first, Chubukov thinks Lomov has come to borrow money but once Lomov reveals his true intention, Chubukov becomes overjoyed and calls for his daughter Natalya. Natalya enters wearing a simple dress and apron, as she often helps with work on the estate. She comments on Lomov’s formal appearance and tells her father to compliment him. Lomov and Natalya begin by discussing how their families have always had a good relationship. During the conversation, Lomov brings up a piece of land called Oxen Meadows, which leads to a heated argument, as both claim ownership of it. Lomov becomes extremely upset and starts experiencing heart palpitations from the stress. Chubukov joins the argument and begins insulting Lomov, so Lomov storms out of the house in frustration. Chubukov then reveals to Natalya that Lomov had actually come to propose to her, which leaves her shocked and ashamed. She immediately begs her father to bring him back, and Chubukov rushes out to do so. Lomov returns to the house, and Natalya tries to avoid the earlier argument by starting a new conversation about their dogs. She insists that her dog, Squeezer, is better than Lomov’s dog, Guess. Lomov disagrees, saying that while Guess is old, he is a much better hunting dog. He claims he wouldn’t trade Guess for five Squeezers and adds that Squeezer is not a special dog, worth only 25 rubles. Chubukov sides with Natalya and criticizes Lomov, warning that if the argument continues he will lose his temper. He suggests that Lomov should stay at home instead of going hunting.Lomov feels insulted and accuses Chubukov of pretending to be a hunter, saying he only visits hunting grounds to be seen and not to hunt seriously. Natalya and Chubukov continue to insult Lomov, and eventually Lomov faints from stress and his poor health. Natalya panics, clutches Lomov’s sleeve, and calls for help, while Chubukov also becomes frantic and tries to pour water into his mouth, but Lomov does not respond, leading Chubukov to believe he has died and curse himself in despair. Soon, Chubukov notices Lomov moving again. Chubukov feels relieved, quickly offers water, and declares that the marriage should happen immediately. He then places Natalya’s hand in Lomov’s and gives them his blessing. Lomov, still confused, only realizes what is happening after Natalya kisses his hand. He returns the gesture but continues to complain about his numb foot. Natalya once again brings up the dog argument and Lomov insists that Guess is still the better dog. The couple continues to quarrel even after getting engaged and the curtain falls showing that their fights are far from over.

4. Word Meanings

Word	Meaning
Squeezes	Holds tightly
Awfully	Very or really
Idiotic	Very silly or foolish
Palpitations	Fast or uneven heartbeat
Twitch	A small, quick movement
Lunatic	A crazy or very foolish person
Splendid	Very good or excellent
Stacked	Arranged neatly
Privilege	A special right or chance
Affectionate	Showing love or care
Perpetuity	Forever or never-ending
Implore	To beg or ask very seriously
Threshing-machine	A machine used to separate grains from plants
Impudent	Rude or disrespectful
Carafe	A glass bottle for serving water or juice
Excruciating	Very painful
Yelling	Shouting loudly
Agitating	Making someone upset or nervous
Embezzlement	Stealing money from work or a company
Intriguer	A person who secretly plans to trick others
Wizen-faced frump	An old-looking and untidy woman
Blackcock	A type of wild bird
Misfortune	Bad luck
Pedigree	Family background, especially of animals
Muzzle	The mouth and nose part of an animal

5. Exercise questions and answers (NCERT)

4A. Thinking about the play

1. What does Chubukov at first suspect that Lomov has come for? Is he sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son”? Find reasons for your answer from the play.
Ans: Chubukov first suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money as Lomov seems nervous and is dressed formally. He is not sincere when he later says “And I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son” because earlier he had clearly decided not to give Lomov any money. His attitude changes only after Lomov mentions wanting to marry Natalya, and since Lomov is a wealthy landowner, this shows that Chubukov’s kind words were more about securing a good match for his daughter than real care.

2. Chubukov says of Natalya: “… as if she won’t consent! She’s in love; egad, she’s like a lovesick cat…” Would you agree? Find reasons for your answer.
Ans: Yes, Natalya is in love as her behavior clearly shows it when she finds out that Lomov came to propose to her. She becomes emotional, starts crying and begs her father to bring him back immediately. Her sudden change of heart and desperate reaction show that she has strong feelings for Lomov.

3. (i) Find all the words and expressions in the play that the characters use to speak about each other, and the accusations and insults they hurl at each other. (For example, Lomov in the end calls Chubukov an intriguer; but earlier, Chubukov has himself called Lomov a “malicious, doublefaced intriguer.” Again, Lomov begins by describing Natalya as “an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated.”)
(ii) Then think of five adjectives or adjectival expressions of your own to describe each character in the play.
(iii) Can you now imagine what these characters will quarrel about next?
Ans:
(i) In the play, the characters use many harsh words to insult each other. Chubukov calls Lomov a malicious, double-faced intriguer, a rascal, a grabber, an old rat, a scarecrow, and a stuffed sausage. Lomov, in return, calls Chubukov an intriguer and a land-grabber. He insults Natalya by calling her a lovesick cat, a hen, and a chatterbox. At the beginning, however, Lomov describes Natalya as an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, and well-educated.

(ii) Lomov is nervous, argumentative, insecure, and often complains about his health. Natalya is stubborn, emotional, proud, and quick to react. Chubukov is short-tempered, sarcastic, greedy, and manipulative.

(iii) The characters are likely to continue quarreling even after the engagement. They might argue about the wedding arrangements, the furniture, or how to manage the estate. Since they argue over small matters like land and dogs, anything could start their next fight.

4B. Thinking about Language

I. 1. This play has been translated into English from the Russian original. Are there any expressions or ways of speaking that strike you as more Russian than English? For example, would an adult man be addressed by an older man as my darling or my treasure in an English play?
Read through the play carefully, and find expressions that you think are not used in contemporary English, and contrast these with idiomatic modern English expressions that also occur in the play.
Ans: Yes, there are several expressions in the play that sound more Russian than English and feel unusual in modern conversation. For example, Chubukov calls Lomov “my darling,” “my treasure,” and “my angel,” which would be very uncommon for one adult man to say to another in a modern English play. These terms reflect the emotional and dramatic style often found in Russian literature. Similarly, expressions like “You puppy!” and “She’s like a lovesick cat!” also seem exaggerated and old-fashioned. In contrast, the play also includes more modern-sounding idioms such as “What a load of nonsense!” and “I must ask you to shut up,” which are still used in everyday English today. This blend of theatrical Russian expressions with idiomatic English gives the play a humorous and dramatic tone.

2. Look up the following words in a dictionary and find out how to pronounce them. Pay attention to how many syllables there are in each word, and find out which syllable is stressed, or said more forcefully.

palpitations	interfere	implore	thoroughbred
pedigree	principle	evidence	misfortune
malicious	embezzlement	architect	neighbours
accustomed	temporary	behaviour	documents

Ans: Self-Assessment

3. Look up the following phrases in a dictionary to find out their meaning, and then use each in a sentence of your own.
(i) You may take it that
(ii) He seems to be coming round
(iii) My foot’s gone to sleep
Ans:

Phrase	Meaning	Sentence
(i) You may take it that	To believe or accept something as true	You may take it that he will join us for dinner.
(ii) He seems to be coming round	Regaining consciousness	He fainted earlier, but now he seems to be coming round.
(iii) My foot’s gone to sleep	Feeling numb and tingly	I sat too long on the floor and now my foot’s gone to sleep.

II. Reported Speech

You must have noticed that when we report someone’s exact words, we have to make some changes in the sentence structure. In the following sentences fill in the blanks to list the changes that have occurred in the above pairs of sentences. One has been done for you.

1. To report a question, we use the reporting verb asked. (as in Sentence Set 1).
2. To report a statement, we use the reporting verb declared.
3. The adverb of place here changes to there.
4. When the verb in direct speech is in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the past (as in Sentence Set 3).
5. If the verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to past continuous tense. For example, is getting changes to was getting.
6. When the sentence in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb respectfully in the reporting clause. (as in Sentence Set 1).
7. The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change according to the subject or object of the reporting verb such as he, him, their or his in reported speech.

III. Here is an excerpt from an article from the Times of India dated 27 August 2006. Rewrite it, changing the sentences in direct speech into reported speech. Leave the other sentences unchanged.

“Why do you want to know my age? If people know I am so old, I won’t get work!” laughs 90-year-old A. K. Hangal, one of Hindi cinema’s most famous character actors. For his age, he is rather energetic. “What’s the secret?” we ask. “My intake of everything is in small quantities. And I walk a lot,” he replies. “I joined the industry when people retire. I was in my 40s. So I don’t miss being called a star. I am still respected and given work, when actors of my age are living in poverty and without work. I don’t have any complaints,” he says, adding, “but yes, I have always been underpaid.” Recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Hangal never hankered after money or materialistic gains. “No doubt I am content today, but money is important. I was a fool not to understand the value of money earlier,” he regrets.

Ans:
90-year-old A.K. Hangal, one of Hindi cinema’s most famous character actors laughingly asked why we wanted to know his age. He said that if people knew he was so old, he would not get work. For his age he was rather energetic. We asked him what the secret was. He replied that his intake of everything was in small quantities and that he walked a lot. He said he had joined the industry when most people retired and that he had been in his 40s at the time. Therefore, he did not miss being called a star. He added that he was still respected and given work, even when actors of his age were living in poverty and without employment. He stated that he had no complaints but admitted that he had always been underpaid. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan Hangal never hankered after money or materialistic gains. He said that although he was content at present, money was important. He regretted that he had been a fool not to understand the value of money earlier

4C. Speaking and Writing

1. Anger Management: As adults, one important thing to learn is how to manage our temper. Some of us tend to get angry quickly, while others remain calm. Can you think of three ill effects that result from anger? Note them down. Suggest ways to avoid losing your temper in such situations. Are there any benefits from anger?
Ans: Anger can cause many problems if not managed properly. It can harm relationships by hurting others’ feelings, affect our health by increasing stress and blood pressure, and cloud our thinking, leading to poor decisions. To avoid losing our temper, we can take deep breaths, count to ten, or walk away from the situation to calm down. Speaking politely and thinking before reacting also helps. Anger is usually seen as bad, but it can help us see when something is unfair and act in a calm and respectful way.

2. In pairs, prepare a script based on the given excerpt from The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore. You may write five exchanges between the characters with other directions such as movements on stage and way of speaking, etc.

One afternoon, when I happened to be specially busy, word came to my office room that Bimala had sent for me. I was startled.
“Who did you say had sent for me?” I asked the messenger.
“The Rani Mother”.
“The Bara Rani?”
“No, sir, the Chota Rani Mother.”
The Chota Rani! It seemed a century since I had been sent for by her. I kept them all waiting there, and went off into the inner apartments. When I stepped into our room I had another shock of surprise to find Bimala there with a distinct suggestion of being dressed up. The room, which from persistent neglect, had latterly acquired an air of having grown absent-minded, had regained something of its old order this afternoon. I stood there silently, looking enquiringly at Bimala.
She flushed a little and the fingers of her right hand toyed for a time with the bangles on her left arm. Then she abruptly broke the silence.
“Look here! Is it right that ours should be the only market in all Bengal which allows foreign goods?”
“What, then, would be the right thing to do?” I asked.
“Order them to be cleared out!”
“But the goods are not mine.”
“Is not the market yours?”
“It is much more theirs who use it for trade.”
“Let them trade in Indian goods, then.”
“Nothing would please me better. But suppose they do not?”
“Nonsense! How dare they be so insolent? Are you not…”
“I am very busy this afternoon and cannot stop to argue it out. But I must refuse to tyrannise.”
“It would not be tyranny for selfish gain, but for the sake of the country.”
“To tyrannise for the country is to tyrannise over the country. But that I am afraid you will never understand.” With this I came away.”

Ans:

[The Narrator is seated at his desk, writing and focused. A messenger enters quietly.]

Messenger (respectfully): Sir, the Chota Rani has asked to see you.
Narrator (surprised, looking up): The Chota Rani? Are you sure?
Messenger: Yes, sir. She is waiting inside.

[The Narrator stands slowly, clearly surprised, then walks thoughtfully toward the inner part of the house. As he enters the room, the lighting changes slightly. The room is clean and organised. Bimala stands near a window, wearing a simple but neat outfit.]

Narrator (softly, as he enters): You sent for me, Bimala?

[Bimala blushes a little and plays with her bangles for a moment before speaking.]

Bimala (firmly): Tell me, is it right that our market is the only one still selling foreign goods?
Narrator (calmly): What do you want me to do?
Bimala: Ask the traders to remove those goods!
Narrator: The goods don’t belong to me; they are owned by the traders.
Bimala: Isn’t the market under your control?
Narrator: The market is used by the people, and they have the right to choose the things they want to sell.
Bimala: Then ask them to sell only Indian goods.
Narrator: I would like that very much but what if they don’t agree?
Bimala (raising her voice): Why wouldn’t they? How can they be so bold? Aren’t you—?
Narrator (cutting in firmly): I am busy today, I don’t want to argue, and I cannot force anyone.
Bimala (passionately): This is not selfish because it is for the good of our country.
Narrator (seriously): People who force others in the name of the country are still forcing them, and that, I’m afraid, you don’t understand yet.

[He gives her a long look, then slowly walks out. Bimala stays still, quiet and thoughtful.]

3. In groups, discuss the qualities one should look for in a marriage partner. You might consider the following points.

Personal qualities
- Appearance or looks
- Attitudes and beliefs
- Sense of humour
Value system
- Compassion and kindness
- Tolerance, ambition
- Attitude to money and wealth
Education and professional background

Ans: A good marriage partner should be someone who is kind, honest, and respectful. Physical appearance may catch attention at first, but it’s the person’s inner qualities that matter most over time. A partner should have a positive attitude and beliefs that match well with yours, so you can understand and support each other. A sense of humour is also important because it helps bring happiness and makes tough times easier to handle. A caring partner shows compassion and kindness, which helps build a strong and loving bond. Tolerance is needed to accept each other’s differences, and ambition shows that the person wants to grow and succeed in life. The way a person handles money also matters, because it can affect how you plan your future together. It’s important that they value savings and use money wisely. Education and a steady job can show that someone is responsible and serious about life. A good partner should respect you, stand by you, and grow with you through every stage of life.

4. Are there parts of the play that remind you of film scenes from romantic comedies? Discuss this in groups, and recount to the rest of the class episodes similar to those in the play.
Ans: Yes, some parts of the play The Proposal remind me of scenes from romantic comedy films. In many movies, couples who are supposed to fall in love often start by arguing or misunderstanding each other—just like Lomov and Natalya. For example, in some romantic comedies, a couple may fight over silly things like whose pet is better or who owns what, but in the end, they realize they care about each other. In The Proposal, Lomov and Natalya argue about land and dogs, yet they still get engaged. This is similar to film scenes where love is mixed with humor, misunderstandings, and dramatic emotions, which make the story both funny and sweet.