What is the theme of "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov?

In this one-act play, Chekhov satirizes marriage conventions among the land-owning aristocracy of Russia in the nineteenth century. The characters of Natalya Stepanovna, who is twenty-five years old, and Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov, who is thirty-five years old, are so ill-suited to one another that it seems they will not even have a "honeymoon phase" of their relationship.

Normally, the beginnings of relationships are all fun and romance and flirtation, but the beginning of this relationship is all fighting and arguing and name-calling! If this is how these two behave in the beginning of a relationship, imagine how they might treat each other five or ten or twenty years in!

Ivan clearly feels some pressure to marry soon; he remarks that he is "already 35—a critical age," and he hopes to begin a "quiet and regular life" with a wife. He says that he has no time "to look for an ideal love, or for real love." If he were to wait and hope, it might soon become too late for him to get married. He does not propose to Natalya because he loves her—not even because he particularly likes her—but because she's "an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated," and so on. She seems suitable, and that must be good enough for him.

But, Chekhov seems to ask, must it? Rather than soothing him, interacting with her actually increases Lomov's feelings of illness and his heart palpitations. He hopes that his life will improve upon marriage, but it quickly begins to decline—and they aren't even married yet!

Chekhov, thus, conveys the idea that we cannot look to marriage to make us happy; we must find happiness ourselves. Further, we must marry for better reasons than for improving our financial status or class; we ought to marry because we are truly well-suited to our partner and they to us.

What is the theme of "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov?

The theme of Anton Chekhov's "The Proposal" stems from the cultural practice of nineteenth-century Russia as economic stability for the gentry rested in the possession of as much land as possible since the potential for the production of agrarian products promised monetary profit.  Therefore, in this one-act farce the theme is that economic security takes precedence over romance and love.

It is certainly of interest that Lomov is thrity-five years old and his neighbor Natalia is twenty-five, well past the age of most brides at the time of the play's setting. This fact suggests that Lomov's motivation is not romantic, but practical.  Underscoring this idea is Lomov's reluctance to say anything in this romantic vein to Natalia; instead, he speaks of the meadows, suggesting that the possession of land is foremost in his mind.

LOMOV I'll try to be brief. My dear Natalia Stepanovna, as you know, for many years...I inherited the estate, always have the greatest respect for your brother and ...mother....and furthermore my property....my meadows touch your birchwoods.

As he broaches his proposal of marriage, Lomov speaks at length of property, thus indicating that marriage is symbolic of economic considerations, reinforcing the theme of marriage as contract for economic security.  Reinforcing this theme, too, are the actions of the Tschubukovs who, although engaged in heated arguments with Lomov, scurry to bring him out of a faint to enough consciousness that he can agree to the marriage with Natalia which the father ironically proposes.

What is the theme of "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov?

In The Proposal by Anton Checkov, the theme is that marriage is not as romantic as some people believe. The theme is based on two people who love each other by fighting. Lomov and Natayla act like a married couple before they become engaged. They are argumentative from the start. No doubt, the theme is that married people inevitably fight, even before they say I do. 

The author's tone is satirical as he presents characters who are destined to be married due to their argumentative personalities. Truly, the author sees married life as a continual disagreement. No doubt, the author understands what marriage can do to two people who are argumentative. 

The climax occurs when Lomov and Natalya stop arguing long enough to kiss and then return to arguing. Truly, this couple is destined to marry for they have the fighting aspect of married life down to an art. They were born for each other. Their argumentative nature is innate. They are unquestionably a couple made for each other:

Lomov ‘s intention is to propose and once Natasha knows this her intention is to be his wife, however, the behaviour of the characters contradict this and they end up in petty arguments yet again. The comedy arises from these contradictions and their irony rather than the misunderstandings of a typical vaudeville

Checkov is a master at producing a satirical comedy that is so realistic. No doubt, he has experienced the characteristics of married life. Any couple intending to marry should read The Proposal and think twice before marrying. The irony and comedy arises from the fact that this marriage will not be a happy one. But then again, how many marriages end in happily ever after? Is fighting an integral part of marriage?

What is the theme of "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov?  

Themes for this one act play by Chekhov that is a comedy or a satire, include making fun of romance and marriage. Chekhov examines the true nature of marriage, an institution of necessity in his time that did not necessarily need to include romance and love.  

The idea that marriage is an arrangement between two people, rather business like, without romance or love, which Chekhov illustrates by having the two people involved in the proposal bicker and argue until they agree to get married at the end where you know they will continue to bicker and argue.

In Chekhov's time marriage would have been considered an economic necessity, more for financial security than love.  

This fast-paced one act play was very popular when performed in the late 19th century.  Chekhov enjoys making fun of such a fundamental component of life, marriage.  He did not take romance and marriage seriously, this is illustrated in other works by the author as well.

 In "The Proposal", he utilizes the relationship of two wealthy men to create a scenario where a daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, who is 25, and beyond her prime for marriage in the period and a bit of a shrew, is approached by her neighbor, seeking her hand in marriage.  But the three people are so stubborn that they can't stop arguing long enough for Lomov to actually propose.  And you have to wonder why he would want to propose to Natalya, who screams at him and insults him.  

Lomov is a bit old to be unmarried as well, and he is a hypochondriac, someone who thinks they are always sick. Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov, fumbles his proposal, trying to honor Natalya with kind words, but instead makes her angry and an argument starts that comes to include her father. The argument gets so heated that Lomov leaves after being totally insulted by the two, without proposing.

When Natalya finds out the Lomov had come to propose she wants him to come back to the house, but more arguing takes place when he enters, until finally the father instructs the two:

"CHUBUKOV: Hurry up and get married and--well, to the devil with you! She's willing! [He puts LOMOV'S hand into his daughter's] She's willing and all that. I give you my blessing and so on. Only leave me in peace!" (Chekhov) 

 You can only imagine how funny this play was to audiences of the late 19th century especially with the father wanting to get his daughter married off, but unable to resist arguing with her potential husband.  

What is the climax of "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov?

"A Marriage Proposal" ("The Proposal") by Anton Chekhov is a fast-moving farce with stereotypical, ridiculous characters. Portraying the upper-class courtship in nineteenth-century Russia as a desperate economic act, Chekhov's characterization arouses explosive laughter from audiences for its brawls and Lomov's hypochondria.

In his attempt to secure financial stability, Lomov goes to his neighbor to ask for the hand of his daughter Natalia with whom he can join his land to hers. His neighbor, Tschubukov embraces him at the idea that he can marry off his daughter; however, he plays a practical joke on her, saying "a dealer has come to buy something" instead of telling her that Lomov wishes to marry her. The comedy is launched after she enters and their casual conversation turns to explosive argument when Lomov begins to speak of his meadows which Natalia argues belong to the Tschubukovs. Hearing their screaming, the father rushes in and his daughter drafts him into the conflict which crescendos to the point that the hypochondriac Lomov puts his hand over his heart and staggers to the door and leaves.

This point in the action is the rising action as the Tschubukovs realize that a financial opportunity has walked out the door. Hysterical, the father speaks of killing himself because he is cursed with bad luck as his daughter groans, 

NATALIA Proposal for me! Oh!...Bring him back! Bring him back!

Tschubukov brings Lomov back, but the timid Lomov still cannot bring himself to propose. When he again faints, the Tschubukovs repeat their hysteria; finally as Lomov begins to regain consciousness, the father intervenes, determined not to miss a second opportunity:

TSCHUBUKOV She's willing! Well? Kiss each other and--the devil take you both!

This scene is the climax.

What symbolism is present in The Proposal by Anton Chekhov?

Appropriately named to allude to the well-known simile "as stubborn as an ox," "Oxen Meadows" comes to represent the strong wills of Natalya and Ivan. Both are convinced that they have true ownership dating back hundreds of years, and both feel insulted that the other could dare think otherwise.

It seems that this is a non-negotiable point until Ivan leaves and Natalya learns that he has actually come to propose to her. Suddenly, she is quite willing to concede that he is the true owner of this piece of land. Oxen Meadows, therefore, symbolizes those things in relationships which couples argue about superficially but which they truly have no passionate feelings about—sometimes couples seem to argue for the sake of arguing, and that is what this land represents.

Whether real or exaggerated, Ivan doesn't display appearances of strong health when he arrives. As he begins to tally all that he's conceding in this proposal (Natalya isn't "ideal" and he doesn't really love her—but at least she's educated and an excellent housekeeper), the symptoms seem to get worse. As they argue, he faints and can't even complete the proposal.

His health problems, then, symbolize the flaws inherent in marriages of convenience. The two cannot agree on seemingly anything, and they have no common base from which to build their life together. This marriage seems doomed for an eternal tug-of-war over power, and only if one person totally collapses to the will of the other (as evidenced by his fainting spell) will they be able to move forward.

Stephan Chubukov, the father of Natalya, represents a stereotypical patriarch who is ready to pass his daughter off to almost any willing party, even a man whom she is clearly not well-suited for. To this man who has come to seek his daughter's hand in marriage, Chubukov even speaks of her in a demeaning tone:

Why, of course she'll consent! She's in love . . . she's like a cat in heat. . . . and so on. . . . I won't be long!

Even considering the social and historical context of the play, this line captures this father's true feelings toward his daughter: ready to push her out of the house and out of his responsibility to almost any interested party. When he learns of their unsuitability, he is given a chance to reconcile this image and encourage his daughter to wait for a better match, but he instead remains steadfast in his encouragement of the union of his daughter to a man that he describes as "a malicious, two faced liar."

What symbolism is present in The Proposal by Anton Chekhov?

Most of the symbolism in Anton Chekhov's The Proposal, also known as A Marriage Proposal , consists on the very things that make Lomov, Natalia (his intended fiancee) and Stepan (her father) fight amongst themselves. They are symbols because they represent something unique to each character, and because their significance serves as a catalyst to the plot.

The first symbol is the Oxen Meadows. This is an important symbol because it represents the power of Stepan, as Natalia's father, over Lomov, as her future husband. In the typical fashion of Chekhov's time, the man is the primary provider of the home. Stepan and Lomov have had an issue with the ownership of these lands and this comes up in the middle of his marriage proposal to Natalia, when he offers them as part of his deal. The meaning of owning the land is huge because it implies power. When Natalia argues that those lands are hers and Stepan's anyway the power struggle is quite thick.

The second symbol are Otkatai and Ugadi, which are the hunting dogs of each family. The hunting dog, which is the eternal companion of the true gentleman is meant to represent the class and pedigree of the owner. To insult that dog would be to insult the owner. When Natalia and Lomov argue over which dog is more powerful they are actually butting heads again about the importance of one family over the other.

Finally, there is the proposal itself, as a symbol of social and financial networking rather than a symbol of love. Natalia, who is past her marriageable years (she is 25), needs to be married quick. Lomov, who is also older and extremely quirky (he is a hypochondriac) needs to be married as men do when they come to property and can maintain a family. However, theirs is a very flawed proposal that forebodes an even more flawed future marriage. It is the stuff that comedy is made of, and it is certainly a symbol of more distress than communion as the title of the play suggests.

Describe the characters in Anton Chekhov's The Proposal.

The Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov is a farce aimed at the Russian aristocrats' pride in and ownership of property as the overriding measure against love and romance in the consideration of marriage. In farces, the characters are stereotypes who are caught in exaggerated situations that often become ludicrous.

• Stephan Stephanovitch Tschubukov is an impetuous and hypocritical man

Tschubukov is an impetuous and hypocritical man. When Lomov first comes to visit, Tschubuhov greets him exuberantly, shaking his hand and saying, "My dear fellow....I'm so glad to see you!" But, when his neighbor Lomov says that he needs assistance, Tschubukov grumbles in an aside, "He's come to borrow money! I won't give him any!" Then he turns to his neighbor and congenially asks, "What is it, then, dear Lomov?"

When Lomov finally gets around to asking for the hand of his daughter, Tschubkov again gushes with sentimentality, even suppressing a tear, and declares to his neighbor that he has always loved him. He then rushes out to summon his daughter, whom he tells Lomov is "lovesick." However, when Natalia enters and greets her neighbor, she says, "Papa said to go in: there was a dealer in there who'd come to buy something," a statement which ironically turns out to be true but which is also indicative of the father's real opinion of Lomov.

Later, when it seems that his daughter will not marry Lomov and will not acquire the adjacent property, because he never told Natalia that Lomov had come to propose and she had dismissed him after an argument, Tschubkov becomes hysterical, shouting, "I'll cut my throat! I'll cut my throat!"

• Natalia is also rather hypocritical, and she is obstinate and argumentative 

When Natalia first enters the room, she greets Lomov with warmth and is very gracious as she permits him to smoke and compliments him upon his appearance. However, when Lomov speaks of "my meadows," she abruptly interrupts and contradicts him. An argument then ensues over who owns what acreage. Even when Lomov offers them to her as a gift, she continues to insist upon her ownership of them in the first place, reigniting the argument until Lomove leaves.

When her father finally reveals to Natalia that Lomov has actually come to propose marriage, she is infuriated, blaming her father for causing the neighbor to depart. They both demonstrate hysterics, but her father manages to bring Lomov back. Nevertheless, Natalia, having brought the overwrought Lomov into quieted consciousness enough for him to understand her show of affection, once again reignites the hostilities by arguing about their hunting dogs.

• Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov is an overwrought hypochondriac, who is pretentious, proud, self-serving, argumentative, and impetuous

When Lomov finally decides to marry Natalia, whom he has known for years, Lomov comes dressed in formal attire. Even though he wishes to marry Natalia, and would, therefore, acquire her property, he is so hot-headed that when she declares the meadows hers, Lomov immediately contradicts her. Then, as they argue and he perceives that Natalia will not relent, he screams and falls back, complaining of heart palpitations and hammering in his arteries. Tschubukov enters and continues the arguments and insults to Lomov's family, and Lomov screams, "Oh, my side pains! My temples are bursting! Water!" and he staggers out.

After Natalia orders her father to retrieve him, Tschubukov finally decides to stop the argument over the hunting dogs, but Lomov cannot bring himself to propose. Instead, he simply acquiesces to the situation, "Oh, yes, I understand!--My heart--sparks--I am happy...My leg is lame!"

Ridiculous characters whose disputatious natures prohibit them from using common sense, all three demonstrate that their pride and possessiveness of property works to the detriment of any warmth and affection that they may have for each other.

Can you provide a critical analysis of Anton Chekhov's "The Proposal"?

[eNotes editors are only permitted to answer one question per posting. If you have additional questions, please post them separately.]

Anton Chekov's humorous one-act play, entitled "The Proposal" is about Chubukov (a landowner). His neighbor Lomov (another land owner) comes by to ask Chubukov for his daughter's hand in marriage. Though Chubukov implies that his neighbor probably wants to borrow money which, in an aside, he refuses to do, he is surprised to learn that Lomov wants to marry Natalya. The outward relationship between the two men seems generally positive as they are both exceedingly affable with one another. When Chubukov goes to get his daughter, we discover that Lomov has a terrible heart condition. His says to himself:

I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. ... I suffer from palpitations, I'm excitable and always getting awfully upset. ... At this very moment my lips are trembling, and there's a twitch in my right eyebrow. ... But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head...

Soon Natalya enters alone, however her father has not told her the intent of Lomov's visit. The two begin to speak and get into a raging argument about who owns "Oxen Meadows." Both believe it belongs to their own family. As the argument progresses, their yelling draws the attention of Chubukov. All the while, Lomov seems to be suffering from a heart-attack. Chubukov becomes involved in the fight, agreeing with his daughter, and Lomov decides to leave, in extremely poor physical condition.

After their neighbor departs, father and daughter speak, and Chubukov comments on how such a fuss came to pass when Lomov initially came to propose. Hearing this, Natalya gets hysterical and calls Lomov back. He returns and Natalya (alone with Lomov) tries to begin a conversation to lead back to the proposal. Again the two end up arguing about whose dog is the better. The argument becomes a screaming match again, and Chubukov enters to find out what is wrong. As before, now father and daughter are fighting with Lomov. Lomov becomes more ill and eventually faints on the couch. Chubukov and Natalya believe he is dead, and Natalya becomes hysterical once more. As Lomov stirs, Chubukov encourages them to agree to the marriage quickly.

CHUBUKOV:

Hurry up and get married and--well, to the devil with you! She's willing! [He puts LOMOV'S hand into his daughter's] She's willing and all that. I give you my blessing and so on. Only leave me in peace!...

She's willing! Well? Kiss and be damned to you!

Lomov is confused as he regains consciousness:

Eh? Kiss whom? [They kiss] Very nice, too. Excuse me, what's it all about? Oh, now I understand ... my heart ... stars ... I'm happy. Natalya Stepanovna. ... [Kisses her hand]

Even as the two agree to marry, they start to fight again about the dog. All Chubukov can do is offer commentary on the kind of marriage they seem to be headed for, and give them a drink, as the audience assumes that this will be the way the newlyweds will act with each other for the remainder of their lives.

CHUBUKOV: Well, that's a way to start your family bliss! Have some champagne!

What is the incongruity in Anton Chekhov's play "The Proposal"?

Anton Chekhov's one-act play is a farce which depicts an absurd situation stemming from Stepan Stepanovitch Tschubukov's failure to inform his daughter of the purpose of Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov's visit. Instead of telling his daughter, in a case of dramatic irony, he informs her that a "dealer has come to buy something."  

As soon as Natalia begins to converse with Lomov, who introduces his proposal by mentioning that his meadow s touch their birchwoods, suggesting that their union would be a profitable merger as in Russia marriage was a means towards economic stability. However, Natalia contradicts him, contending that the meadows belong to her and her father, giving rise to a heated argument between herself and Lomov until Lomov staggers out. The father enters,

TSCHUBUKOV   What's going on here? What is he yelling about?

NATALIA           Papa, please tell this gentleman to whom the meadows belong, to us or to him?

TSCHUBUKOV My dear fellow, the meadows are ours.

Then, a heated argument begins between the men until Lomov staggers out. Natalia and he shout at him as he leaves. Finally the father reveals that Lomov has come to propose marriage, and the daughter, who is past the age of most women who marry, begs her father to bring the neighbor back, blaming him for having angered the suitor.

The incongruity, or irregularity of characterization occurs after Lomov is brought back, but Natalia cannot resist reopening the argument although she has scolded her father and wishes to marry Lomov.

However, the greatest incongruity, or lack of harmony, occurs after Lomov appears to have expired, but returns to consciousness; for, Natalia declares that she wants to marry Lomov even though she immediately resumes arguing after her acceptance of the marriage proposal. It is this incongruity that most contributes to Chekhov's ridiculing of the Russian landowners who pursue economic stability over love. Indeed, "a dealer has come to buy something": the neighboring estate.

What is the theme of "A Marriage Proposal" by Anton Checkhov ?  

In "A Marriage Proposal," there is an indication that the intentions of Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov to marry his neighbor stems from something other than love because Natalia, who has lived near him for years, is now past the usual age of marrying. Lomov has another motivation; namely, consideration of property. Thus, the theme of this one-act farce is that economic security takes precedence over romance and love.

When Lomov arrives at the Tschubukov's country home, he is formally dressed and full of good cheer for his neighbor, who, in turn, embraces and kisses him when Lomov reveals his intentions. However, when Tschubukov leaves to tell his daughter that Lomov is there, he merely tells her that there is a dealer who has come to buy something--a bit of dramatic irony, as it turns out. But, she greets him cheerfully, remarking that he has not been to visit in a long time. That is, until the mention of the "my meadows" made by Lomov.

LOMOV I'll try to be brief. My dear Natalia Stepanovna, as you know, for many years...I inherited the estate, always have the greatest respect for your brother and ...mother....and furthermore my property....my meadows touch your birchwoods.

NATALIA. Pardon the interruption. You said "my meadows"--but are they yours?

LOMOV. Yes, they belong to me.

NATALIA. What nonsense!  The meados belong to us--not to you!

Underscoring the theme of marriage as contract for economic security, too, are the actions of the Tschubukovs who, although engaged in heated arguments with Lomov, scurry later on to bring the hypochodriac out of a faint to enough consciousness that he can agree to the marriage with Natalia, a proposal that the father ironically proposes because he wishes also to accumulate property through marriage.

Can you summarize The Proposal by Anton Chekhov?

The Proposal follows three characters, Chubukov (a landowner), Natalia (his daughter), and Lomov (their neighbor). In this play, Lomov arrives to ask for Natalia to marry him. After receiving permission from her father (who had first assumed that he had come to borrow money), he goes to speak to Natalia.

When bringing up the subject of his proposal, Lomov brings up the respective histories of their two families as neighbors and, in that context, introduces the subject of his ownership of the "Oxen Meadows." This begins the dispute, because Natalia claims that the meadows are actually still property to her own family. The play then descends into an argument over who has the right to said property, an argument which causes Lomov to be driven out of the house in physical distress.

It is at this point that Chubukov mentions that Lomov had actually come to ask her hand in marriage. Eager to be married herself, Natalia now shows an abrupt change of heart. Lomov is brought back, but very soon they begin another dispute, this time over who has the better dog.

Can you summarize The Proposal by Anton Chekhov?

The title of Anton Chekhov`s play  `A Marriage Proposal ' is sometimes also translated as 'The Proposal' in english – both titles refer to the same play. The play is a one act comedy that makes some serious points about how marriage, for the middle class, has become an economic transaction.

The three characters in the play are the father,  Stepan Stepanovich Choobookov, his daughter, Natalia Stepanovna, and their neighbor, Ivan Vassilievich Lomov,

Lomov is visiting the house of Choobookov for the purpose of prosing to Natal;ia. He first asks the father`s permission, which is granted. The rest of the play is mainly comedy. Lomov keeps getting in arguments with Natalia and having (quasi-imaginary) palpitations and fainting fits, and the father needs to intervene (1) to explain to Natalia that Lomov wants to marry to her and (2) to distract them from their arguing to enure the marriage is planned and goes ahead. 

The main point is that the marriage is due entirely to necessity.

In "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov, what idea does each character represent?

In a farce, such as "The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov, characters are painted in broad, uncomplicated strokes. In other words, their gestures and reactions are often stereotypical, and there are no subtle internal contradictions within them. The three characters of this one-act play possess comical traits that conform to a set pattern of behavior:

• Tschubukov is hypocritical and impetuous.  

When, for instance, he greets Lomov, he is friendly and warm, hugging his neighbor after he asks for Natalia's hand in marriage. However, when he hears his daughter and Lomov arguing and rushes in, and his daughter asks him to "tell this gentleman to whom the meadows belong," he quickly declares, "My dear fellow, the meadows are ours." Then, when Lomov staggers out, Tschubukov insults Lomov,

TSCHUBUKOV The devil!....to think that this fool dares to make a proposal of marriage!

After Natalia learns that Lomov has meant to propose, she becomes hysterical, a condition that triggers Tschubukov to impetuously shout, 

TSCHUBUKOV I'm cursed with bad luck! I'll shoot myself! I'll hang myself!

But, it has been his quirky practical joke of telling his daughter that a dealer who wants to sell something is waiting for her instead of informing her that Lomov has come with a marriage proposal that has caused the situation he curses.

• Natalia is a shrew, argumentative and obstinate, insisting always that she is in the right.

For instance, she blames her father for Lomov's staggering out, yet she is the first to insult Lomov and argue with him about the meadows. Even after her father manages to shake Lomov into consciousness enough that he understands Natalia's show of affection, she reignites the argument about the two hunting dogs.

• Lomov is a hypochondriac and a weak person.

When he cannot win the arguments with Natalia, he complains of palpitations of the heart, and staggers away. After Tschubukov convinces him to return, Lomov falls into a chair and faints from renewing the argument with Natalia. He complains of his heart and says he is dying,

LOMOV  Here--here--there--there--my heart has burst!  My shoulder is torn apart. Where is my shoulder? I'm dying! [He falls into a chair] The doctor! [Faints]

Even when Tschubukov tells Lomov that Natalia is "willing," Lomov cannot bring himself to propose.  He simply acquiesces to the situation, "Oh, yes, I understand!--My heart--sparks--I am happy."

All three characters, however, are similar in their assessment of marriage as a means of economic stability. Likewise, all the characters consider property and pride as much more important that romance; certainly, their self-interests override everything.