“She is like a lovesick cat,” - The Proposal (Class

The Proposal

Anton Chekhov

(Class – XII)

Textual Questions & Answers (Marks – 05)

👉 “She is like a love-sick cat,” – who is the speaker? Who is referred to as ‘She’? What is the purpose of the speaker saying so? Who is the person with whom 'she' is assumed to fall in love? Do you really think she is in love? Give reasons.

Answer: The speaker of the above mentioned line is Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov.

Chubukov’s daughter Natalya Stepanovna is referred to as ‘She'.

Lomov comes to Chubukov’s house to ask Natalya’a hand in marriage. Chubukov gladly accepts the proposal. When Chubukov is about to go inside to call Natalya, Lomov asks him if he can rely on Natalya’s consent. In reply, Chubukov says the line quoted above.

‘She' is supposed to be in love with Lomov.

No, Natalya is not really in love. In the 19th century conservative Russian society marriage was considered as the only way through which a woman could gain respectable social standing and financial stability. Natalya is a 25 year old unmarried woman and her father is burdened with the responsibility of finding a suitable groom for her. So, when Chubukov gets an opportunity to get rid of his responsibility he immediately gives his consent on behalf of his daughter. He is well aware of the fact that Natalya does not have any feelings for Lomov. Natalya despite having no true feelings becomes excited when she gets to know about the marriage proposal because she considers it as an opportunity to have a stable and financially secured life.

👉 “Why are you so formal in your get-up?” – Who is the speaker? Who is being spoken to? Describe the ‘formal get-up’ the other person has appeared in. Why does the person, referred to here, wear his evening dress? Why does the speaker make such a comment?

Answer: Natalya’s father Stephen Stepanovitch Chubukov is the speaker.

The person who is being spoken to is Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov.

Lomov has come to Chubukove's house wearing a dress-jacket and white gloves which qualifies for a ‘formal get-up’.

Lomo visits his neighbor, Chubukov’s house in his evening dress because he wants to ask Chubukov’s daughter Natalya Stepanovna’a hands in marriage.

Lumo with the intention of proposing marriage to Chubukov’s daughter went to their house in his evening dress. He wanted to impress both Chubukov and his daughter. Lomov behaved very politely and this made Chubukov a bit suspicious. He thought that Lomov had come to borrow money from him. So in an attempt to know Lomov’s real intention behind wearing an evening dress to a neighbour’s house, Chubukov made the above comment.

👉 “I have come to you ..... to trouble you with a request.” - Who is the speaker? Who is he speaking to? What is the request? How did the person spoken to react to the request?

Answer: The speaker of the above line is Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov.

Lomov is speaking to his neighbour, Stephen Stepanovitch Chubukov.

Lomov visits to Chubukov’s house to request him to give his daughter, Natalya Stepanovna’s hand in marriage.

When Chubukov heard about Lomov's wish to marry Natalya he became excited. He embarrassed and kissed Lomov and said that he had been hoping ‘it’ (marriage proposal) for a long time and it had been his continual desire. He declared that he loved Lomov as if he was his own son. He shed tears and blessed Lomov. He failed to find proper reason for his idiotic behaviour but ultimately came to the conclusion that his joy was making him lost his balance.

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👉 The Proposal by Anton Chekhov - Appropriateness of the Title