What are the themes reflected in the play " The Proposal"?
Answers
Answer:
`The Proposal’ is a one-act play. Actually, it is a farce written by Anton Chekhov in 1888-89. The play is about the tendency of wealthy families to seek matrimonial ties. The real purpose is to increase their estates and landed properties. Ivan Lomov was a wealthy neighbour of another wealthy farmer Stepan Chubukov. Lomov comes to seek the hand of Chubukov’s twenty-five-year-old daughter, Natalya. Tomov, Chubukov and Natalya’-all three are quarrelsome people. They quarrel over petty or small issues. Each one of them has a claim over a particular piece of land. They also quarrel over their dogs. Amidst this quarrelling, they completely forget the real issue — the marriage proposal. But good sense prevails in the end. Economic good sense ensures that the proposal is made. Chubukov doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. He puts his daughter’s hand into Lomov’s hands. He doesn’t waste any time and blesses them. However, old habits die hard. The newly married couple starts their married life with a fresh quarrel.
Answer:
The one act play ‘The Proposal’ throws light on the lifestyle of the landlords of Russia
in the nineteenth century. The farm labourers worked on their farms so these landlords led a
life of ease and comfort. In fact, they led an idle life. They were full of vanity and pride. They
quarrelled over petty things and also indulged in shooting. In the play, we see that Lomov and
Natalya have a dispute over a piece of land. They quarrel again over the qualities of their
dogs. Natalya’s father Chubukov joins them in the quarrel instead of pacifying them. He and
Lomov abuse each other. All of them behave in a very funny way. The play also brings to
light the social life of the landowners of those times. An unmarried grown-up daughter was
considered a great burden by the parents. Chubukov curses himself for being the father of
Natalya. An aged bachelor was also looked down upon in society. This theme has been
presented nicely through the characters of Lomov and Natalya.