The Proposal

In the play, proposal means a marriage proposal: Ivan Lomov comes to ask for Natalya Stepanovna’s hand in marriage.

Yes, some customs are common, such as the wedding procession, toasts, and the party/reception with food and drinks. Customs different from Indian ones include the groom having to climb stairs and answer questions, the bride being “stolen”, and the bride’s shoe being stolen. A filled table could be:

| Customs similar to Indian ones | Customs different from Indian ones |
|---|---|
| wedding procession | groom climbs stairs to meet bride |
| toasts for the couple | bride’s friends ask questions/riddles |
| reception with family and guests | bride is “stolen” and ransom is paid |
| food, drink and celebration | bride’s shoe is stolen |
| music and fun | groom has to answer to move ahead |

At first, Chubukov suspects that Lomov has come to borrow money. He says aside, “He’s come to borrow money. Shan’t give him any!”

He is not sincere when he later says, “I’ve always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son.” His joy is really because Lomov has come to propose to Natalya, which would make a good alliance between wealthy neighbours. His behaviour also shows this: he embraces and kisses Lomov, says he has been hoping for it for a long time, and immediately calls Natalya to come. These reactions show that his love is mixed with self-interest rather than pure affection.

No. Chubukov says Natalya is “in love” and “like a lovesick cat,” but the play shows she is not waiting calmly for romance. She is more quarrelsome, proud, and stubborn than affectionate. She immediately argues about Oxen Meadows, speaks angrily, and even after learning about the proposal, she behaves in a way that is hysterical and emotional rather than lovingly romantic. So the statement is more of a joking exaggeration than a true description.

The play is full of flattering words, insults, and accusations. Some of them are:

- Lomov to Chubukov: honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, darling, my beauty, my precious, my angel, my beloved
- Chubukov to Lomov: my darling, my angel, my precious, my beauty, my beloved, a pettifogger, a grabber, a malicious, doublefaced intriguer, villain, scarecrow, stuffed sausage, wizen-faced frump, old rat, boy, milksop, fool
- Lomov to Chubukov: grabber, intriguer, pettifogger, old rat, Jesuit
- Lomov to Natalya: honoured Natalya Stepanovna, excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated
- Natalya to Lomov: merchant come for his goods, a landgrabber, impudent, strange, silly, demon of contradiction, overshot hunter’s dog owner, liar about the Meadows
- Chubukov about Lomov: turnip-ghost, blind hen, confounded cheek

These show that the characters keep shifting from politeness to abuse.

Possible five adjectives for each character:

- Lomov: nervous, hypochondriac, formal, quarrelsome, argumentative
- Natalya: strong-minded, emotional, stubborn, quarrelsome, proud
- Chubukov: excitable, greedy, sharp-tongued, hypocritical, quick-tempered

Any similar set of suitable adjectives from the play would work.

They are likely to quarrel next about some trivial matter again — perhaps about property, dogs, or even a small family issue. Since they turn even a marriage proposal into a fight, the next quarrel could be over almost anything that gives them a chance to argue and show their temper.

Yes, several expressions sound more Russian or old-fashioned than contemporary English. Examples are “my darling,” “my angel,” “my precious,” “my beauty,” and “my treasure” when used by an older man to address another adult man. Such repeated endearments are not usual in modern English conversation.

Other expressions that sound old-fashioned or translated literally include:
- “Honoured Stepan Stepanovitch”
- “I beg pardon”
- “spit it out”
- “so to speak”
- “and so on” used repeatedly
- “my late aunt and her husband” in a very formal manner

Modern idiomatic English in the play includes:
- “What’s the matter?”
- “How do you do?”
- “I shall”
- “I don’t want anything of yours”
- “Let’s change the subject”

So the translation keeps some Russian flavour in the polite forms and repeated endearments.

The words are: palpitations, interfere, implore, thoroughbred, pedigree, principle, evidence, misfortune, malicious, embezzlement, architect, neighbours, accustomed, temporary, behaviour, documents.

Since this is a pronunciation activity, the answers are found in a dictionary. The chapter does not give the pronunciations, so students are expected to look them up.

Meanings and sample sentences:

1. You may take it that = you can assume that
- *You may take it that the meeting will start on time.*
2. He seems to be coming round = he seems to be recovering or becoming conscious again
- *After fainting, he seems to be coming round now.*
3. My foot’s gone to sleep = my foot has become numb because of pressure or lack of movement
- *I sat cross-legged for too long, and my foot’s gone to sleep.*