Search
×

Sign up

Use your Facebook account for quick registration

Sign up with Facebook

OR

Create a Shvoong account from scratch

Create your account
Already a Member? Sign In!
×

Sign In

Sign in using your Facebook account

Sign in with Facebook

OR

Not a Member? Sign up!
×

Sign up

Use your Facebook account for quick registration

Sign up with Facebook

OR

Sign In

Sign in using your Facebook account

Sign in with Facebook
Shvoong Home>Books>Classic Literature>Summary of Anton Chekov’S “a Marriage Proposal” Review

Summary of Anton Chekov’S “a Marriage Proposal”

Book Review   by:akso6o175     Original Author: Andy Kester Sawian
  • Summary rating: 3 stars (28 Ratings)
  • Visits : 5500
  • words:900 
ª
 
The Play, “A Marriage Proposal”, shows how consideration of property and even our pride in property override other feelings and emotions like those generally associated with love and marriage. Even marriage is prompted by economic considerations, not by emotions.
Stepan Stepanovitch Tschubukov and Ivan Vassiliyitch Lomov were neighbours in a village. Natalia Stepanovna was the daughter of Tschubukov. Lomov a man of thirty five wanted to marry. He thought Natalia was good at farm work and she was not bad looking. So he came to the house of Tschubukov one evening to propose to Natalia. Naturally he was in his best clothes befitting the occasion of a marriage proposal. Tschubukov received him cordially in his reception room. Like every young man going to make a marriage proposal Lomov was also excited and nervous. After some nervous stammering, he told Tschubokov that he wanted Natalia’s hand in marriage. Tschubokov was very excited and happy at the proposal. He went out and sent Natalia into the room to meet the suitor. Natalia was not told of the purpose of Lomov. Natalia and Lomov began to talk.
Lomov was more nervous as he was facing the bride. He made a strong preface before coming to the proposal. He told Natalia about how the Lomovs and the Tschubukovs had been good neighbours on good terms for many years. In this context, he mentioned that his meadow touched the birch woods of Tschubukov. Natalia was surprised to hear that the meadows belonged to Lomov. She claimed that the plot of land belonged to them, the Tschubukovs. A bitter quarrel ensued. Lomov claimed it belonged to him and Natalia too claimed it to be theirs. Lomov forgot his original purpose. They called each other names, even though a little while ago they were full of good neighbourly feelings. Tschubukov came in and heard their quarrel. He too claimed that the meadow belonged to him. The quarrel grew even bitterer. They called each other names and began to expose the scandals of each others’ families. Lomov had a weak heart. He used to have palpitation in the heart. He was excited and he fainted. He rose and left the house. At this juncture, Tschubukov remarked that such a fool had dared to come seeking the hand of Natalia.
The moment she heard that he had come to propose to her, Natalia changed her tone. She asked her father to bring back Lomov. Her self interest overruled all other considerations like her loyalty to her family. Lomov came back. Natalia was all politeness. She even conceded that the meadow belonged to Lomov. After all, if they were married, the meadow would come to be hers only. Lomov informed that he would go hunting after the harvest. He was sorry that his dog Ugadi limped and he began to praise his dog. He thought that a hundred and twenty five roubles that he had paid for it was very cheap for such a good dog. Natalia, however, thought that it was a very high price because her father had paid only eighty-five roubles for their dog Otkatai, which was a better dog than Ugadi.
Lomov disagreed and asserted that Otkatai had a lower jaw and Ugadi was a far better dog than Otkatai. Once again their pride in their dogs led to another quarrel. Tschubukov came in and joined the quarrel. Lomov once again got excited and he fainted. Tschubukov who knew the importance of getting his daughter married, at once joined the hands of Natalia and Lomov and declared that Natalia agreed to the match. Natalia too, declared that she was willing and Lomov declared that he too, was happy. Tschubukov shouted for champagne to celebrate the intended marriage.

Published: December 22, 2010   
Please Rate this Review : 1 2 3 4 5
Write your own     Comment
View All  
  1. Answer   Question  :    what is the rising action in this story? View All
  1. Answer   Question  :    Why was lomov in his evening dress?What was he wearing? ( 1 Answer ) View All
  1. Answer  :    Lomov wasn't in his evening dress. He was wearing morning coat and gloves just because for the proposal Wednesday, January 23, 2013
  1. Answer   Question  :    summary of this prose View All
  1. Answer   Question  :    wht two topics led arguments between lomov and natalia View All
  1. Answer   Question  :    who are the characters? ( 1 Answer ) View All
  1. Answer  :    lomove,chubocov,natalia Tuesday, March 19, 2013
  1. Answer   Question  :    wHAT IS THE BIRTH DATE OF SINGER ANDRICA View All
  1. Answer   Question  :    different character in the story ( 1 Answer ) View All
  1. Answer  :    lomov Tuesday, January 01, 2013
  1. Answer   Question  :    What are the symbols presented in the play? View All
  1. Answer   Question  :    what happened to Lomov's leg? ( 2 Answers ) View All
  1. Answer  :    he was broken Thursday, September 06, 2012
  1. Answer  :    it became numb Monday, August 27, 2012
  1. Answer   Question  :    why did lomov put on his evening clothes ( 1 Answer ) View All
  1. Answer  :    He putted on his evening clothes because he was going to propose marriage to Natalia Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Translate Send Link Print
X

Top 5

.