About The Proposal
“The Proposal” is a humorous one-act play by Anton Chekhov, written in 1888–89. It showcases the absurdity of social customs and the silliness of human nature, especially in the context of marriage, wealth, and family dynamics. The play revolves around the characters Ivan Lomov, a nervous, wealthy man, and Natalya Stepanovna, the daughter of his neighbor, as they engage in an absurdly heated argument while attempting to propose marriage. The play ends humorously with them agreeing to marry despite their constant bickering.

Summary.
The Proposal by Anton Chekhov is a humorous play about a man named Ivan Lomov who visits his neighbor, Stephan Chubukov, to ask for his daughter Natalya’s hand in marriage. Lomov is 35 years old, wealthy, and has come to propose to Natalya, whom he believes is a good match for him. However, things quickly go wrong when they start arguing over a piece of land that both families claim to own.

The argument becomes more heated when they start fighting over their dogs—Lomov’s dog, Guess, and Natalya’s dog, Squeezer. This leads to Lomov having a health scare, and he collapses. After some back and forth, Natalya regrets insulting Lomov and agrees to marry him. Despite this, they continue to argue about the dogs even as they prepare to get married.

The play shows how the characters are more focused on trivial things like land and pets rather than love or marriage itself. It satirizes how wealth and status are more important to them than the real purpose of marriage. The story is funny, but it also highlights the absurdity of their arguments and attitudes.