🎭 Class 10 English Chapter 11 – The Proposal (Play) Notes

Book: First Flight
Chapter: 11
Author: Anton Chekhov
Board: CBSE Class 10 (2025)

✍️ Introduction

“The Proposal” is a one-act play written by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. This humorous satire mocks the superficiality of the upper class and the foolishness of people who argue over petty matters. It highlights how personal egos and greed often ruin even the simplest of things—like a marriage proposal.

📖 Summary of the Chapter

The story is set in Russia and revolves around three characters: Ivan Lomov, Natalya Stepanovna, and her father Chubukov. Ivan comes to propose marriage to Natalya, but before he can even bring up the topic, they start arguing over land ownership—the meadows that lie between their properties.

The argument turns heated, and Ivan leaves. When Natalya finds out he had come to propose to her, she begs her father to bring him back. When Ivan returns, another argument breaks out—this time over whose dog is better. The quarrel becomes intense again, and Ivan faints.

In the end, Chubukov quickly helps them reconcile and gets them engaged. However, even after the proposal is accepted, the couple resumes fighting. The play ends with humor and irony, showing how ridiculous and ego-driven humans can be.

🧠 Theme and Message

  • Marriage as a Social Arrangement: The play criticizes how marriage is treated more like a business deal than a union of love.
  • Human Ego and Foolishness: The characters argue over minor issues, showing how ego often overshadows logic.
  • Irony and Satire: Chekhov uses humor to expose the vanity and materialism of the upper class.

👥 Character Sketches

Ivan Lomov: A 35-year-old landowner, nervous, argumentative, and overly concerned about his health. He wants to marry Natalya for practical reasons.

Natalya Stepanovna: A 25-year-old unmarried woman. She is quarrelsome, self-important, but becomes emotional when she learns about the proposal.

Chubukov: Natalya’s father. He pretends to be calm and friendly but joins in the quarrels quickly. He is more interested in getting his daughter married than anything else.

📚 Word Meanings

Word Meaning
ProposeTo suggest marriage
QuarrelA heated argument
HypochondriacA person obsessed with their health
SatireHumor that criticizes people's foolishness
OwnershipThe legal right of possessing something

❓ Important Questions and Answers

  1. Q1. Why did Ivan Lomov visit Chubukov’s house?
    Ans: He came to propose marriage to Natalya, Chubukov’s daughter.
  2. Q2. What issues did Lomov and Natalya argue about?
    Ans: First, they argued about the ownership of a piece of land called the meadows, and later about whose dog was better.
  3. Q3. What is the main theme of the play “The Proposal”?
    Ans: The play satirizes the hypocrisy and foolishness of people who prioritize property and ego over relationships.
  4. Q4. How does the play end?
    Ans: Lomov and Natalya get engaged, but they continue fighting, showing the ironic and humorous nature of their relationship.

📥 Download PDF Notes

👉 Click here to download PDF of The Proposal (Play) Notes

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