Analysis of Characters and Themes in ‘The Proposal’
Analysis of ‘The Proposal’ by Anton Chekhov
Character Analysis and Key Themes
Q40. What happens when Lomov is thought to be almost dead?
Answer: Lomov has come with a proposal of marrying Natalya. When he falls down unconscious in an armchair, both Natalya and Chubukov are unnerved and worried. She starts crying, thinking he is dead. Chubukov calls for a doctor. He threatens to shoot himself or cut his throat. When Lomov comes to senses, Chubukov grabs the opportunity and blesses them for a happy married life.
Q41. How does Chubukov react when Lomov comes to senses?
Answer: Lomov’s unconsciousness unnerves both Chubukov and his daughter Natalya. He is thought to be dead. Chubukov thinks that a golden opportunity has been lost. He thinks of shooting himself or cutting his throat. When Lomov comes to senses, Chubukov doesn’t lose the opportunity. He cries, “Hurry up and get married!” He at once blesses both of them.
Q42. Character Sketch of Lomov
Answer: Lomov is a middle-aged man of thirty-five. He suffers from palpitations, cramps, and numbness of limbs. He is nervous and can’t speak and act like a calm and composed man. He comes to Natalya’s house with a proposal of marriage but soon forgets the real purpose of his visit. He picks up unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and on their respective dogs.
Q43. Opinion of Chubukov After Reading ‘The Proposal’
Answer: Chubukov is a rich landlord and a neighbor of Lomov. He is short-tempered and rash in behavior. He wants Lomov to be married to Natalya. But he forgets the main issue and joins the quarrels between Lomov and Natalya. He only adds fuel to the fire. He can be abusive and insulting. However, he grabs the opportunity and blesses Natalya and Lomov in the end.
Q44. Opinion of Natalya After Reading ‘The Proposal’
Answer: Natalya is a woman of twenty-five years. Lomov considers her a good housekeeper and not bad looking. She likes to get married to Lomov. However, she indulges in unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and dogs. She even insults Lomov with harsh words. However, good sense prevails upon her, and she doesn’t lose the opportunity of marrying Lomov.
Q45. Justification of the Title ‘The Proposal’ and its Theme
Answer: Anton Chekhov has aptly titled the play, ‘The Proposal’. The title justifies the main theme—the marriage of Natalya and Lomov. No doubt, both Lomov and Natalya want to be life partners. However, unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and their dogs, Squeezer and Guess, temporarily spoil their game. The message is very clear: the main issue must not be clouded and lost sight of by indulging in unnecessary and avoidable quarrels.
Analysis of ‘The Necklace’ by Guy de Maupassant
Character Analysis and Key Themes
Why was Matilda always unhappy?
Answer: Matilda was always unhappy because she had been born into a simple family of clerks and married also to a clerk. Thus, her desires to be rich or distinguished or of becoming known were never fulfilled, which caused her to be unhappy.
Why was Matilda Loisel always unhappy?
Answer: Matilda Loisel was very pretty. She considered herself being born for a luxurious life, but the reality differed from her dreams. In reality, she was married to a petty clerk and led a very simple life. Her fantasy over ambitiousness made her unhappy.
What was Loisel’s reaction to his wife’s desire for a new dress?
Answer: The Loisel’s had been invited to a party at the minister’s residence. When Matilda told her husband that she wanted a new dress to wear, first of all, he asked her to wear whatever she possessed. When she got angry and refused to go to the party at all, he finally agreed to let her buy a new one.
Did M. Loisel have an enjoyable evening at the ball?
Answer: I think M. Loisel didn’t enjoy much at the ball. In fact, he was not much interested in such parties. He had come there for the sake of his wife’s happiness. So when his wife was dancing with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, he waited for her (but without disturbing her) half asleep in one of the little salons since midnight.
What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin?
Answer: Her own discontentment was the cause of her ruin. She always felt that she had been born for better things. So her desires to be rich or distinguished or of becoming known were never fulfilled, which caused her to be unhappy and ruined.