A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

                                                                                           -Anton Chekhov

The one act play Marriage proposal was written by Anton Chekhov. Anton Chekhov was a Russian writer. The play at first sight appears as nothing more than a farce. It exposes the true nature of various kinds of people.

Stepan Stepanovich Choobookov was a land owner. He had a twenty five years old daughter named Natalia Stepanovna. Ivan Vassileivich Lomov, their neighbour was thirty -five years old. He was a terribly hypochondriac land owner. One day Lomov dressed himself neatly in marriage coat and gloves and went to the house of Choobookov. He asked Choobookov for Natalia's hand in marriage. Choobookov was extremely happy and told that Natalia was madly in love with him.

Lomov was excited on hearing this. He waited to see Natalia. Natalia came and greeted him. They started a conversation.

When Lomov talked he made a mention of his property. 'The Ox Meadows '. Natalia stopped him and said that they belong to them. Both had arguments over that. Lomov said that the Ox Meadows belonged to his ancestors and it was given to Natalia's grandfather's peasants for 40 years to be used free of charge. The argument became severe and they started calling each other 'names'.

Choobookov came there. He also joined in support of Natalia. The quarrel was too intense that Lomov finally walked out of the house with great insult. After Lomov had gone, Choobookov told Natalia the reason why Lomov had come to their house and scolded him. On hearing that Natalia became hysterical and wanted to bring Lomov back to their house. Choobookov was shocked. But for the sake of his daughter he invited Lomov again.

Lomov once again came there. Natalia apologised and admitted that the ox meadows belonged to him. Then they began their conversation again. They changed their topic to hunting. Lomov had a hound guess. He had bought that from Mironov for 125 rubels. Choobookov had a dog leap. They bought that for 85 rubles. Natalia said that their dog leap was a superior variety. Lomov said that his guess was superior than the leap. Again there was a heated argument. Choobookov intervened to stop but failed.

The argument became strong and Lomov's heart began to palpitate. His foot paralysed and he fainted on the arm chair. Natalia thought that he was dead. They gave him water to drink. After sometime he moved slowly. Atonce Choobookov urged them to marry soon. They accepted each other and got married.

Thus the play ends happily with the marriage of Lomov and Natalia inspite of their differences.