The Proposal

The Proposal by Anton Chekov

"The Proposal" is a one-act play written by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first performed in 1890 and was published the following year.

The play is set in the home of a wealthy landowner, Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov, who has come to propose to his neighbor's daughter, Natalya Stepanovna. However, before he can even begin, the two of them start arguing about the ownership of a piece of land that borders their properties. The argument quickly becomes heated, and Lomov becomes so worked up that he collapses from a heart attack.

Natalya and Lomov's servant, Stepan Stepanovitch, try to revive him, but they only end up making things worse. They argue about how best to help him, with Natalya insisting that he be given a glass of water and Stepan suggesting that he be slapped in the face with a wet towel. Eventually, Lomov regains consciousness, but the argument over the land ownership resumes.

The play ends with Lomov proposing to Natalya again, and she accepts. However, as soon as they embrace, they start arguing once more, this time about what color to paint the house they plan to build on the disputed land.

"The Proposal" is a satirical commentary on the Russian aristocracy of Chekhov's time, who were often more concerned with trivial matters such as property ownership and social status than with genuine human connections. Through the characters of Lomov and Natalya, Chekhov shows how these petty concerns can get in the way of meaningful relationships and even cause physical harm.