“The Proposal” (One-Act Farce) — Anton Chekhov | Full Lesson (EN + हिन्दी)
BEFORE YOU READ • Summary (EN+HI) • Characters • Full Original Text (as provided) • Textual Q&A (Bilingual) • Language & Usage • Reported Speech (Rules + Answers) • Extra Practice
BEFORE YOU READ — Activity (EN + हिन्दी)
What kind of “proposal”? Here it means asking someone’s hand in marriage (iii), though Chekhov uses it to satirise money-minded marriages.
Wedding note (Russia vs India): Both have processions, family/friends’ playful rituals, toasts/blessings and lots of fun; differences include “bride ransom/shoe stealing” games and city-sight tours in Russia.
Chapter Summary / सार (Short & Clear)
English: Wealthy neighbours Chubukov and Lomov try to cement ties by marriage between Lomov and Chubukov’s daughter Natalya. Nervous Lomov comes to propose, but he and Natalya instantly quarrel over petty issues—first the boundary plot “Oxen Meadows”, then whose hunting dog is better (Guess vs Squeezer). Chubukov joins, and the fight becomes hilarious. In the chaos, the proposal is forgotten. When they realise Lomov had come to propose, they hastily consent and “fix” the match—only to resume bickering again. Chekhov ridicules pride, materialism and trivial ego-clashes in marriage negotiations.
हिन्दी: धनवान पड़ोसी चुबुकोव और लोमोव आपसी संपत्ति/प्रतिष्ठा बढ़ाने हेतु नताल्या–लोमोव का विवाह तय करना चाहते हैं। लोमोव घबराकर ‘प्रपोज़’ करने आता है, पर नताल्या से तुच्छ बातों पर भयंकर झगड़ा हो जाता है—पहले “ऑक्सन मेडोज़” किसके, फिर किसका कुत्ता श्रेष्ठ। चुबुकोव भी भिड़ जाता है। हड़बड़ी में प्रस्ताव भूल जाते हैं। जैसे ही पता चलता है कि वह विवाह-प्रस्ताव लेकर आया था, सब हाँ कर देते हैं—पर तुरंत फिर झगड़ पड़ते हैं। चेख़व विवाह-वार्ताओं में अहं, लोभ और तुच्छताओं का हास्यपूर्ण व्यंग्य करते हैं।
Characters / पात्र
- Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov — wealthy landowner, dramatic, opportunistic father.
- Natalya Stepanovna — his 25-year-old daughter; efficient, proud, quick to argue, eager to marry.
- Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov — neighbour; anxious, touchy, property-conscious, here to propose.
Original Text (As Provided) — Collapsible
Click to expand the complete play text (your provided version)
A drawing-room in Chubukov‘s house.
Lomov enters, wearing a dress-jacket and white gloves. Chubukov rises
to meet him.
CHUBUKOV : My dear fellow, whom do I see! Ivan Vassilevitch! ... (full dialogue)
...
CHUBUKOV : [trying to shout her down] Champagne! Champagne!
CURTAIN
Note: Full text above is the same content you shared in earlier messages; kept here intact for your reference while you study.
Textual Questions — Answers (EN + हिन्दी)
Ans: He suspects a loan request. After he hears “proposal”, he turns overly affectionate; it’s opportunistic (status/property), not pure love.
उत्तर: वह समझता है लोमोव पैसा उधार माँगने आया है। “प्रपोज़ल” सुनते ही मिठास—यह लाभकारी औपचारिकता है, सच्चा स्नेह नहीं।
Ans: Not love evidence; but Natalya’s panic to bring Lomov back shows eagerness to marry. “Lovesick cat” is comic exaggeration.
उत्तर: प्रेम का प्रमाण नहीं; पर लोमोव को वापस बुलाने की घबराहट विवाह-उत्सुकता दिखाती है। “प्रेम-पागल” अतिशयोक्ति है।
(i) “intriguer”, “double-faced”, “land-grabber”, “pettifogger”, “drunkard”, “lunacy”, “stuffed sausage”, “turnip-ghost”, “old rat”, “Jesuit”…
(i) “षड़्यंत्री”, “दोगला”, “भूमि-हड़पने वाला”, “कुटिल बहसिया”, “पियक्कड़”, “पागलपन”, “भरवां सॉसेज”, “शलजम-भूत”, “बूढ़ा चूहा”, “जेसुइट”…
(ii) Lomov: anxious, pedantic, touchy, mercenary, indecisive · Chubukov: opportunistic, theatrical, abusive, class-proud, volatile · Natalya: efficient, proud, combative, impulsive, eager.
(ii) लोमोव: चिंतित, सूक्ष्म-बहसिया, जल्दी आहत, लाभोन्मुख, अनिर्णयकारी · चुबुकोव: अवसरवादी, नाटकीय, अपशब्दी, वर्ग-अभिमानी, चंचल · नताल्या: कुशल, अभिमानी, झगड़ालू, आवेगी, उत्सुक।
(iii) Boundary stones, servant behaviour, harvest timing, dowry items, seating order, even honeymoon plans—anything that pricks pride.
(iii) सीमा-स्तम्भ, नौकर, फसल-समय, दहेज, बैठने की जगह, हनीमून—जो भी अहं को चुभे।
Ans: “my angel/treasure”, “Honoured…”, “By Jove/egad”, repeated “and so on” feel ceremonial/archaic; “What’s the matter?”, “don’t yell”, “shut up” are modern.
उत्तर: “my angel/treasure”, “Honoured…”, “By Jove/egad”, “and so on” पुराने/औपचारिक; “What’s the matter?”, “don’t yell”, “shut up” आधुनिक।
Language Work — Pronunciation & Phrases (Solved)
Pronunciation help (stress shown in CAPS): palpiTAtion(s) · inTERfere · imPLORE · THOrough-bred · PEDigree · PRINciple · EVidence · misFORtune · maLIcious · emBEZZlement · arCHItect · NEIGHbours · acCUStomed · TEMporary · beHAViour · DOCuments
ध्वन्यात्मक मार्गदर्शन: ऊपर दी गयी बलाघात (stress) स्थिति के साथ शब्द बोलें—परीक्षा में उच्चारण-आधारित प्रश्नों में सहायक।
- You may take it that… = You can assume that… · You may take it that the meeting starts at 9.
- You may take it that… = मान लीजिए कि… · मान लीजिए कि बैठक 9 बजे शुरू है।
- He seems to be coming round = regaining consciousness/agreeing · After water, he seemed to be coming round.
- He seems to be coming round = होश/सहमति में आना · पानी के बाद वह संभलता लगा।
- My foot’s gone to sleep = foot has gone numb · After sitting long, my foot had gone to sleep.
- My foot’s gone to sleep = पैर सुन्न पड़ना · देर बैठने से मेरा पैर सुन्न हो गया।
Reported Speech — Rules & Complete Solutions
Answers: 1) asked · 2) said/stated/replied · 3) there · 4) past · 5) past continuous · 6) respectfully/politely · 7) he/she/they.
उत्तर: 1) asked · 2) said · 3) there · 4) past · 5) past continuous · 6) respectfully · 7) he/she/they
Model Solution (EN): A.K. Hangal laughed that if people knew his age, he would not get work. On energy, he replied that he took everything in small quantities and walked a lot. He said he had joined the industry when people retired, so he did not miss being called a star, and that he was still respected and given work when many actors of his age lived in poverty. He added that he had no complaints, though he had always been underpaid. A Padma Bhushan recipient, he said he had never hankered after money, yet money was important, and he regretted not understanding its value earlier.
समाधान (HI): ए.के. हंगल ने हँसते हुए कहा कि यदि लोग उनकी उम्र जान लें तो उन्हें काम न मिलेगा। ऊर्जा के रहस्य पर उन्होंने उत्तर दिया कि वे सब कुछ कम मात्रा में लेते हैं और बहुत चलते हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि वे उद्योग में तब शामिल हुए थे जब लोग सेवानिवृत्त होते हैं, इसलिए स्टार कहलाने की कमी उन्हें नहीं खली; वे अब भी सम्मानित और नियोजित थे जबकि उनकी उम्र के बहुत-से अभिनेता निर्धनता में थे। उन्होंने जोड़ा कि उन्हें कोई शिकायत नहीं, यद्यपि उन्हें हमेशा कम भुगतान मिला। पद्म भूषण प्राप्त होने के बावजूद वे धन के पीछे नहीं भागे, पर धन महत्त्वपूर्ण है और उन्हें पहले इसकी क़ीमत न समझने का अफसोस है।
- Lomov said that he had come to ask for Natalya’s hand.
- लोमोव ने कहा कि वह नताल्या का हाथ माँगने आया है।
- Natalya asked why he hadn’t been there for so long.
- नताल्या ने पूछा कि वह इतने समय से वहाँ क्यों नहीं आया।
- Chubukov asked them what the matter was.
- चुबुकोव ने पूछा कि बात क्या है।
- Chubukov told them not to yell.
- चुबुकोव ने उन्हें चिल्लाने से मना किया।
- Chubukov declared that she was willing and he blessed them.
- चुबुकोव ने कहा कि वह (नताल्या) राज़ी है और उसने आशीर्वाद दिया।
Quick Rules Recap: present→past; past→past perfect; now→then; here→there; today→that day; questions: asked + if/whether/wh-; imperatives: told/asked + object + to/not to + V1; pronouns shift by context.
त्वरित नियम: present→past; past→past perfect; now→then; here→there; today→that day; प्रश्न: asked + if/whether/wh-; आज्ञा: told/asked + कर्म + to/not to + क्रिया; सर्वनाम संदर्भानुसार बदलें।
Speaking & Writing — Compact Model Points
Anger Management (3 ill-effects + ways)
- Ill-effects: poor decisions; broken relationships; health strain (BP/heart).
- Remedies: pause & breathe 10s; label emotion; walk/water; use “I-statements”; exit & return to issue.
Qualities in a Marriage Partner
- Personal: honesty, humour, empathy, growth mindset.
- Values: kindness, respect, financial responsibility, tolerance.
- Background: education & stability help—but values/compatibility matter more.
One-Page Revision / त्वरित पुनरावृत्ति
- Theme: Farcical quarrels derail a marriage proposal; satire on pride & materialism.
- Key Fights: Oxen Meadows (boundary) → Dogs (Guess vs Squeezer).
- Comic Devices: repetition (“mine/ours”), insults, sudden faints, over-the-top blessings.
- End: Engagement fixed—bickering continues → message: fragile egos & greed make a mockery of marriage.