The Proposal

Ivan Lomov, a wealthy neighbour, arrives at Stepan Chubukov's house in evening dress and white gloves. Chubukov welcomes him warmly but secretly suspects he has come to borrow money. Lomov is nervous and excited; he has actually come with a marriage proposal for Natalya, Chubukov's twenty-five-year-old daughter.

Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov visits his neighbour Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov dressed formally in a dress-jacket and gloves. Chubukov greets him with exaggerated affection, though he privately fears Lomov wants a loan. Lomov, trembling with nerves, has come to ask for Natalya's hand in marriage - a match that makes economic sense for both landowning families.

Natalya enters, thinking Lomov is a merchant. When Lomov tries to propose, they begin arguing over Oxen Meadows - a strip of land each claims as their own. Natalya insists the meadows are hers; Lomov insists they are his and offers documents. The polite visit turns into a fierce quarrel.

Natalya joins them, unaware of Lomov's purpose. As he tries to speak of marriage, he mentions Oxen Meadows bordering her birchwoods. Natalya immediately challenges his ownership. What should be a proposal becomes a heated property dispute, with both sides repeating 'Mine!' and 'Ours!' and threatening to send mowers to the land.

Chubukov is called in and takes Natalya's side, calling Lomov a 'grabber' and insulting his family. Lomov's heart palpitations return; he shouts and gasps. The three abuse one another - 'pettifogger', 'malicious, double-faced intriguer', 'fool' - forgetting the proposal entirely.

When Chubukov enters, he supports his daughter and hurls abuse at Lomov, who in turn insults the Chubukov family. Lomov's palpitations and trembling worsen under the stress. The conversation descends into name-calling and threats, with all three characters proving themselves quarrelsome and stubborn.

Lomov faints and is given water. Chubukov fears he is dead and blames himself. When Lomov revives, Chubukov quickly offers Natalya's hand. Natalya learns Lomov had come to propose; she weeps and calls him back. Lomov proposes formally and she accepts - but almost at once they start quarrelling about their hunting dogs.

Lomov collapses from palpitations and is thought dead. Revived with water, he is drawn back into the room. Chubukov blesses the match and Natalya, realising the purpose of the visit, weeps that Lomov is alive and accepts. The proposal is finally spoken and accepted, yet harmony lasts only moments.

Instead of celebrating, Lomov and Natalya argue over whose dog is better - Lomov's Guess or Natalya's Squeezer. They insult each other's dogs and families again. Chubukov tries to shout them down with 'Champagne!' The curtain falls while all three are still quarrelling.

Hardly has the engagement been settled when Natalya and Lomov dispute the quality of their hunting dogs, Guess and Squeezer. Prices, pedigrees, and hunting skill become new weapons. Chubukov calls for champagne but cannot stop the shouting. The play ends as it began - in comic quarrelling - suggesting the marriage will be as argumentative as the proposal.