Chapter 11

The proposal

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Lomov is received in Chubukov's house it is chubukov's house. Lomov enters. Chubukov meets him. Chubukov is extremely happy to meet him. He asks him to sit down. He also asks him where he is going in the evening dress.

Lomov tells him the purpose of his visit

Lomov tells him that he has come to see him with a request. He wants to say but gets excited. Chubukov feels that he has come to borrow money. Lomov starts speaking. But he talks of this thing or that thing. At last he says that he has come to ask Natalya 's hand. Chubukov is greatly excited to hear it as he is worried about his daughter's marriage.

Chubukov consents

Chubukov embrace and kisses lomov for it. He says that he always wanted that. He is so happy that he behaves idiotcally. Lomov asks him if he should think that he gives his consent. Chubukov okays it. He tells him that Natalya also is in love with him.

Lomov thinks of Natalya and his own life

Lomov trembles due to great excitement. He says that if he looks for an ideal love he would never get married. He gets cold. However, he feels that Natalya is a good housekeeper. She is beautiful and well educated. He is already 35. He should lead a quiet and regular life. But he now was palpitations . He can't sleep. He start jumping like a mad person.

Natalya and lomov together

Natalya enters. She asks lomov why he hasn't come there for a long time. She tells him about the harvest. She ask him why he is in the evening dress. She further ask if he is going to a ball.

Lomov start talking to his land

Lomov tries to tell her the purpose behind the visit. But he is off the point. He tells that he has known her family for long. He tells how he inherited his land and how he respect Natalya's father. He also tells her that his oxen meadow touch Natalya's Birchwood. ( but he never tells that he has come to propose to her. )

Lomov explains the ownership

Hearing this natalya gets serious. She tells him that oxen meadow are not lomov but their. Lomov clarifies that he is referring to oxen Meadows. They are between her Birchwood and the burnt marsh. Natalya says that they are theirs. Lomov refuses it. He says that his aunt's grandmother gave those meadow to Natalya father grandfather. The peasant used the land for forty years.but they regarded them their own.

Argument continue

Natalya refuses lomov claim. She says that oxen meadow are theirs. Lomov says that he will show the documents. But Natalya says that they had the land for nearly three hundred years. She can't stand unfairness though the meadow are worth 300 rouble. Lomov states that the peasent of Natalya father's grandfather baked bricks for his aunt's grandmother..... Both start fighting over the ownership. Lomov offers to make a present of them to Natalya. But she also says that she can make a present of them to him.

Shouting starts

Natalya gets angry. She comes to a low level. She start accusing lomov. She says that they lent him their thresing- machine. Lomov feels that Natalya has called him a landgrabber. He repeats that oxen meadow are his. Natalya repeats they are theirs. They start shouting at each other.

Chubukov sides with Natalya

Chubukov enters. Natalya ask him to tell lomov that oxen meadow are theirs. Lomov refuses this. Chubukov clarifies that by shouting lomov won't prove the ownership. He accuses lomov of speaking disrespectfully as he is twice his age. Lomov adds that good neighbour don't behave like that. At the same time he calls chubukov a landgrabber.

Abuses exchanged

Lomov threatens to take chubukov to courts. They exchange abuses calling that lomov grandfather was a drunkard. His younger aunt nastasya ran away with an architect. Lomov wants to say something. But he feels that he is dying. He says so.

Accusations continue

Natalya calls lomov 'a rascal'. Chubukov calls him the 'villian' and the 'Scarecrow'. He calls him a monster who has the courage to propose.

Chubukov tells the purpose behind lomos visit

Hearing 'purpose' Natalya ask what proposal. Chubukov tell her that lomov come to propose to her for marriage. Hearing this she start weeping. She calls chubukov to bring him back at once. She is in hysterics. He laments that it is a great burden to be a father of a grown up daughter.

Fighting over dogs.

Lomov enters. He has a palpitating heart. Natalya begs to be excused. She tells him that the meadow are his. The talk now centres on dogs. Lomov tells Natalya that his best dog guess cost him 125 roubles. Natalya calls it too much as her father gave 85 roubles for his squeezer. Squeezer is better than his dog. Lomov refutes it. He States that his lower jaw is shorter than the upper. Natalya defends saying that their squeezer is of the finest pedigree.

Personal accusations

Lomov cities some fact for his dog's superiority. He cities the dog race with the count dog. In that squeezer was left behind. Dogs ran but squeezer ran after a sheep. Lomov speaks about the condition of his heart. Natalya asks him what sort of hunter he is. He should go to the kitchen and not go after foxes.

Abuses hurled

Chubukov sides with Natalya. He adds that lomov should sit at home. He changes the subject to avoid losing his temper. Lomov and he exchange abuses calling one another 'intriguer ' , 'pup ', rat etc. Lomov tells that chubukov's late wife beat him. He falls down.

Lomov physical condition

Natalya asks her father what has happened to lomov. Chubukov also feel sick as he can't breathe. Chubukov ask what the matter is. Natalya says that lomov is dead. At this chubukov calls for water and the doctor.

Chubukov as a father and his helplessness

Chubukov starts accusing himself. He calls himself the most unhappy of men. He demand for a knife or a pistol. Lomov is reviving.

Chubukov calls them to marry

Lomov says he sees stars. He ask where he is. Chubukov ask him to hurry up and get married. Natalya is also willing to marry him. Chubukov asks them to kiss each other. Lomov asks whom he should kiss. He then says that he understand. Natalya is also happy. Chubukov feels that a weight has come off his shoulder. He offers some champagne for this occasion

We hope the given CBSE /MP Board Class 10th English "First Flight" notes Chapter 11 "The Proposal" will help you.

Written By - Khushi Baghel