Hello friends today we are discuss this question, the question is -Comment on the theme of marriage in this play. How do Lomov and Natalya contribute to this theme?
In Chekhov’s play ‘The Proposal marriage is the dominant theme. Thus, Chekhov uses the characters of Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov and Natalya Stepanovna to satirise marriages made for personal gain and based on money instead of love. Lomov comes to Natalya’s house to propose her for marriage. However, he shocks us by declaring that he will not think or look for real love. For Lomov, marriage is nothing but a profitable deal. On the other hand, in those days, marriage was the only means for a woman to gain financial stability and social status. So, Natalya becomes desperate for marriage. Though she has been quarrelling with Lomov all through, still when she learns that Lomov came with a marriage proposal she hysterically implores her father to bring him back. At the end of the play the two of them appear quite happy to be finally engaged though they do not seem to agree on anything and continue to argue over different issues.