The Proposal, Anton Chekhov: Summary & Analysis
Table of Contents
"The Proposal" by Anton Chekhov tells the story of two neighbors, Stephan and Ivan. Stephan is an elderly man who lives with his daughter, Natalya. Ivan owns land adjacent to Stephan's property and they have disputes over the meadows. Ivan's Ambiguous Visit One evening, Ivan dresses up and goes to Stephan's house. Stephan wonders about the reason for Ivan's visit, assuming he might need some help. However, Ivan beats around the bush and seems unsure. Ivan's Unexpected Proposal To Stephan's surprise, Ivan confesses that he has feelings for Natalya and proposes to marry her. Stephan is pleasantly taken aback and mentions that Natalya has always liked Ivan as well. He praises Natalya's beauty and homemaking abilities. An Heated Argument Stephan leaves the room, and Natalya enters. She notices Ivan's dress and immediately starts complaining about the meadows. The conversation quickly escalates into a heated argument, with both Natalya and Ivan screaming…