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Themes and Instances of Irony in Proposal

Anton Chekhov's short story 'The Proposal' employs irony to subvert expectations surrounding marriage proposals, focusing instead on comical arguments between the characters. The narrative critiques the futility of human communication, the superficiality of the landowning class, and societal conventions regarding marriage. Ultimately, the story serves as a humorous yet insightful commentary on the absurdities of romantic relationships and societal norms.

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122 views2 pages

Themes and Instances of Irony in Proposal

Anton Chekhov's short story 'The Proposal' employs irony to subvert expectations surrounding marriage proposals, focusing instead on comical arguments between the characters. The narrative critiques the futility of human communication, the superficiality of the landowning class, and societal conventions regarding marriage. Ultimately, the story serves as a humorous yet insightful commentary on the absurdities of romantic relationships and societal norms.

Uploaded by

bismajan220
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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“The Proposal” is a short story written by Anton Chekhov.

Irony permeates the narrative,


adding depth and complexity to the characters and their situations.

Here are some instances of irony in “The Proposal”:

Title Irony: The title itself, “The Proposal,” sets up an expectation of a romantic or formal
proposal of marriage. However, the story subverts this expectation by portraying a
comical and absurd series of events surrounding a marriage proposal that is more
about petty arguments than genuine affection.

Character Irony – Lomov

The main character, intends to propose to Natalya, but ironically, he spends


most of the story arguing with her about trivial matters rather than expressing his
love. His inability to effectively communicate his feelings leads to
misunderstandings and frustration.

Character Irony – Natalya

Natalya, despite being courted by Lomov, is portrayed as strong-willed and


argumentative. She rebuffs Lomov’s advances and engages in petty disputes with
him, undermining the traditional role of a passive, agreeable bride-to-be.

Resolution Irony

The story’s Resolution is ironic as Lomov collapses from a sudden bout of


palpitations after arguing with Natalya. Despite his initial determination to propose,
his physical weakness and emotional instability undermine his intentions,
highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

Overall, the pervasive irony in “The Proposal” serves to satirize social conventions
and human behaviour, highlighting the absurdity and folly inherent in romantic
relationships and societal expectations.

The main themes of Anton Chekhov’s play “The Proposal” include:

1 Futility of Human Communication

The play highlights how difficult it can be for people to communicate effectively.
Misunderstandings and arguments arise even in simple conversations, showcasing the
absurdity of societal conventions
2 Satire of the Landowning Class

Chekhov satirizes the landowning class of 19 th-century Russia, depicting characters


who are obsessed with land ownership and superficial appearances rather than genuine
human connections

3. Marriage

: The play uses situational irony to mock the traditional notions of marriage. Instead of a
romantic proposal, the characters engage in petty arguments, revealing the
superficiality of their relationship

4. Absurdity of Societal Conventions

Through the comedic and farcical elements, Chekhov comments on the absurdity of
societal norms and the trivial matters that people prioritize over meaningful
relationships

These themes combine to create a humorous yet thought-provoking commentary on


human behaviour and societal expectations.

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