What was Chubukov's reaction when he discovered the actual purpose behind Lomov's visit ? (The Proposal)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:17 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Initially, Chubukov suspected that Lomov had come to borrow money and privately resolved not to lend any. However, when Lomov revealed that he had come to ask for Natalya's hand in marriage, Chubukov's reaction changed completely. He became overjoyed, embraced and kissed Lomov warmly, shed tears of happiness, and exclaimed that it had been his "continual desire." He declared he had always loved Lomov "as if he were his own son" and rushed off excitedly to call Natalya. His dramatic transformation from suspicion to elation suggests his joy was genuine, driven largely by the economic and social advantage of the match.
Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9
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Explanation
- Key contrast: The examiner expects you to mention both reactions — the initial suspicion (borrowing money) AND the joyful response to the actual proposal.
- Chubukov's sincerity is debatable (he seems opportunistic), but for a 3-mark answer, briefly noting it adds depth without over-explaining.
- Stick to textual evidence: "shed a tear," "embraced and kissed," "continual desire," "as if you were my own son."
- Do not drift into the Oxen Meadows quarrel — that's a different part of the play.