The line "Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter!" reveals Chubukov's exasperation and helplessness as a father. He desperately wants Natalya to get married — he was overjoyed when Lomov came to propose, calling it his "continual desire." Yet he watches the proposal nearly collapse due to senseless quarrelling, much of it caused by Natalya herself. The line shows he feels trapped: he must manage his difficult daughter's marriage prospects while she drives away the very suitor he welcomed. His frustration is comic but also genuine — he even threatens to "cut his throat" in despair. He is an anxious, self-pitying father whose desire for a good match is repeatedly frustrated by circumstances beyond his control.
Source: The Proposal, Chapter 9
---
The examiner expects you to link the quote directly to Chubukov's behaviour throughout the play: his eagerness for the proposal, his panic when Lomov storms out, and his helpless frustration. Don't just paraphrase the line — show why he feels this way using evidence from the text. Three key moments to recall: his joy at Lomov's proposal, his "I'll shoot myself!" panic, and his final exhausted blessing of the couple.