QUESTION: What does this excerpt from Anton Chekhov's The Proposal reveal about Lomov's character?
LOMOV: It's cold . . . I'm trembling all over, just as if I'd got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I'll never get married. . . . Brr! . . . It's cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. . . . What more do I want? But I'm getting a noise in my ears from excitement. [Drinks] And it's impossible for me not to marry. . . . In the first place, I'm already 35—a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. . . .

A.
Lomov needs someone to take care of him.
B.
Lomov wants to have his own family someday.
C.
Lomov feels that marriage will make his life more exciting.
D.
Lomov views marriage as a necessity.
E.
Lomov is uncomfortable discussing marriage.

The above excerpt from Anton Chekhov's The Proposal reveals about Lomov's character that option D. Lomov views marriage as a necessity. He is listing Natalya’s qualities but he is not in love with her.

The explanation of the above answer is as given below:

• He clearly mentions in the above passage that he is at a critical age in his life i.e. he is 35 years old and he cannot delay his decision to get married anymore.

• He also wishes to lead a regular and quiet life.

• He does not wish to overthink his decision as he might go back on his decision to marry Natalya and at this point marriage is only a necessity for him.

• The rest of the options are incorrect as they don’t reflect his true feelings on the matter.

Therefore, option D is correct that for him marriage is only a necessity.

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