"She is like a love sick cat"-Who says this and to whom? About whom is this said? Why does the speaker say this?

"She is like a love sick cat"- Who says this and to whom? About whom is this said? Why does the speaker say this?

Ans. In Anton Chekhov's one-act play 'The Proposal' Chubukov says this to Lomov.

This is said about Chubukov's daughter, Natalya.

Chubukov longs for a prospective groom for his grown up daughter, Natalya. He feels the pressure of being the father of a grown up daughter. At this very moment Lomov comes to Chubukov's house with a proposal to marry Natalya. Chubukov feels elated on hearing the proposal and wants to accept it readily. He finds Lomov fit for his daughter as Lomov is also a landlord. As Lomov appears suffering from the lack of confidence, he wants to enkindle the hope of marriage in the heart of Lomov. He wants to feel Lomov wanted and honoured, so that Lomov will be quick-footed in accepting Natalya as a perfect bride. He wants to instil in his mind the notion that Natalya too is very much eager to accept him as her suitor.