Go; there's a merchant come for his goods." Who said this and to whom? Who is 'the merchant'? What is referred to as 'goods' ? In what way does it bring out the attitude of the person and the society at that time?

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CLASS-XII

"Go; there's a merchant come for his goods." Who said this and to whom? Who is 'the merchant'? What is referred to as 'goods' ? In what way does it bring out the attitude of the person and the society at that time?

Ans :Chubukov said this to his daughter, Natalya in Chekhov's play 'The Proposal'.

 Here the merchant is Lomov.

Natalya is referred to here as 'goods'.

By these words,  the mentality of the speaker is assumed.Chekhov exposes the non-romantic nature of marriage as it occurs as a social practice. Marriage is a vital social as well as a family issue. The humiliating attitude of contemporary society towards women is found . Chubukov considers that marriage is like a business. Grooms are like the merchants and the brides are their goods. It reflects a male-dominated society where marriageable daughters are considered as economic liability and extra burden to their fathers.