Smokescreens by Harold Brighouse

 

Smokescreens by Harold Brighouse BA English Notes One Act Play Summary Reference Context Question-answer

Summary

The play “Smokescreens” has at least three basic ideas or themes. The first theme is that every character in the play has a dual personality. They hide their real personality behind smokescreens. The second theme is the bad effects of broken families on children. The third theme is the generation gap.
Susan has come to London to see her sister Lucy. Primrose is her niece and very modern. She goes to nightclubs late at night. She smokes cigarettes and wears lipstick.
Susan is conservative and does not like this. She hides her bag so that she may not go out. Actually, she wants to have a talk with her. Primrose needs her handbag because there are cigarettes and lipstick in it. Then she comes to know that her Aunt Susan has her handbag. She takes her handbag and leaves.
Susan objects that Lucy has not disciplined her daughter but Lucy defends herself. They exchange their views as how children should be brought up.
Lucy is a self-made woman. She has divorced her husband, because he is unfaithful. She starts a business of taxicabs. She gives all her time to her business and ignores her daughter. Primrose is against her mother because of that. She does not like her mother’s views on the institution of marriage. She sends her friend Clarice to tell her mother and aunt that she is going to marry John. John is Clarice’s brother and is very ugly.
Clarice tells Lucy and Susan about her ugly brother in detail. Later Primrose also comes there and breaks the news of her marriage. Her mother is shocked but hides her feelings. Primrose and Lucy have a talk and then Primrose leaves telling her that John is waiting in the dining room.

Reference

These lines have been taken from the play “Something to talk about” written by Eden Philpotts.

Context

The play is a serious social comedy. Its story is a three-sided conflict. Primrose, the young heroine is a modern girl. Her mother, Lucy Aston, is a liberal lady divorced by her charming husband. Susan, her aunt, is a conservative. Lucy does not like to interfere with her daughter‟s affairs. Susan tries to warn her against the dangers faced by Primrose. Primrose wants to marry a footballer, John. Her mother and Susan are astonished.Susan leaves the house in disgust. Her mother decides to let her marry. But she says she will keep a vigilant watch over her daughter‟s husband through the smokescreen of her taxi car business. She does not like to lose her daughter. But she is quite helpless.

Question# 1
What are the basic ideas or themes of the play"Smokescreens"?

The play “Smokescreens” has at least three basic ideas or themes. The first theme is that all the characters in the play have duel personalities. They hide their real personalities behind smokescreens. The second theme is the bad effects of broken families on children. The third theme is the generation gap.
When we read the play carefully, we see that all the three main characters hide themselves behind smokescreens. They pretend what they are not. Primrose pretends to be a rude and spoiled girl. However, later in the story she begs her aunt’s forgiveness and tells her that she does so only to avoid conversation. She tells her aunt that she behaves just like a cuttlefish that squirts out a flood of ink to hide it from attack.
Aunt Susan pretends to have the Victorian morality. However, surprisingly she tells a lie about her headache just to stop Primrose from going out. Lucy pretends that she does not have any care or love for her daughter, but actually, she is a loving and caring mother. The writer shows her love for her daughter at the end of the play.
The second theme is that a broken family has very bad effects n children. They are spoiled. They are rude and disrespectful to their elders and do what they like. They are confused and do such things as are not good for them.
The third theme is the generation gap. The writer has depicted the generation gap very successfully. The old generation is hard and harsh towards the young generation and has the Victorian morality. However, the young generation is rude. The people of this generation want to live according to the demands of their society.

Question# 2

Bring out the conflict between Primrose and Aunt Susan or the generation gap in the play.

The conflict between Primrose and Aunt Susan is that Aunt Susan wants Primrose not to go out at night, whereas Primrose is not ready to listen to her. Actually, they have conflict because of the generation gap.
Aunt Susan has come to London to see her sister. She is 50 and believes in the Victorian morality. She is conservative and believes that children should be treated very harshly. They should be spanked to teach discipline. She also believes that parents should use power of the purse to prevent children from doing undesirable things. Therefore, she decides to talk to Primrose rather harshly. That is why she hides to talk to Primrose’s handbag just to stop her from going out and to talk to her.
Primrose is a representative of the young generation. She wants to do what she likes. She wants to go out wearing lipstick and smoking cigarettes. She is not ready to listen to her aunt and she behaves rudely to her. She wants to live her own life. She is not ready to be dictated by the old generation.
Therefore, this is the conflict between Primrose and Aunt Susan. Actually, it is a conflict between the old and the young generation.

Question# 3

Bring the conflict between Lucy and Susan.

The conflict between Aunt Susan and Lucy is that Aunt Susan thinks that Lucy spoiled Primrose. She has not brought her up according to the Victorian morality. She has spoiled her by telling wrong things about her father. However, Lucy defends herself and says that what she did was right.
Aunt Susan believes in the Victorian morality. She is conservative and believes that children should be treated very harshly and they should be spanked to teach discipline. She also believes that parents should use power of the purse to prevent children from doing undesirable things.
Lucy represents old but liberal-minded generation and does not believe in the Victorian morality. The people of this generation believe: “Give our children a better time than we had ourselves.” Therefore, the people like Lucy do not try to discipline their children. That is why Lucy does not stop Primrose from doing anything.
Aunt Susan says that she has spoiled Primrose by telling her that her father was a scoundrel and her mother was a fool who married him. Lucy says that she did that because she had to justify her divorce before Primrose.
Therefore, we can conclude that the conflict between Aunt Susan and Lucy is that Aunt Susan thinks that Lucy has spoiled Primrose. She has not brought her up according to the Victorian morality. She has spoiled her by telling her wrong things about her father. However, Lucy defends herself and says that what she did was right.

Question# 4
Why did Primrose decide to marry ugly John instead of marrying a    charming man?

Primrose decided to marry ugly John instead of a charming man because of the following reasons:
Firstly, she decided to marry ugly John because it would be an insult to her mother if she married a charming man. She said, “I’ve not insulted you. If I’d picked a charming man….” Actually, her father was a charming man. Probably, she had told her daughter that all charming men were unfaithful. She divorced her father because of that. If fact, Lucy had told her so to justify her divorce. Now Primrose was a grown up girl and she knew that not all men were equal. That was why she decided to marry ugly John.
Secondly, she thought that if she married a charming man, her mother would exert her influence on her and would not let her marry. She said to her mother, “Well, for a Charles, you’d have had the right to exert your influence….”
Thirdly, she thought that her mother made a mistake when she married a charming man. She said that she was marrying an ugly man who was different from her charming father. Therefore, it was a different mistake.
Fourthly, she thought that her mother had been sentimental when she married a charming man, whereas she was not being sentimental. She meant to say that her decision of marrying an ugly man was quite sensible.
Lastly, she decided to marry ugly John because she was in love with him. She told her mother that she was going to marry ugly John because he made her feel all funny inside.
Therefore, these were the reasons behind her marrying ugly John.

Question# 5

Bring out the conflict between Primrose and Lucy?

The conflict between Primrose and Lucy is on two levels and they have strained relation because of this conflict.
Firstly, there is conflict because Lucy and Primrose have different views on the institution of marriage. Lucy has been talking against the institution of marriage. That is why Primrose says, “Oh, I know what it means to talk about marriage in this house! It is like talking about something decent people don’t mention.” Lucy may be telling Primrose that the institution of marriage is not a good institution. Primrose says, “…I think marriage is a jolly fine institution.”
She tells that Lucy will not let her marry because Lucy is very young to be a mother-in-law. She says, “I think my mother would prefer me to remain unmarried.” She also thinks that she is a marrying woman, whereas her mother is not.
Secondly, Primrose thinks that her mother neglects her and gives more time to her business. Her business is more important to her than her daughter is. She says to her mother about taxicabs, “They mean more to than I do.” At this Lucy says, “They have their uses.” Primrose gets angry at this answer and says, “I’ve been an awful ass?”
Actually, Lucy has been neglecting Primrose with a purpose. She does not want to impose strict discipline on her. She wants that Primrose should have every chance of enjoying life. However, Primrose misunderstands her. At the end of the story Lucy says, “Taxicabs! Taxicabs, and she believed me!”
Therefore, we can conclude that the conflict between Primrose and Lucy is on two levels and they have strained relation because of his conflict. We can say that mostly Lucy is responsible for this conflict.

Question# 6

How is an independent career a living protest against the necessary of marriage?

Lucy was a self-made woman but against the institution of marriage.

Primrose was a marrying woman like her Aunt Susan. Discuss.

When we read the play “Smokescreens” carefully, we see that Lucy and Primrose had conflicting views on the institution of marriage. She said to her mother, “I’m a marrying woman. It’s tough to be a marrying woman….”

Actually, Lucy, her mother, had divorced Primrose’s father and set him away. At that time, he had a car. She hired it out and drove it. She worked very hard for fifteen years. Now she owned three garages and numberless taxicabs. She did not marry again because she was trying to expand her business. She had no time for marriage. Actually, she did not need to marry a man because she had everything. It is in this sense that Primrose thought that an independent career was a living protest against the necessity of marriage.

Unlike her mother, Primrose was a marrying woman, because she had no interest in business or independent career. She said to her mother, “My mother worked, and I didn’t. I haven’t the brains. I think I’m like Aunt Susan in one way. I’m a marrying woman.” Therefore, she compared herself with Aunt Susan because Aunt Susan did not have an independent career. She had a happy family life with a husband and two good sons. This was also according to Primrose’s nature.

Question# 7

Primrose is a child of a broken family. discuss.

No doubt, Primrose is a child of a broken family. The child of a broken family is usually spoiled. He is rude and disrespectful to his elders and does whatever he likes.

When we read the play “Smokescreens” carefully, we find that Primrose is just like that. She goes out at night wearing lipstick and smoking cigarettes. She probably goes to nightclubs that are very bad places. She is rude and disrespectful to her elders. When Aunt Susan hides her handbag, she talks to her rudely. She threatens her that she will spill her on the ground if she does not give her the handbag. She does not listen to her aunt and goes out. When she talks to her mother, she calls her by her name.

We see that Primrose does what she likes. Once when she decides to go out, she does not listen to her aunt and mother. She does not give up smoking in spite of the advice of her aunt. Similarly, when she decides to marry an ugly man, she does not listen to her mother who does not like her decision.

Lucy, her mother is mainly responsible for that. She gives all her time and energy to her business. She neglects her daughter who is very sore about it. Primrose says to her mother about the taxicabs, “They mean more to you than I do?” At this Lucy says, “They have their uses.” Lucy tells her sister, I couldn’t be a domestic mother to my daughter while I was running a business.”

Primrose sums up all this by telling her aunt that it is not particularly easy to be Primrose. Actually, she means to say that she is like that because she belongs to a broken family.

Question# 8

The title of the poem is justified. Discuss?

The title of the play “Smokescreens” is quite justified. It is very meaningful and symbolic. ‘Smokescreens’ in the context of the play means a veil of smoke behind which a character hides his real personality and feelings.

When we read the play, we find that there are three main characters in the play and they all have their own smokescreens. They hide their real feelings and personalities and pretend to be what they are not.

The first main character is Aunt Susan. She pretends to be a very civilized and conservative woman. She pretends to have the Victorian morality. However, surprisingly she tells a lie about her headache just to stop Primrose from going out. Apparently, she sympathizes her sister but inwardly she enjoys hers sister’s bad condition. Lucy notices that and asks her not to look so complacent.

The second main character is Primrose. She pretends to be a rude and spoiled girl. She is rude to her aunt and even threatens to spill her on the ground. She is not ready to listen to her aunt. She wears lipstick and goes to nightclubs. However, later in the story she begs her aunt’s forgiveness and tells her that she did so only to avoid conversation. She tells her aunt that she behaved just like a cuttlefish that squirts out a flood of ink to hide it from attack.

The third main character is Lucy. She pretends that she does not have any care or love for her daughter. Actually, she is a loving mother. She wants that her daughter should have every chance of enjoying life. The writer shows her love for her daughter at the end of the play.

Therefore, we see that the title of the play is quite justified.

Question# 9

Draw the character sketches of 1-Primrose, 2- Susan 3- Lucy

Primerose

Primrose is a smart girl of twenty years. She is pretty and takes care of her appearance a lot. She can’t go out without lipstick. She does everything that she wants… she likes to remain out a great deal. She behaves rudely with her aunt because her aunt is too interfering and she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. Her aunt Susan asks her to give her some time, but she avoids it by saying, “it isn’t easy to be Primrose”. This statement shows her disturbed mental state because at that very day she is on the verge of making the most important decision of her life. Primrose asks her aunt to unleash her views after listening about her decision to marry her friend’s brother.
She has her own specific views about everything; she dismisses the traditional concept of honour and quotes Shakespeare who calls it “blowing bubbles”. She talks about her habit of losing things and says that loss of a girl’s honour has nothing serious in it. She represents modern mentality where honour and manners are thought to be useless things. But it doesn’t mean that she is a bad girl rather she proves herself a mature sensible girl by making a prudent choice for her husband.
She has learnt from her mother’s bad experience and has avoided the blunder of falling for a handsome man. She says that if her marriage too is a mistake then it is a different mistake from one made by her mother. Her mother is against men and marriage but she is not influenced by her mother’s biased point of view. She makes her own independent judgment.
On the whole her character is a perfect delineation of a girl who belongs to a broken family and whose emotional needs are not fully satisfied.

Susan

Susan is a fifty years old lady who comes from a village to visit her sister in London. She is living a peaceful life with her two immaculate sons and a husband with whom she can easily put up. She reads novels and listens to music and likes to remain in the home. She is an orthodox lady and wants her niece Primrose to stay in the limits of her own narrow morality. She maneuvers to keep her indoors because she thinks that Primrose is going to the Devil. She takes her to be a bad girl that in fact she isn’t. She hides her bag, criticizes her use of lipstick and cigarette in the public street. Susan is very intolerant and she doesn’t approve of any of Primrose’s action. She asks Primrose to give her some time because she wants to talk to her but Primrose refuses, as she will soon be disclosing the startling news of her marriage with John.
She is sarcastic and often gives unpleasant remarks about things. She is artificial and cares a lot about her appearance; she smoothes her hair before Lucy opens the door for Clarice. She is very impolite to Clarice and makes fun of her nervousness. While talking to Lucy she gives contradictory remarks as first she calls her a “heroine” and then tries to make her believe that she has been wrong at many occasions. She blames Lucy that she has made her daughter a mess and that she is unable to control her.  She gives evidence of her hypocrisy when she callously asks Lucy to disinherit Primrose and leave her money to the International Peace Society. She doesn’t care about Primrose but tries to show herself as a philanthropic lady, worried about the future of the world. She is talkative and interfering. She praises Charles repeatedly in spite of the fact that he has proved himself as a perfect scoundrel. 
Overall Susan is a narrow-minded homespun lady who doesn’t understand the demands and ways of modern times.

Lucy

Lucy was a good looking and capable lady of forty years. She had her business of taxicabs and most of the time remained busy in her work. She had a beautifully furnished home in London.
She fell in love with a handsome man and married him but unluckily he cheated her. She decided to divorce him and live an independent life with her baby-girl. She had a strong sense of self-respect and refused to take the alimony from her husband. She said she would have scrubbed the floors instead of receiving any assistance from her ex-husband. At that time she only had a car that she hired out. Gradually she established a vast business and owned three garages and too many taxicabs. She had to create a balance between her career and her domestic duties. She brought her daughter up with much trouble; she even took care of sending her to the school where most of the children were without one or the other parent. She had a sense of loss as her daughter grew up but she decided to take everything realistically. Her business activities didn’t leave her with much time to spend with her daughter so they were not close to each other. They didn’t express their true feelings even at the most critical moment of their lives when Primrose decided to marry and leave her mother alone. She couldn’t react properly when Primrose told about her decision to marry John. Though she was much concerned about her future and in her aside she threatened to shoot John if he wasn’t kind to Primrose but in Primrose’s presence she assumed an indifferent attitude. She adopted a smokescreen behind which a loving mother was present to assure her daughter’s well being.
On the whole Lucy is a nice character that stands for the self assured working lady who decides to struggle in the face of disaster. Her character highlights the problems and tragedies faced by a lonely working-lady.

Something to Talk About By Eden Eden Phillpotts

 

Something to Talk About By Eden Eden Phillpotts BA English Notes One Act Play Summary Reference Context Question-answer

Summary

The play “Something to Talk About” conveys the idea that very rich people become sick of their monotonous lives. So just for a change, they welcome everything, even burglary. Secondly, we also see that it is very difficult to bear the loss of things, it does not matter how rich a person is. To save his things he ready to harm others.
At three on Christmas morning the Wolf, a burglar, comes to Sydneys’ residence to steal Christmas presents. Lord Rochester is the head of the family. Lady Redchester is his wife Guy and Lettice are his children. Bishop is his brother.
The Wolf is trying to open the safe when Guy comes in. Wolf levels his revolver at him, buy Guy wins his confidence with his clever talk. He takes his permission to bring Lettice there. He tells him that Lettice wants to watch him at work.
Preston, the butler, comes there. The Wolf ties him. Guy promises that the butler will not do anything wrong and unties him. Soon all the members of the family come to room one by one. The Wolf tries his best to open the safe but fails.
Lord Redchester tells him the password “Sophy” and he opens the safe in no time. He brings out all the presents one by one. Everybody tries his gifts. The Wolf takes back the presents and decides to go, but Bishop tries to exploit his religious feelings.
Then he tempts him to leave their presents and take more costly things of their neighbor. They promise to help him in stealing. Buy describes the location. The Wolf agrees and gives back their presents and leaves. Everybody shakes hands with him.

Reference

These lines have been taken from the play “Something to TalkAbout” written by Eden Philpotts.

Context

The play is a delightful comedy. This is a satire on the mentality of aristocratic English class. Wolf a notorious burglar enters stealthily the house of Sydney‟s to take away their rich gifts of Christmas. The whole family comes there and enjoys the presence of the burglar. They are very happy and treat the wolf like an old friend. It is the burglar who is surprised, not the family. This turning of the tables makes the story very amusing. Wolf puts all their presents in a bag but leaves them when Wolf is told about more precious gifts in a neighboring house. The Sydney‟s save their gifts and enjoy the presence of Wolf.

Question# 1
What is the theme of the play"Something to Talk About"?

The theme of the play “Something to Talk About” is the attitude of very rich people. The theme is that very rich people become so tired of their monotonous lives that just for a change or some excitement they enjoy even a burglary. The title of the play also suggests that. We also see that it is very difficult to bear the loss of things. It does not matter how rich a person is. To save his things he is ready to harm others.
The Sydney family lives outside a Cathedral town. This family’s next-door neighbor lives at a distance of three miles. This shows how isolated life this family is leading. They are living away from common people. They have nothing different or new to do. That is why, when the ‘Wolf’ comes to steal their Christmas presents they welcome him warmly. They treat him just like a guest of honour. Guy says to the Wolf, “You are manna in the wilderness – you are indeed.” This means that they are considering the burglar a blessing from God.
We see that Sydneys are very rich but in spite of being so much rich, they cannot bear the loss of their things. They are ready to harm others. On one occasion, Lettice requests the ‘Wolf’ to let her keep the tiara and take her Uncle Charles’ crosier. Therefore, just to save her tiara she tries to harm her uncle. When the Sydneys see that the ‘Wolf’ is going to take the Christmas presents after all, they ask their neighbour’s costly tings instead. Therefore, they try to harm their neighbor. This is also the theme of the play.

Question# 2

Bring about the humor in the play "Something to Talk About"?

"Something to Talk About" is a light Comedy. Discuss.

The play “Something to Talk About” is a perfect example of a light comedy. The writer has created humor through very comic comments by the characters and through some very comic situations. Although there is a revolver and a constant threat to life by the burglar, yet the situation remains light and does not become serious anytime.
When Guy asks the Wolf if he is a burglar, he gives a humorous answer. He says, “What d’you think I was. A piano-tuner?” It is also very funny to call a burglar ‘manna in the wilderness’. The Wolf tells Guy about the treatment of American law with criminals with such a funny way that we cannot help laughing. He says, “It’s worthwhile in the States. When they catch you, if you’re bad enough, you go to Sing Sing, and they give you flower gardens and Bridge parties….” When Lord Redchester finds Wolf in his house, he says, “Who the deuce is?” When we read the words ‘deuce’ and ‘imposter’, we laugh heartily.
The play is full of many funny situations too. We see a funny situation when Guy introduces his sister, Lettice, to the Wolf as though he were a guest of honour. It is very funny when Lettice praises Wolf’s tools and he explains them to her. We find another situation when they sing just to encourage the burglar. After that, we find a funny situation when Wolf leaves and everybody shakes hands with him and expresses god wishes.
Therefore, the play “Something to Talk About” is a light comedy and it is full of comic comments and situations.

Question# 3

Discuss the elements of irony in the play "Something to Talk About".

The play “Something to Talk About” is full of elements of irony.
Firstly, we find irony when Wolf tells Guy how American law courts treat criminals. He says, “It’s worthwhile in the States. When they catch you, if you’re bad enough, you go to Sing, Sing and they give you flower gardens and Bridge parties…” Apparently, Wolf is appreciating American law courts, but inwards he is making fun of their lenient treatment towards criminals.
Secondly, we find irony when Guy tells Wolf, “We’re the most trustworthy family in England.” But later in the play we find that they ask Wolf to leave their presents and take their neighbour’s costly things.
Thirdly, at the start of the play, Wolf tells Guy, “The safe isn’t built to beat me.” However, later we see that fails to force open the safe. Fourthly, we find irony in the attitude of Bishop. He advises Wolf to leave worldly wealth and join the ranks of the trustworthy, honorable, and virtuous, but he himself is not ready to leave his gold crosier. To save his gold crosier, he not only tries to exploit Wolf’s religious feelings, but also puts temptation in his way.
Lastly, irony is found in the attitude of the Sydnys. Outwardly, they appreciate Wolf but inwardly they consider him an ‘enemy of society’. They want to get rid of him to save their Christmas presents.

Question# 4
Discuss the elements of satire in the play.

Firstly, satire is on rich people who lead a monotonous life and do nothing. They have no sense of morality and are ready to do anything to save their things.
Secondly, satire is on religious people who have become so worldly. They cannot bear the loss of worldly things and are ready even to tempt others and exploit their religious feelings. They preach one thing and practice another. When Wolf says that he does not like clergy, Lady Redchester says, “More does he – finds them most difficult and lawless.” She further says, “He never criticizes anybody; and never does anything; but just sits on the fence and prays for everybody.”
Thirdly, the satire is on English made things that are inferior. Lord Redchester tells Wolf, “We stick to home-made things as a rule, though they are so inferior.” Fourthly, satire is on English roads. Guy says, “Rather bad roads in England, I’m afraid.” At this Wolf says, “You’re right. Worst roads in England.”
Therefore, the play is full of satire.

Question# 5

The Sydneys’ greatest desire is to have some novelty in their monotonous lives. Discuss?

No doubt, the play “Something to Talk About” is a clever and pleasant representation of the temperament of modern English people, who might well find nocturnal alarm a matter of objective entertainment. They are so much desirous of some novelty and change in their lives that burglary is not a serious matter. The burglar with a revolver does not frighten them; rather he is “manna in the wilderness”. They enjoy his presence in their home.

They are so much fond of entertainment that everyone wants to join in. One by one all the members of the family come there. No one appears to be afraid or alarmed. To them the burglar is some sort of actor who is going to give some astounding performance.

Lettice wants her mother to join in. She says to Lord R, “Do you think I might wake mama? She’ll never forgive us if she misses this. You know how she is always yearning for something to happen. It will be cruel, papa, to enjoy Wolf without her.” The words spoken by Lettice tell us about the temperament of a modern English people, who might well find nocturnal alarm a matter of objective entertainment.

They arrange chairs in a semi-circle. They thank the burglar on coming to their home for stealing. Lady Redchester says, “The terror of England! And under our roof! How nice of him! How do you do?” Therefore, they receive the burglar rather warmly. They treat him just like a guest of honor.

Therefore, from the above discussion, we can conclude that the play “Something to Talk About” is a clever and pleasant representation of the temperament of modern English people.

Question# 7

Draw the character sketches of 1-Wolf, 2- Guy

Wolf

Wolf is a dangerous burglar who comes to rob the Sydney family. He is the most famous burglar in England and all the police of England are after him. He has been carrying on this trade for a long time that’s why he is quite well known. Often the newspapers report about him and tell some mysterious stories about his conduct and behavior especially with ladies.
He behaves in a rude manner with the Sydney family and repeats, “I’ll plug you” again and again. He is violent and often uses bad language to others. He doesn’t believe anyone and holds his revolver in his hands all the time. He is very confident about his skills and proudly declares that no safe in the world can beat him. He uses modern technology for his purpose.
He suspects the Sydneys and is not easily ready to believe in them. He presents himself as a pitiless and cunning fellow but in fact he is a dupe and greedy man. He suspects them in little matters like he asks if Lord Redchester’s tobacco is doped. Then he asks Guy not to make a strong drink for him but when it comes to the serious business, they easily take him in.
He seems to be an educated man because he quotes some classical sayings. Lettice calls him, “a lost sheep in wolf’s clothing”; he retorts immediately, “Wolves do change their hair, but not their hearts”. When Lady Redchester mentions about the criminal classes he says, “there ain’t no criminal classes, any more than virtuous classes. The rogues and the rulers may both come from the gutter or the Palace. A man can be in the House of Commons today and the House of Detention to-morrow, can’t he?”
He is attracted to beauty like any other man and welcomes Lettice. He praises Lord Redchester’s gifts open-heartedly. He claims to make a clean sweep and behaves rudely in order to get the jewels back from ladies. He gives many sarcastic remarks; when Bishop asks who he is…. He says, “I am a piano tuner”. Again when Bishop asks him to join the ranks of the honorable, virtuous and trustworthy…. He retorts, “Do you want me to abandon my craft and start keeping rabbits”?
He professes to be a cunning man but proves to be a fool. He is greedy and leaves the booty in hand in anticipation of an imagined treasure. He himself said, “ One in hand is better than two in bush” but later forgets it and goes for “two in bush” leaving the “one in hand”. The Sydney family befools him and makes him leave their treasure.
On the whole this is a superb presentation of a modern crook. He is unusual and dramatic and cannot be easily forgotten.

Guy Sydney

Guy Sydney is a young boy who comes across Wolf in his study room. At the Christmas morning he comes to have a drink, when he sees the Wolf. He controls himself fully and doesn’t show any alarm or confusion. He behaves nicely with Wolf and asks him to be polite. He reiterates his family’s strong points forcefully. He tells him that his family is the most straightforward and trustworthy family of the county. It is he who sets the attitude of the whole family. His friendly manners make Wolf think that he is among friends.
He calls his family members one by one and perhaps he prepares them for the situation. He is intelligent and self-assured. He is active and controls the situation fully. He again and again gives him drink and takes interest in his tools. He shows himself as caring and asks many questions about Wolf’s life.
At the end he assists uncle Bishop in turning the table. He eagerly gives him the whole map of Wallaby’s home. He tells him about the riches present in Wallaby’s drawing room and dinning room. He makes a whole list of expensive things present there and even lets him know the location of these things. He paints such a picture before Wolf that he is completely befooled. He leaves their gifts and is ready to intrude into Wallaby’s home.
Thus Guy Sydney can be called the main instrument of Wolf’s destruction. He artfully plans the strategy from very first moment and leads it to his desired objective.

The Boy Comes By Home A. A. Milne

 

The Boy Comes Home A. A. Milne One-act play Summary Reference Context Question-answer 

Summary

The play “The Boy Comes Home” is a light comedy. It throws light on the generation gap. The old generation thinks that the young generation is immature just like a schoolboy. It should obey the old generation. In fact, the young generation is mature and it can take the right decision.
Philip is a young man of 23. He lives with Uncle James who is his patron. He has returned after four years of war. On the very first morning, he comes for breakfast at ten. Uncle James keeps a strict discipline in the house. According to his orders, breakfast is served at eight.
Philip has row with Mrs. Higgins because of this. She threatens to leave the job if she is asked to prepare breakfast at ten. Philip handles her very cleverly.
Uncle James comes to see Philip. He wants to ask him to join his jam business; however, just before Philip’s entry into the room, he goes to sleep. In his dream, he meets with Philip. He orders him to join jam business. However, Philip wants to learn some profession. Uncle James thinks that Philip is just like a schoolboy and he cannot choose a career for himself.
To prove that he is mature, Philip relates his experience at Somme. However, Uncle James still insists on his own decision. He threatens to use the power of the purse. At this, Philip takes out a revolver and a bomb out of his pocket and frightens Uncle James to death. He agrees to do what Philip wants.
In the meanwhile, Uncle James wakes up. He is now a changed man. When Philip actually comes to talk to him, he is rather confused and repeats the same things what Philip has said in his dream. Philip at once agrees to join the jam business. Uncle James is not sure about his dream.

Reference

These lines have been taken from the play “The Boy Comes Home” written by A.A. Milne.

Context

The play is a fateful event in the family affairs of Uncle James, a successful businessman who believes in strict discipline. Philip, the young nephew of Uncle James, comes home after four years of active war services in the army. He is now a mature young man though only 21. He gets up late against the strict orders of his uncle to get up early. Uncle James is angry to see that Philip has violated the strict rules of his discipline. He presses Philip to join him in his jam business. But Philip refuses to do so, holding that he would prefer to be an architect. His uncle refuses to give him the money for that job. Philip takes out his revolver. Uncle
James gives in. but suddenly Philip announces to join the business of his uncle. It is a favorable change for the family.

Question# 1
What are the conflicts between Philip and uncle James?

The first conflict between Philip and Uncle James is that Philip does not like his Uncle’s authoritative attitude and his strict discipline in the house. Philip says to Uncle James, “Well, we don’t get on too well together…”
When we read the play “The Boy Comes Home” carefully, we find the authoritative attitude of Uncle James. He treats Philip as an inexperienced schoolboy. He thinks that he will decide everything for Philip. He says to Emily, “I have decided that the best thing he can do is to come into the business at once. He further says, “He’ll fall in with my wishes.”
He is ready to use his authority as a patron. Aunt Emily asks him to let Philip decide his career. However, he says, “He may, but I don’t see how he proposes to do it so long as I hold the purse strings.” This is what he has in his mind when he calls Philip. He just wants to tell Philip about his decision. Secondly, Philip wants the money left by his father to learn some profession. However, Uncle James does not want to give him the money until he is 25. Philip does not like it and says, “Look here, Uncle James do you really think that you can treat me like a boy who’s just left school?” Uncle James tells Philip that he will use the power of purse if he does not submit to his orders. Then Philip uses the power of revolver and bomb. He frightens Uncle James to death and Uncle James is ready to do what Philip wants.
Therefore, these are the conflicts between Philip and Uncle James.

Question# 2

What is the Importance of Dream in the Play "The Boy Comes Home"?

The dreams sequence has great importance in the play “The Boy Comes Home” for a number of reasons. The first and the most important reason is that it looks very awkward and immoral for a nephew to aim a revolver at his uncle and to make him kneel down and beg for his life. That is why the writer has used the dream sequence to relate this awkward and immoral situation. He makes the reader believe that all this has happened in a dream and he should not take it seriously.
Secondly, we see that dream sequence ends the conflict between Philip and Uncle James. Philip does not like Uncle James’s authoritative attitude and strict discipline. He wants to live somewhere else. He wants his money and wants to learn some profession. While Uncle James does not want to give him the money until he is 25. We see that after his dream Uncle James is a new man. Now there exists no conflict between them. He is now a reasonable man. Now he understands the problems of the young generation.
Thirdly, dream sequence is a source of comedy. After the dream, Uncle James repeats the same words as Philip has spoken in his dream. In the dream sequence, Philip says, “If I’m four years behind, so is everybody else.” After the dream sequence, Uncle James speaks the same words. He says, “Well, if you’re four years behind, so is everybody else.” These kinds of sentences create comedy and the reader laughs when he reads these sentences.
Therefore, with the help of the dream sequence, the writer has related a very awkward and immoral incident. It resolves the conflict between Philip and Uncle James and provides comedy to the play.

Question# 3

How has the war affected Philip's personality?

The war has greatly affected Philip’s personality. The words spoken by Aunt Emily are very important and meaningful. She says to Uncle James, “Well, I think that Philip’s four years out there have made him more of a man, he doesn’t seem somehow like a boy who can be told what to do. I’m sure they have taught him something.” She further says, “You’ll find him different.”
Before going to the war, Philip was just like an inexperienced boy. Now he is like a grown-up man. Before going to the war, he used to do what he was asked to do. Now he makes his own decisions and nobody can dictate him. Army has taught him something. He is different now.
Now he has learned how to handle people. He handles Mrs. Higgins so successfully that she is taken aback. She tells a lie to save her job. When she leaves, she is speechless. At the end of the Philip says that he does not know if he will be any good. At this, Uncle James says, “It’s your experience in managing and…er…handling men which I hope will be of value.”
He has also learned to use power against power. Uncle James threatens to use the power of purse, but suddenly Philip takes out a revolver and levels at him. Uncle James tells Philip that it is not good to settle arguments by force. At this, Philip tells him about war and says, “We used force to put downforce. That is what I’m doing now.”
Therefore, we can conclude that war has greatly affected Philip’s personality. He is now like a grown-up man. He has learned to handle people and to use force against force.

Question# 4
How does Philip prove himself a mature and responsible man?

Philip proves himself a mature and responsible man to Aunt Emily by handling Mrs. Higgins and to Uncle James by relating the incident of Somme.
Philip handles Mrs. Higgins, the cook, so successfully that when she leaves she is speechless. Aunt Emily is very much impressed and tells Uncle James, “Well, I think that Philip’s four years out there have made him more of a man.” This shows that is quite convinced that Philip is mature and responsible.
Uncle James is not ready to give Philip the money left by his father until he is 25. He thinks that Philip is just like a schoolboy. To prove that he is mature enough Philip relates the event that took place at Somme during the war.
It happened that Philip’s company was in a trench. The German knew about them. The Germans killed the company commander. After his death, now Philip was the company commander. They had lost about half the company by that time. It was a very difficult situation and he had great responsibility on his shoulders. Lives of many soldiers depended on him. He took a very mature and responsible decision. He moved the company to the other trench. Then he went back to the C.O. and told him that he had moved.
Uncle James appreciated him and said, “I’m glad that you did well out there and I’m sure your colonel would speak kindly of you….” The words spoken by Uncle James show that Philip has proved himself mature and responsible very successfully.

Question# 5

Discuss the comic elements in the play "The Boy Comes Home"?

The play “The Boy Comes Home” is a light comedy.
Firstly, we find comic element at the start of the play. Philip comes down for breakfast at 10 o’clock, whereas the breakfast is served at 8. Philip asks Marry, the parlor-maid, to bring breakfast. Marry tries to frighten him and says, “I’m sure I don’t know what Mrs. Higgins will say?” She starts repeating this sentence. This sentence creates a lot of humor.
Mrs. Higgins comes and shows her anger. However, Philip handles her so artfully that she has to tell a lie to save her job. She says, “Who said anything about going?” There is a great difference between how she comes and goes. This situation is very funny and makes us laugh.
Secondly, Uncle James tells about his sacrifices in a very funny way. He says that he has done his part for the country by giving his nephew to the country, by suffering the shortage of potatoes and by paying the excess profits tax. His claims are very funny.
Thirdly, in the dream sequence, Philip talks about choosing a career. He says, “If I’m four years behind, so is everybody else.” After the dream, Uncle James repeats the same words. He says, “Well, if you’re four years behind, so is everybody else.” This is funny.
At the end of the play, Uncle James’s condition creates a lot of comedy when he laughs with a forced heartiness. Philip says about the strict manager, “Perhaps I’d better bring my revolver….” At this Uncle James says, “Ha, ha! A good joke that! Ha, ha, ha! A good joke – but only a joke, of course.”
Therefore, the play is full of comic elements.

Question# 6

Relate the incident of Somme in your words?

It happened at Somme, the front, which Philip’s company was to attack next day. They were in a trench. The Germans knew about them. Therefore, they were firing at them. The company commander wanted to move from that place. He asked his C.O. about that. The C.O. ordered them to stay there and wait until the next day.
Later, the Germans killed the company commander. After his death, now Philip was the company commander. He knew something about scouting too. Therefore, he found another trench. That was better than the first trench. He sent two men one after the other to ask if he could move that trench. However, they did not come back.
They had lost about half the company by that time. Now Philip had three options. Firstly, he might stay there and wait until the next day. Secondly, he might move to that other trench against orders. Thirdly, he might go back himself and explain the situation to the C.O.
It was a very difficult situation. He had great responsibility on his shoulders at that time. Lives of many soldiers depended on him. He took a very mature and responsible decision. He moved the company to the other trench. Then he went back to the C.O. and told him that he had moved. After that, he went back to the company again.

Question# 7

Draw the character sketches of Uncle James / Philip

UNCLE JAMES

Uncle James is a very successful businessman who has been making lots of money even in wartime. He is not physically an impressive man. He has a straggly grey beard that doesn’t hide a chin of any great power, but he has a severity that passes for strength with the weak. He is orthodox and strict in his rules. He has decided times for meals even, and nobody can get anything to eat after the appointed times. Due to this rule Philip has to face a lot of trouble on his very first morning in his home.
Uncle James is irrational to some extent as he says that Philip should be punctual even in his home. He doesn’t give much credit to Philip for having fought a war for his country but in the same breath he says that he himself has done a lot for his country by suffering the shortage of potatoes. Moreover, he takes the credit for giving his nephew to the nation. He criticizes the legislation that has imposed tax on excess profits in business. He further boasts that his jam business also has served the poor men in trenches though he isn’t ready to give any acknowledgment to the “poor man, Philip who has personally been in trenches”.
He very meanly proposes to use the power of purse to subdue his nephew. He doesn’t want to give free hand to his nephew in deciding upon his future career. He speaks to him in a haughty way and tries to assert his authority. In spite of his outward severity he is an insecure man inside. He unconsciously thinks that his time is over and the members of new generation can’t be stopped from having their own way.
The dreams are a secret opening into the unconscious; they reveal the true worth of a man in terms of his aspirations, his fears and his strong points. Uncle James dreams about his discussion with Philip and reveals his insecure feelings. He is afraid of being bullied physically and this is what he shows through his dreams. He experiences a strong sense of fear and is completely cowed down by this unconscious fear.
His attitude goes through a revolutionary change after the dream. He behaves in a very appropriate and considerate way to Philip. He asks him if wants to be an architect or anything of that sort but Philip isn’t interested. He doesn’t want to wear a uniform again and that’s it.
So uncle James is a very amusing character that can be seen anywhere in modern society. He is an unforgettable figure who represents different shades of a man’s personality.

PHILIP

Philip is the hero of this play. He has recently come back from the war front. He is a well built young man of twenty-three with a pleasant assertive personality. His parents have died and he lives with his uncle James. His relations with his uncle have always been problematic though.

He is a boy of pleasant manners; he treats Marry and his aunt in a polite way. He tells his aunt that she has always been his darling and he talks to her about his experiences in Army.

He has strong ability to take a decision in any crisis. When he is denied breakfast he quickly responds and handles the situation in a commanding way. He is not confused or worried. He simply decides to dismiss the cook who is not ready to work. He is not vindictive either because when Mrs. Higgins is ready to make the breakfast, he doesn’t create any problem and repeats his order of breakfast. His personality has two facets; one is his real personality while the other has been concocted by his uncle’s imagination. In his uncle’s dream he appears to be an insolent boy who doesn’t recognize any authority. He breaks the rules and doesn’t care about his elders. He wants to be an architect and can defend his intention with many arguments. He compels his uncle forcefully to agree with his demands. He points a loaded revolver at his defenseless uncle and frightens him to an extent that uncle James goes on his knees, asking for mercy. He even produces a bomb out of his pocket and threatens to throw it on his uncle if he is not reasonable in his attitude. He settles the dispute through power. But this is not his true personality In reality his uncle finds him much sensible. He only wants not to salute someone or wear a uniform otherwise he is ready to do anything. The haughty and boorish Philip is only a bogey created by his uncle’s imagination. The reality is completely otherwise. Overall Philip’s character is strong and convincing. It wins at the end because he represents the advancing time that always wins.

BSc BA English Notes Short Stories Breakfast by John Steinbeck Summary and Question Answers

 

 Summary

The story “Breakfast” throws light on the fact that the most important thing is contentment. If a man has contentment, he can be happy even if he has no house, no permanent job, and no good food to eat.
Once, the writer is going somewhere. On his way, he sees a young woman working outside her tent. The writer is feeling cold and hungry. He goes to the tent. He finds the woman preparing breakfast.
An old man and a young man came out of the tent. They offer the writer to join them for breakfast. The writer agrees. All of them sit on the ground and enjoy a good breakfast. The old man and the young man thank God for that good breakfast. They have been eating good food only for twelve days, but they are happy.
After breakfast, the young man offers the writer a job, but the writer denies and departs saying thanks for the breakfast. In the end, the writer expresses his feelings.

Question Answers

1. What is the theme of the story “Breakfast”?

The theme of the story “Breakfast” is that if a man has contentment, he can be happy even if he has no house, no permanent job, and no good food for long.
The writer relates his personal experience to prove that things do not bring happiness. It is our attitude towards life and God that ensures it. Once, the writer met a family. This family was living in a tent just like gypsies who do not have any permanent job or house. These gypsies are always on the move. They pitch up their tent where they find work.
This family was just like them. This family did not have a grand house. They were poor. When they sat to eat, they used a packing box as a table. They sat on the ground to eat because they do not have any chairs, but they were happy. They did not have any complaint or anger against any person or agency because of their poverty. They were happy with the little living they had.
They had been eating good food just for twelve days, but they were grateful to God. The older man said while eating, “God Almighty, it’s good.” Contentment and gratefulness to God was their wealth. After working for twelve days, they were able to get good clothes. They were happy. It was very easy for them to become happy with little favors from God. They did not need much to be happy.
Therefore, the story presents the theme that we are wrong when we think that things bring happiness. The writer has proved that money is not wealth, but contentment is.

Elaborate the last remark in the story “Breakfast”.

What were the reasons that it was pleasant and there was some element of beauty in it?

In his last remarks, the writer has talked about the theme of the story very beautifully. He has not tried to draw the theme for the reader. He has just given the hint that there is some element of beauty in the story.
The writer has narrated a very short and common event. This event does not have any thrill, surprise of suspense in it. However, something has made this event pleasant. There is some element of great beauty. A long time has passed but this element of beauty still fills his heart with pleasure whenever he thinks of it.
When we go through the story, we find that the element of great beauty was the contentment of those people. Besides, they were simple and were thankful to God for what they had. We see that the family presented by the writer lived in a tent just like gypsies. This family did not have any permanent house or job. The two men pitched up their work where they found work.
They were so poor that when they sat to eat, they used a packing box as a table. They sat on the ground to eat because they did not have any chairs, but they were happy. They had been eating food just for twelve days, but they were grateful to God. The older man said while eating, “God Almighty, it’s good.” The family did not need much to be happy. This was the element of beauty in the story, which the writer has mentioned in the last lines of the story.

1. Read the story “Breakfast” carefully and describe the experience and feelings of the writer about the family of cotton pickers.

Q:- Describe in your own words the writer’s chance meeting with the family of cotton pickers.

The writer had an experience of meeting with the family of cotton pickers. That experience had an everlasting impact on the writer.
One day, the writer was walking down a country road. He was feeling cold. He saw a grey tent at a distance. A woman was preparing breakfast nearby. The writer approached the tent. After some time two men came out of the tent. One was young while the other was old. They said good morning to the writer. The young man said “Keerist” when he smelt the hot bread.
They offered the writer to join in the breakfast. The writer accepted the offer. They all sat down on the ground and ate to their fill. The young and the old man both were happy at their new dungarees. The old man thanked God. When the writer thanked the cotton picker for the breakfast, he waved his hand in a negative. The young man offered the writer to join in their work, but the writer told them that he had to go along.
The writer expressed his feelings at the start and at the end of the story. According to the writer, this short event still brings curious warm pleasure. He indirectly refers to his pleasant feeling on the simplicity and contentment of cotton pickers. He was impressed by their thankfulness to God.

“Breakfast” is a criticism on the materialistic modern age, particularly of city people. Discuss.

No doubt, the story “Breakfast” is a criticism on the materialistic modern age, particularly of city people.
In this story, the writer has indirectly criticized the people who think that only things can bring happiness. The writer relates his own personal experience to prove that things do not bring happiness. It is our attitude towards God and life that ensures it.
Once, the writer met a family. The family was living in a tent just like gypsies who do not have any permanent house or job. These gypsies are always on the move. They pitch up their tent where they find work. This family was just like them. They did not have a grand house. They were poor. When they sat to eat, they used a packing box as a table. They sat on the ground to eat because they did not have any chairs, but they were happy.
They did not have any complaint or anger against any person or agency because of their poverty. They were happy with the little living they had. They had been eating good food just for twelve days, but they were grateful to God. The older man said while eating, “God Almighty, it’s good.” Contentment and gratefulness to God was their wealth. They were able to buy new clothes, after working for twelve days. It was very easy for them to become happy with little favors from God. They did not need much to be happy.
Therefore, the story is a criticism on the materialistic modern age, particularly on city people who think that things bring happiness.

Write a note on the atmosphere and setting of the story.

The setting of a story means time, place, and social circumstances in which its action occurs. When we read the story, we find that the time of the story is present. The writer wants to promote the idea that things do not bring happiness. Nevertheless, it is our attitude towards God and life that ensures it.
The place of the action of the story is a hilly area or a village. The family of cotton pickers is living in a tent just like gypsies. They pitch up their tent where they find work. When they sit to eat, they use a packing box as a table. They sit on the ground because they do not have any chair. They have been eating good food just for twelve days. However, they were happy and have contentment and gratefulness to God.
In this story, the writer presents the social circumstances of a poor family. He presents their poverty by describing the things like the tent, the rusty stove, packing box, the humble food and the cotton skirt of the woman. The action of the story takes place outside the tent where the family meets the writer. They have their breakfast there.

What did the younger man offer the writer in the story? What effect did this offer has on his mind?

Discuss the attitude of cotton pickers with the writer.

Why does the writer decline the offer of a job but could never forget these people?

After having breakfast, the younger man offered the writer to join in their work of cotton picking, but the writer rejected the offer. However, he thanked for the breakfast.
The writer expressed his feelings at the start and at the end of the story. At the start of the story, the writer says that the remembrance of the offer of work and the attitude of the cotton pickers fill him with pleasure. He can remember these in the smallest detail. This memory is so good that he finds himself recalling it repeatedly. Each time he remembers something new. He gets curious warm pleasure.
At the end, he thinks that there was a great element of beauty. That element of great beauty makes him happy whenever he thinks about it.
Therefore, we see that the offer of work and the attitude of the family of cotton pickers had a very good effect on the writer. He still remembers it and it appears that he will always remember it. Whenever he remembers it, he gets happiness.
He is impressed by the simplicity, contentment, and sincerity of the cotton pickers. They had only twelve days of work; still, they offer the writer to join in. They were very kind to the writer. Although the writer was a complete stranger to them, yet they received him very kindly. They exchanged greeting with the writer and received him with a smile. They were very poor but they offered the writer to join in the breakfast. 

Write a note on the characters of the story “Breakfast”.

Characters are the persons presented in a story. A character may remain unchanged in his outlook from beginning to end or he may change. If a character remains unchanged, it is called a flat or type character, and if it changes it is called a round character.
When we read the story “Breakfast” carefully, we find that the characters presented in the story are flat. They remain unchanged from the beginning to the end. There are five characters in the story. The members of the family of cotton pickers represent village people. The fifth one is the writer himself. He takes the role of a narrator. He receives the favors of the family of cotton pickers.
The first quality of the cotton pickers is that they are kind and good-hearted people. Their circumstances do not allow them to offer a stranger to join in the breakfast. They are very poor and they have been eating good food just for twelve days. They have seen and tasted good food after a long time. It is very difficult to offer somebody else. However, they are not just ordinary people. They are symbols of good qualities. The writer has presented them to prove that a person can be kind even to a stranger if he wants to. It is not difficult at all.
Their second quality is their contentment. They are contented people. They are so poor that they live in a tent just like gypsies. When they sit to eat, they use a packing box because they do not have any table. They sit on the ground to eat because they do not have any chairs. However, they are happy and smile when they look at each other.
Their third quality is their gratefulness to God. In spite of all their poverty, they are happy and grateful to God for his favors. Their gratefulness to God is very touching and impresses the writer very much.
In the present circumstances, it is very difficult to find such people. However, according to the writer, there are such people in the world. One may come across them on one’s way. 

The story “Breakfast” is a symbolic story.

 Discuss 

The story “Breakfast” has an allegorical interpretation. 

Discuss

The qualities are personified in the story “Breakfast”

No doubt, the story “Breakfast” is a symbolic story and it has an allegorical interpretation. In this story, the good qualities of contentment and gratefulness to God have been personified as persons. The writer has presented a family of cotton pickers. The writer has not told the names of the characters because they are type characters. They are symbols of contented and grateful village people.
Firstly, they are symbol of kindness and good-heartedness. Their circumstances do not allow them to offer a stranger to join in breakfast. They are very poor and eating good food only for twelve days. They have seen and tasted good food after a long time. It is very difficult to offer someone else. However, they are not just ordinary people. They are the symbol of good qualities. The writer has presented them to prove that a person can be kind even to a stranger if he wants to.
Secondly, they are the symbol of contentment. They are contented people. They are so poor that they live in a tent just like gypsies. They pitch up their tent where they find work. When they sit to eat, they use a packing box because they do not have any chair. However, they are happy and smile when they look at each other.
Thirdly, they are symbol of gratefulness to God. In spite of all their poverty, they are happy and grateful to God on His favours. Their gratefulness to God is very touching and impresses the writer very much.
In the present circumstances, it is very difficult to find such people. However, according to the writer, there are such people in the world. One may find them on one’s way. Such people are really symbol of good qualities.

Q: What does the story teach us?

The breakfast, which the writer shared with the cotton pickers, was simple and delicious. It was delicious because it was the fruit of honest labor. The woman was a very good cook. The breakfast consisted of roasted meat, biscuits, and coffee. Everything was very well cooked and enough for all. 
The young man said, 
“We been eating good for twelve days.”

The simple statement shows how thankful these people are for the blessings God has bestowed on them. It reflects the poor man's faith in providence. This faith of the poor man is the element of great beauty, which the writer speaks of. He is impressed by the cheerful, contented life of the poor cotton-pickers. The breakfast with the cotton-pickers becomes a cherished memory for him. There is a lesson in the story for those who are not satisfied with their lot. It teaches them to be thankful for what they have instead of grumbling against the will of God. The simple, honest cotton-pickers are very hospitable. They love to share their things with others. They cordially welcome guests.

Q: The story gives us a glimpse of the free, happy and peaceful life of cotton-pickers. Do you agree?

Yes, the story gives us a glimpse of the free, happy and peaceful life of cotton-pickers. These poor people live on occasional day-labor. They have no permanent source of income. Cotton-picking is occasional employment. Yet the cotton-pickers can manage to live within their means. They live a simple life. They do not need much. Their wants are few and cheap. So they do not have to run after money. 
The story also shows that the cotton-pickers are deeply religious people. They never grumble over their hard lot. They thank God for what they get. They are very generous and hospitable. They love to share their things with others. They are free from the vices of the rich. They are not selfish, greedy and dishonest. The story shows that they enjoy true happiness and satisfaction. 
These simple but generous people live an ideal life of peace and contentment. They have no worries. They do not yearn for wealth and comfort. They love to work for a simple honest living. They have no ambitious plans for future. They are thankful for what they have at present. They love to share their blessings with others. They not only invite the writer to breakfast, but also offer to help him with a job in the cotton fields. 
From what we read in the story we can safely conclude that these are the people who enjoy true happiness and satisfaction in this world of woes and worries.

Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Short Story, Question Answer, Summary Complete Notes for BA English

                                                                 

Q. Discuss the theme of the story.

 

Answer:

 

The theme of the story is man’s inhuman lust for knowledge and power. Scientists work for power through knowledge. They are ambitious to rule over the rulers through their power of knowledge. They do not bother about the human aspects of their work.

 

Prof. Rappaccini is a typical scientist. His lust for power leads him to experiment with poisons. The result of his work is a horrible variety of deadly poisons. The poisonous herbs developed by him make his garden a zone of death2. Some of the herbs are so lethal that even their smell can kill a man. Breathing the poisonous air of the garden makes the professor and his daughter immune to poison. No poison can kill them. But any antidote can kill them because the poison is the breath of their life. So the professor's daughter dies the moment she drinks a few drops of Baglioni's antidote. The death of the professor's only daughter is the moral lesson of the story.

 

The old Professor learns the lesson at the cost of his only daughter ---- -a very heavy cost, no doubt.

 

Thus the story carries a note of warning not only against too much love for science but also against the selfishness of all kinds.

 

Some critics have pointed out another moral aspect of the story. They say that it is not the professor's love for science but it is his love for his daughter that leads him to his dangerous exploits. He does not like to be separated from his daughter by her marriage. That is why he makes her dangerous for all other human beings. Whatever the case, the story cuts both ways equally well.

 

GIOVANNI’S CHARACTER 

 

Young Giovanni is a voice of reason in the inhuman atmosphere of the story. He is always worried about the danger created by the cruel old professor Rappaccini. He hates the old professor's lust for lethal knowledge. He knows that it is actually lust for power.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) he falls in love with the professor’s daughter. But he is shocked to discover that the girl‟s breath is poisonous. He tries to cure her and make her a normal human being. But the well-meant attempt ends in the girl‟s death. The cure for poison kills her because the poison was her life.

 

Giovanni acts in love. His failure turns into Professor Rappaccini's punishment for his evil designs. So we can say that Giovanni's humane role brings out the moral lesson of the story. Giovanni deserves respect and pity. He is respectable because he tries to prevent the harm caused by the old professor's love and work for science with a negative purpose. He has a positive and constructive approach to life and love. He deserves pity for the tragic end of his love affair. The irony of his fate is that his well-meant efforts to save the girl (his beloved) end in her death, whereas her father's dangerous experiments with poison had made her life secure against poisons. Young Giovanni also deserves respect for his hard work as a student.

Although he is not the central figure in the story, yet he is a lovable character for these qualities of his character.

 

CHARACTER SKETCH OF BEATRICE

Rappaccini‟s Daughter is a tragic love story, and Beatrice is its heroine. She plays an important role in explaining the theme or background idea of this fantasy. She was the only daughter of Dr. Rappaccini. God had made her the paragon of beauty and physical grace. She was also an embodiment of innocence, sweetness, and purity. Her voice was as enchanting as the “sunshine in the south”. Her sweetness of temperament and magical face had made her famous in the whole town of Padua.

Beatrice is the only daughter of Prof. Rappaccini. She is young and beautiful. Her father‟s inhuman lust for knowledge has turned her into a poisonous human being. Her breath can kill. She hates her father's science but loves him too much to defy him.

So she becomes his agent of destruction by helping him in his work. She looks after the garden. But her father's love for destruction cannot infect her. She remains a deeply human character. She knows her misfortune but wishes to live a healthy normal life. She wishes to be loved but finds it impossible to go against her father's cruel will. She dies a tragic death in trying to test the effect of Baglioni's cure. Her last words reflect her true nature. She is a purely human character in spite of the inhuman teachings of her father. Her innocence and her sufferings make her a lovable character. So, her death comes as a shock.

Beatrice deserves pity not only for her sudden tragic death but also for her love and obedience to her father. She dies by the antidote given by her lover Giovanni, but actually, she is a victim of her father's thoughtless love and jealousy. She is to be pitied more for her unhappy isolation and of her only love affair.

The character of Beatrice inspires love as well as pity. She is a lonely girl deprived of true happiness and love. Her character has a symbolic significance. She stands for the beautiful world of nature that is being corrupted and polluted by science.

 

What is Fantasy?

 

Fantasy: (Also Spelled Phantasy )

 

It is an Imaginative fiction dependent for effect on strangeness of setting (such as other worlds or times) and of characters (such as supernatural or unnatural beings). Science fiction can be seen as a form of fantasy, but the terms are not interchangeable, as science fiction usually is set in the future and is based on some aspect of science or technology, while fantasy is set in an imaginary world and features the magic of mythical beings.

 

Explain The Following Lines

 

 “I would rather have been loved, not feared”, says Beatrice before dying.

 

 

“Believe it though my body be fed with poison, my spirit is God's creature, and needs love as its daily food”

 

EXPLANATION:

Rappaccini's Daughter by Hawthorne is a fantastic Love story that has tragic end. It emphasizes the importance of love in human life. The writer wants to show that love is a spiritual bond between young lovers. It is a spontaneous impulse that makes life charming purposeful and enjoyable.

Beatrice is a love-thirsty girl because her father had kept her secluded from human society. She readily used Professor Baglioni's medicine to assure her lover that she was sincere in her love. Before death she admitted to Giovanni that though her body had been poisoned by her father, yet her soul was God's creation that needed love for its nourishment and growth.

 

The story shows that love of humanity is also essential to keep man truly humane and sensible. Dr. Rappaccini was a loveless man who was more interested in research work than in human beings or human welfare. He wanted to get knowledge of power than the knowledge of service. He committed the mistake of making his daughter dangerous and fearful for others. When her daughter came to know the real intention of her father at the time of her death, she told him, “I would rather have been loved, not feared.” The story teaches the moral lesson that it is better to make oneself lovable and useful for others than to become authoritative and awful.

 

Thus Beatrice serves as the mouthpiece of Hawthorn to convey his moral message that love makes life charming, and that it is better to make oneself lovable and loving than to be dangerous and awful for his fellowmen.