B.A. English - Page 2

Shooting Star · #11 Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollowman

thanks Sir,but i have only posted things related to studies ,So I am getting that this is the forum to discuss About CSS nothing else,means study related posts are not acceptable?

This warning was specifically for Farrukh Aziz.

As far as your question is concerned,this forum is mainly for CSS but members can ask and guide others about different fields of study provided that they are not discussing irrelevant things or doing chit chat.Members must not try to divert from the real purpose of a thread.Besides,have a look at discussion and off-topic discussion sections to see what kind of stuff you can discuss on forum.

For casual talk with any member,use chat clients or any other source as it is not allowed here.

Farrukh Aziz · #12 Monday, February 04, 2013

The Telltale Heart by Edger Allen Poe

(Summary)
The story “The Tell-Tale Heart” throws light on the fact that a criminal cannot conceal his crime and the voice of one’s conscience cannot be subdued. It is impossible to ignore its pricking for long.
The narrator of the story decides to kill and old man just because of one of his eyes. That eye is very ugly. He also wants to prove that he is not mad, so he tells the reader how he killed the old man and why.
Whenever the old man’s eye fell on him he felt afraid, and so he decided to kill him. He kept on going to the old man’s room for seven nights. However, he did not kill him because his was always close.
On the eighth night, he was very careful. He found the eye open. He took a lot of time to kill the old man. He enjoyed the fears of the old man and laughed at him. Then he killed the old man. The old man screamed before dying. After killing him, he dismembered the dead body. He concealed the pieces under the flooring of the room.
Some neighbor had heard the screams and he had informed the police. Two police officers came to check the premises. He welcomed them and satisfied them that nothing wrong had happened. He took them to the old man’s rom.
Then suddenly he started hearing the heartbeat of the old man. This sound went on increasing. He tried to overcome it but failed. He thought that the police officers knew about his crime and they want him to confess to his crime. He could not bear this situation for long. At last, he confessed to his crime before the police officers.

Farrukh Aziz · #13 Monday, February 04, 2013

Examination Questions and Answers
Discuss the elements of suspense in the story.

Suspense starts from the start of the story. The start of the story is very sudden. The word ‘nervous’ and ‘mad’ create a lot of suspense.
The narrator of the story sets the reader to a task. He wants him to find out whether he is mad or not. He keeps talking to the reader. He asks our opinion repeatedly. He gives arguments in his favour and keeps the suspense alive until the end of the story. This suspense is not satisfied. The reader is left to guess whether the narrator is mad or not. This is first element of suspense.
When the narrator kills the old man, the reader wants to know whether he will be caught or not. When the police officers come, the suspense reaches the highest point. This is the second element of suspense.
This element of suspense is satisfied when the killer confesses to his crime. Therefore, the story is full of suspense. (158)

Was the killer a mad man?

Why did the killer kill the old man? Was he a mad man?
We can rightly say that the killer was not mad, although he was very nervous and sensitive. Perhaps he had some sort of disease. That disease had made him too sensitive.
When we read the story “The Telltale Heart” carefully, we find that he was not mad at all. In our daily life, sometimes we do not like certain things without any serious reason. Sometimes we express our dislike and sometimes we do not. Therefore, the killer’s dislike of the old man’s eye was not abnormal. Problem was that he was too sensitive and nervous. When he looked at the old man’s eye, his blood ran cold. Therefore, by degrees he made up his mind to get rid of the old man’s eye by killing him.
The process of killing also suggests that he was not mad. He kept on going to the old man’s room for seven nights. However, he did not kill the old man, because he found his eye open. It means he had full control over his nerves. The killer was right when he said that he was not mad because a mad man knows nothing. On the other hand, he knew the safest way of killing. He put the heavy bed over the old man. The way he concealed the dead body also proves that he was not mad.
The most important pint is that he told a lie to the police officers that the old man was not present and it was his own shriek. Now we do not expect that from a mad man. Besides, the way he handled the police officers also proves that he was not mad. Therefore, the killer was not mad.

Discuss the title of the story. OR Why did the killer confess to his crime?

Justify the title of the story. OR How was the murderer caught?
Confession of the killer at the end of the story is very sudden and unexpected. However, the title of the story suggests that the killer will make this confession. In the title, “The Tell-Tale Heart” the word “heart” means the guilty conscience of the killer. That “heart” forced him to confess to his crime.
At the start of the story, the killer was very nervous. We find him sensitive too. We see that after committing the crime he was quite satisfied and proud at his work. He even laughed.
When the police officers came, he satisfied them with his lies and peaceful manners. Everything was all right for him. However, suddenly, he grew pale. Now he wanted to get rid of the police officers. His head ached. He imagined a ringing in his ears. This ringing became louder. He was so nervous that he said, “Oh God! What could I do?” He talked wildly. He swore, and grated the chair on the floor. He wanted to overcome the ringing, but could not. He feared that the police officers might hear the ringing.
He thought that it was old man’s heartbeat. Actually, it was his guilty conscience. Its pricking was unbearable. He said. However, anything was better that this agony! I felt that I must ream of die.” And he screamed.
It was all due to his heart or guilty conscience that he confessed to his crime. The title of the story suggests this. (243)

How did the killer kill the old and how did he conceal the body?

How did the killer execute the murder and conceal the dead body?
The killer had been going to the old man’s room to kill him for seven nights. However, he did not kill him because he found his eye close. Actually, he wanted to kill the old man because he did not like one of his eyes. That eye was very ugly.
On the eighth night, he was very cautious in opening the door. He opened the door very slowly. He was proud of his sagacity. Therefore, he laughed quietly and the old man heard him. He moved on his bed. When he was about to open the lantern, his thumb sloped, and the old man sprang up in the bed. He started enjoying the fear of the old man and he chuckled again. He threw a thin ray of light on the old man’s eye. It was open. However, he delayed in killing the old man. Then suddenly with a loud yell, he jumped into the room. The old man shrieked. The killer dragged him onto the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him. When the old man died, he removed the bed. He tried to feel the heartbeat of the old man’s heart. He was dead.
To conceal the dead body first he dismembered it. He cut off the head, the arms, and the legs. He took up planks from the flooring of the room. He put the dead body in the hole and then replaced the planks. Therefore, in this way he killed the old man and concealed the dead body. (253)

What is the lesson or moral of the story?

The lesson or moral of the story “The Tell-Tale Heart” is that a criminal cannot conceal his crime and subdue the voice of his conscience. It is impossible to ignore it s pricking for long.
When we read the story carefully, we find that the killer is quite satisfied after killing the old man. In fact, he is proud of his successful work. He has killed the old man in the safest way. There is no blood spot. He had also concealed the dead body under the flooring. No one can detect anything wrong. Therefore, he laughs ha! Ha! Everything is all right. He is rather enjoying.
When the police officers come, he receives them with complete peace of mind. He is confident that there is nothing to fear. He satisfies them that nothing wrong has happened. He tells a lie. He tells them that the old man is not present. He also tells them that he shrieked in his dream. Now the police officers are satisfied.
Suddenly, he grows pale. Now he wants to get rid of the police officers. He feels headaches. He imagines a ringing in his ears. This ringing becomes louder. He is so nervous that he says, “Oh God! What could I do?” He talks wildly. He swears. He grates the chair on the floor just to overcome the ringing, but cannot. He fears that the police officers may hear this ringing. He thinks that it is the sound of old man’s heartbeat. Actually, it is his guilty conscience. Its pricking is unbearable. He says, “But anything was better that this agony!” he further says, “I felt that I must scream or die.” And he screams. It is all due to his heart or guilty conscience that he confesses to his crime. The title of the story suggests that.

Farrukh Aziz · #14 Monday, February 04, 2013

Araby by James Joyce
Summary
The story “Araby” conveys the idea that the personal feelings of a person and the real world are two different things. First, we do not understand this difference but when we come to understand that, we are disillusioned. Then we are sad.
The narrator of the story is a schoolboy and lives with his uncle. He plays with his companions in the street until dusk and then they return their homes.
Mangan is his playmate. He falls in love with his sister. However, he cannot express his love to her. He keeps looking at her from a distance. He keeps on thinking about her all the time. Her image is always before his eyes. He is very intense in his love. Tears fill his eyes but he does not know why.
Once she talks to him and asks him to go to Araby. Araby is a bazaar. He promises that he will bring something for her if he goes there. Now going to Araby becomes his business. He takes permission to go. He waits for the appointed day impatiently. Now everything appears to him unimportant and a child’s play.
On the appointed day, he leaves for Araby very late with a very little money. He goes to a shop, looks at things. However, he cannot buy anything because of his little money. He repents on his promise and his eyes burn with anger and anguish. (235)

Farrukh Aziz · #15 Tuesday, February 05, 2013

With reference to “Araby”, discuss the intensity of the schoolboy’s love.

Describe narrator’s attitude towards Mangan’s sister.
The schoolboy is a passionate lover. Discuss.
James Joyce shows the effect of love on its victims.
The writer has described the intensity of the schoolboy’s love at various places in the story. From his description, the schoolboy appears to be a passionate lover. We also come to know the effect of love on its victims.
The schoolboy is a teenager. He loves Mangan’s sister very passionately, but he cannot express it. Therefore, he looks at her from a distance without saying anything. He wants to be around her. At school time as soon as she comes out of her house, he takes his books, rushes out and follows her without letting her know. The narrator says, “I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.” He keeps on thinking about her even in the classroom. Her image comes between him and the pages he tries to read.
He keeps on thinking about her even in the market. He is so intense in his love that he cannot understand his prayers and praises for her. He cannot understand why his eyes are full of tears. He says about his condition: “But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires.”
Sometimes he wants to get rid of his senses too. He usually murmurs “O love! O love!” Sometimes form the window of his house he looks at her house. He had become so much intense in his love that now her image is always before his eyes.
Therefore, we see the intensity of the schoolboy’s lover. His love had become his whole business. This is the effect of love on its victims. (280)

What were feelings of Mangan’s sister for the narrator and what did she talk to him?

The narrator used to watch Mangan’s sister from a distance. She used to come at the doorstep of her house to call Mangan to his idea. He watched her in fascination. Slowly he started liking her. On the other hand, she was unaware of his liking. She did not pay any special attention to him.
No doubt, she talked to him once but she did not talk about anything except Araby. Her talking proves tht she was completely unaware. The narrator of the story was confused when she talked to him. He did not know what to answer. However, she was quite normal. She asked him if he was going to Araby. She further told him that Araby would be s splendid bazaar and she would like to go there. The narrator asked her why she could not go to Araby. She answered that she could not go to Araby because there would be a retreat that week in her convent.
When she was talking, the narrator was looking at her in fascination. He was looking at her neck, hand, and dress that were lighted by the light. She said that if he went to Araby, it would be good for him. She meant to say that he would enjoy there. The narrator promised her that if he went there he would bring something for her. After that, their talk ended and they departed. (234)

Write a note on the mental condition of the schoolboy after his talk with Mangan’s sister.

Why were the schoolboy’s teachers annoyed with the schoolboy?
After his talk with Mangan’s sister, he started thinking about Araby all the time. He thought about that not only during daytime but also in his dreams. He was so impatient that he could not wait. He wanted to go to Araby at once.
He was to go on the next Saturday and a few days were left. He wanted to destroy these few days to go to Araby. He lost interest in everything else. Now he was annoyed with his schoolwork. Even in the classroom, he thought about her. Her image came between him and the pages he tried to read. He answered a few questions in the classroom. Before that, his teacher used to like him. Now he was very strict with him and thought that he was becoming idle.
He remained so absorbed in his thoughts that he could not concentrate on his studies. He had no patience for his work because he could not go to Araby because of this work. Now his class work seemed to him child’s play.
When he was, alone he recalled the syllable of the world Araby. As Araby was an eastern word, he thought he was under eastern enchantment. He asked for leave to go to Araby on Saturday. (209)

How did the schoolboy behave on Saturday when he was to go to Araby? Describe his feelings.

The writer has described the feelings of the narrator soon before leaving for Araby very beautifully.
On Saturday, he was very restless and impatient. He wanted to go at once. Nevertheless, he had to wait the whole day. He had to go to school and he had to wait for his uncle’s return. Before leaving for school, he reminded his uncle that he wished to go to Araby that day. He was not in a good mood when he left. His uncle did not return until dinnertime. He wanted money from him. Therefore, he had to wait.
First, he sat staring at the clock. When its ticking began to irritate him, he left the room. He went upstairs. He was feeling cold and gloomy. He went from one room to another singing. From the front window, he saw his companions playing. He looked at the dark house of the girl. He started imagining that the girl was standing and before him. He saw light touching her neck, her hand, and her dress. He stood there for an hour.
Then he came down. He saw Mrs. Mercer sitting at the fire. She had come to see his uncle. He was so impatient that he did not want to talk to her.
When she left, he started walking up and down the room. At nine O’clock, his uncle returned home. At the dinner table, he asked for money. His uncle said in a funny way that people were in their beds and after their first sleep. However, the boy did not enjoy the joke and did not smile. His aunt asked his uncle to give him the money and let him go. His uncle gave him one florin and started reading a poem, but he did not listen to it and started for Araby. (302)

Describe the schoolboy’s departure, feelings and visit to Araby in your own simple English.

The narrator’s visit to Araby proved useless because he could not buy anything for the girl. Therefore, he was very disappointed and angry and his eyes burned with anguish.
He got one florin from his uncle and went to the station. He was in a state of absent-mindedness. He got a seat in a third class carriage. The train was deserted because there were no passengers. He wanted to reach Araby very soon but the train left very late. It was a special train for Araby so the porters did not let the crowd of people gets into the train. He remained alone in the carriage.
When he reached Araby it was ten minutes to ten. Therefore, he was too late. He entered the bazaar by handling a shilling to a weary looking man. Most of the shops and stalls were close. The boy went to an open stall and looked at vases and tea sets. Three shop assistants were arguing. A young lady came over to him and asked what he wanted to buy. Perhaps he had read the prices written on the vases. He had come to know that he did not have enough money, so he told her that he did not want to buy anything. He was very much disappointed now. He stayed at the stall for some time and then turned away.
Now the upper part of the hall was completely dark. He touched the little money in his pocket. He had realized his foolishness. He should not have promised the girl to bring something for her. Therefore, his eyes burnt with anger and anguish. (270)

The schoolboy of the story “Araby” is the representative of the adolescence. Discuss.

The schoolboy is the representative of his class. Discuss.
No doubt, the schoolboy of the story “Araby” represents the adolescence. It is an age when boys are not mature. They are inexperienced and sentimental. They do not know anything about the bitter realities of life. To them their subjective world is everything. They want such things as are out of their reach. However, they do not come to know their real position until they are face-to-face wit bitter realities.
We see that the boy or the protagonist is just like that. He is immature and inexperienced and only a schoolboy. He is sentimental too. He falls in love, but does not know how to express it. He looks at his beloved in fascination from a distance. He keeps on thinking about her not only at night but also during the daytime. He remembers her when he is in his classroom and even when he goes to market with his aunt. Her image always remains before his eyes. His eyes are full of tears and he does not know why he is weeping. Now the serious work of life seems to him child’s play.
He does not know anything about the bitter realities of life. He promises to the girl that he would bring something for her. He forgets that he depends on his uncle and he does not have any money with him. He does not realize that until he stands at the shop and perhaps sees the high prices of things written on them. Now he is face to face with the bitter realities of life. He comes to know that he has very little money and with that money, he cannot buy anything for the girl. (279)

How does the schoolboy come to know that he is wrong and he should not have promised to bring something for the girl?

Why is the protagonist angry at the end of the story and why do his eyes burn with anguish?
“Araby” describes a conflict between the subjective feeling of the protagonist and the objective world.
What is the disillusionment of the schoolboy or the protagonist?
Discuss the narrator’s mental condition and the gap between his hopes and their fulfillment.
Conflict is a state of disagreement between opposing ideas. When we read the story “Araby” carefully, we find that two opposing ideas have been presented. The first idea is schoolboy’s subjective feelings and the second idea is his objective or real world. There is a conflict between the personal feelings of a person and the real world.
The boy falls in love with his friend’s sister. To him his subjective feeling of love is the only reality. All the other things have no importance for him. To him the serious work of live is a child’s play. He keeps on thinking about her all the time. Even when he goes to market, he thinks about her.
In the classroom, he cannot pay attention to his studies. Nothing is important for him now. He usually weeps without knowing why he is weeping. He promises to buy a gift for the girl. These are the subjective feelings of the boy. This is his illusion. His objective world is that he is just a schoolboy. Perhaps he is an orphan too. His uncle is his patron. He should not have promised the girls to bring something for her. He cannot buy anything for her because he himself is dependent on his uncle.
Therefore, we see that there is a big disagreement between his subjective feelings and objective world.
It is only at the end of the story that he comes to know what he is and what he should not have done. He is disillusioned. With his little money, he cannot buy anything for her. It was his vanity when he promised to bring something for her. It is the sense of reality that makes his eyes burn with anguish and anger. (289)

What is the theme of the story “Araby”?

The theme of the story “Araby” is that the subjective feelings of a person and the objective world are two opposing things. There is no agreement between them. First, we do not understand this disagreement, but later we come to understand that, and we are disillusioned. Then we are sad and dejected.
When we read the story carefully, we see the subjective feelings of a schoolboy. He is in love with his fried’s sister. To him his subjective feeling of love is the only reality. All other things have no importance for him. To him the serious work of life is child’s play. He keeps on thinking about her all the time. Even when he goes to market, he thinks about her. In the classroom, he cannot pay attention to his studies. Nothing is important for him now. He usually weeps without knowing why he is weeping. These are the subjective feelings of the boy. This is his illusion.
His objective world is that he is just schoolboy. Perhaps he is an orphan too. His uncle is his patron. He should not have promised the girls that he would bring something or her. He cannot bring anything for her, because he is himself dependent on his uncle.
We see that is a great disagreement between his subjective feelings and the objective world. First, he does not understand this disagreement, but later he comes to understand that and he is disillusioned. Then he is sad and dejected.
It happens to all of us. Sometimes we wish for such things as are out of our reach. We keep on thinking about them, but at the end, we are disillusioned. (277)

Farrukh Aziz · #16 Tuesday, February 05, 2013

The Fly by Katherine Mansfield
Summary
The story “Fly” throws light on the fact that time is a great healer and it conquers grief.
Mr. Woodifield comes to see his ex-boss. He is retired and is a heart patient. He praises the new setting and furniture of the office. Then the boss offers him whisky. After drinking it, Mr. Woodifield remembers what he has forgotten. He tells the boss that his daughters have visited the graves of the boss’s as well as Mr. Woodsfield’s son. Actually, they have died in a war.
When Mr. Woodifield has gone, the boss remembers his dead son. He tries to have the same feelings of grief as he felt on the day of his death. However, he fails. For the last try, he decides to go to the photograph of his son, but a fly in an inkpot attracts his attention. He forgets all about his son.
He takes the fly out of the inkpot and puts it on a blotting paper. As soon as the fly is about to fly, he drops a drop of ink on it and enjoys its struggle. At last, the fly dies of drops of ink. The boss throws it away and orders for a fresh blotting paper. Then he tries to remember what he was thinking before attending to the fly. It means he forgets his dead son again.

What is the theme of the story “Fly”?

This is a quite established fact that the story “The Fly” is about the conquest of time over grief.
No doubt, this is quite established fact that the story “The Fly” is about the conquest of time over grief. This is the first theme of the story.
To show that time conquers grief the writer presents two characters, Mr. Woodifield and his ex-boss. Both of them lost their only sons six years ago. It was a long period and it had healed up their grief.
First, the writer tells us about the state of grief of Mr. Woodifield. He has forgotten everything. He is able to remember about the grave of his some after drinking whisky. He talks about his son and his grave, but does not feel any pang of grief. This clearly shows that the time has made him forget his grief.
Then the writer talks about the state of grief of the boss. The Boss believed that time would not make any difference to his grief. Now his present state of grief is different. After the departure of old Woodifield, he sits in the chair. He wants to feel the same pang of grief that he used to feel. The writer expresses his feelings very beautifully: “He wanted, he intended, he arranged to weep…. But no tears came yet.” This is the present condition of his grief. Time has conquered his grief.
He wants to feel the pang of grief. As a last try, he decides to get up and have a look at his son’s photograph. However, a fly in the inkpot attracts his attention and he forgets about his son and the grief in a moment. He starts dropping drops of ink on the fly to enjoy its struggle. After the death of the fly, he tries to remember what he was thinking, but cannot. This clearly shows that time has conquered his grief. (303)

What is the second theme of the story “Fly”?

Discuss the writer’s views about life, death, and fate as given in her story “The Fly”.
“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport.” Discuss.
What does the Boss do to the fly at the end of the story and what does the death of the fly signify to him?
The second theme of the story “The Fly” is “As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport.”
When we read the story carefully, we find that the fly in the story symbolizes helplessness of man before fate. Just like the fly, man tries hard and gets out of the grip of death for the time being, but fate captures him again. Man has no power to defy fate and fall an easy prey to it. When we read the story, we find that the writer and all the characters in the story stand for the fly.
To convey this idea, the writer tells a brief incident. A fly falls into an inkpot. The Boss sees it, puts it on a blotting paper, and enjoys its strength again. At last, the fly dies of those drops of ink.
This incident of the fly highly symbolic. The writer herself died of T.B that was incurable at that time. Many people were dying at that time. Later, man discovered a cure for the disease and thought that he had escaped death and had defied fate. However, just like the Boss, fate dropped another drop – AIDS. Now many people are dying of it. Now it is the last drop. Just like the fly, people cannot survive it. We hope that man will discover a cure for it. However, who knows what the next drop is like.
Therefore, we are just like the fly in the story and the Boss is just like a god who kills it just for his sport. This is the second theme of the story. (275)

What does the fly stand for?

Bring out the symbolism in the short story “The Fly” by Katherine Mansfield.
The fly in the story “The Fly” symbolizes helplessness of man before fate. Man may try hard to escape his death, but he is not given a chance to escape. Just like the fly, man tries hard and gets out of the grip of death for the time being, but fate again captures him. He has no power to defy fate and fall an easy prey to it. When we read the story, we find that the writer and all the characters in the story stand for the fly.
To convey this idea, the writer tells a brief incident. A fly falls into an inkpot. The boss sees it, puts it on a blotting paper, and enjoys its struggle. Just when the fly is able to escape death, drops a drop of ink onto the fly and enjoys its struggle again. At last, the fly dies of those drops of ink.
This incident of the fly is highly symbolic. The writer herself died of T. B that was incurable at that time. Many people were dying at that time. Later, man discovered a cure for the disease. He thought that he had escaped death and had defied fate. However, just like the boss, fate dropped another drop – the drop of AIDS. Now many people are dying of it. Now it is the last drop. Just like the fly, people cannot survive it. We hope that man will discover a cure for it. However, who knows what the next drop is like. (253)

Describe the reaction of the Boss when he comes to know that Mr. Woodifield’s daughters have visited the grave of his son.

The reaction of the Boss is that of a father over the death of his only son. However, he does not express his grief before Mr. Woodifield.
When Mr. Woodifield has gone, he sits in his chair. He asks Mr. Macey that he will see nobody for half an hour. He wants to feel the same pang of grief. The writer describes his condition, “He wanted, he intended, he had arranged to weep…” It is a terrible shock to him when Mr. Woodifield mentions the grave of his son. He imagines his son lying in his grave. He groans, “My son!” However, no tears come yet.
In the past, in the first months and even years after the death of his son he could not control his tears. He thought that the time would never change the condition of his grief. He had developed his business for his son. Everybody liked his son. However, he went to a war and died. When he received a telegram about his death, he felt the whole place crashing about his head.
Now the situation is different. Six years have passed and he does not feel the same pang of grief. As a last try, he decides to get up and have a look at his son’s photograph. He thinks that by looking at the photograph he will feel the same pang of grief as he used to feel. However, a fly in the inkpot attracts his attention and he forgets about his son in a moment. He starts enjoying the struggle of the fly by dropping drops of ink on it. After the death of the fly, he tries to remember what it was he thinking before attending to the fly, but cannot. (291)

Farrukh Aziz · #17 Wednesday, February 06, 2013

THE ONE-ACT PLAYS

The Bear by Anton Chekhov

Summary

The play “The Bear” is a farce. It is full of many absurd situations and remarks. There are three main characters in the play and they all make us laugh with their absurd behavior and comments.
Popova is a widow. Her husband died seven months ago, but she is still in mourning. Her servant, Luka advises her to give up her mourning. He advises her to see her neighbors, but she says that she will keep on mourning until her death.
In the meanwhile, Smirnov comes to take 1200 roubles from Popova. Her husband used to buy oat from him. Popova tells him that her steward is out and she will pay him the day after tomorrow.
However, Smirnov insists on taking the money that day. He behaves rudely. He even makes fun of Popova’s mourning and her state of mind. Popova also becomes rude. They speak against each other’s sex and use insulting words. Smirnov thinks that he has been insulted. He challenges Popova to fight a duel.
Popova accepts the challenge and brings her husband’s revolver. However, she does not know how to fire. She asks Smirnov to teach her how to fire. The situation changes and Smirnov is impressed by her boldness and beauty. He says that he does not want to fight the duel. He expresses his love for her. He offers her his hand.
First, she insists on fighting, but then asks him to go. She changes her decision repeatedly and then decides to marry him. When Luka returns with other servants to beat Smirnov, he is surprised to see them touching each other.

Describe the reasons behind the marriage of Popova and Smirnov.

Both Popova and Smirnov had their own reasons of marriage. We shall discuss them one by one.
Popova had been mourning the death of her husband for the last seven months. She had been leading a lonely and sad life since then. Seven months was a long period. Now time had conquered her grief. Inwardly, she wanted some change in her life. She did not want to continue this mourning any more. Besides, it is human psychology that man gets sick and tired of doing the same thing for a long period.
The second reason may be the advice of her servant Luka. He shocked her by making her understand that in ten years’ time, she would not be beautiful anymore and no man would look at her. It was shocking for Popova.
The third reason was that Popova had a very romantic nature. Her mourning the death of her husband for seven months shows this. However, when Smirnov assured her of his love, she was greatly moved. It was very romantic that a man was on his knees, was offering her his hand, and was speaking very romantic dialogues. Smirnov said, “…I’m on my knees like a fool, offering you my hand…” It was all according to her romantic nature. She could not resist it and accepted the proposal.
Smirnov decided to marry Popova because he fell in love with her. He was greatly impressed by her beauty and boldness. He said, “But what a woman!” and, “That’s the sort I can understand!” He further says, “I’ve never in my life seen one like her!” He also says, “I love you as I’ve never loved before!”
Therefore, these were the reasons behind the marriage of Popova and Smirnov. (289)

What was the main issue or conflict between Smirnov and Popova?

When we go through the play “The Bear”, we find that at first, the main conflict between them was money, but later this conflict changed into another conflict – insult.
Popova’s late husband was to pay some money to Smirnov. He used to buy oats for his horses. However, before paying the money he died. Seven months had passed. Now Smirnov and come to Popova to take his money. Unfortunately, Popova’s steward was not present. Therefore, she was unable to pay his money that day. She plainly told Smirnov about this situation. She promised that she would pay his money the day after tomorrow. However, Smirnov insisted on taking the money on that day. Smirnov talked to her rudely and in an uncivilized manner. He made fun of her mourning. Popova also made fun of him. She even abuses him and calls him a bear. She said, “You’re a boor! A coarse bear! A bourbon! A monster!”
Smirnov thought that Popova had insulted him. On the other hand, Popova thought that Smirnov did not know how to behave before women. She wanted to kill him for that. This was the second main conflict between them. This conflict between them grew serious and they decided to fight a duel. Popova brought her late husband’s revolver.
Therefore, we can say that at first the main conflict between them was money. However, later this conflict changed into another conflict – insult. Both of them thought that they had been insulted. Luckily, these conflicts did not bring any serious consequences. (254)

The play “The Bear” is a farce (ridiculous situation). Discuss.

Describe the comic elements of the play “The Bear”.
When we go through the play “The Bear”, we find that it is a farce. A farce is full of many absurd situations and remarks. These situations and remarks make the readers laugh. There are three main characters in the play and they all make us laugh with their absurd comments. There are also many absurd situations. When the play starts, we see that Luka is advising Popova to leave her mourning and go out to see her neighbours. However, his way of advising her is very absurd. He gives the examples of cats, midges, and spiders. We simply laugh at these examples. Popova looks at the photograph of her husband and calls him a ‘bad child’. The word ‘bad child’ makes us laugh.
When Popova refuses to give Smirnov the money, he says, “I have not the pleasure of being either your husband or your finance, so please don’t make scenes.” These remarks are very funny and absurd and we laugh at them. When Popova accepts the challenge of duel from Smirnov, he says that he will bring her down like a chicken. The word ‘chicken’ is very funny.
We find the most comic and absurd situation in the play when Popova brings her husband’s revolvers and asks Smirnov to teach her how to fire. This is very absurd that she asks her enemy to teach her how to fire. It is also very absurd that Smirnov starts teaching her. What a funny and absurd situation it is! He not only teaches her how to fire, but he also tells her the prices of different revolvers. Another situation is very funny when Popova changes her mind repeatedly. At one time, she asks him to leave and at another asks him to stay.
From the above discussion, we can conclude that it is a farce and there are many comic and absurd elements in the play. The writer has created comedy through funny comments and absurd situations. (327)

Discuss the title of the play “The Bear”.

The title of the play “The Bear” is quite justified. This title suggests the attitude of Smirnov who is just like a bear. In everyday language, we call ‘bear’ to a person who is rude, bad mannered and bad tempered.
When we go through the play, we find that Smirnov is bad-tempered and rude. On his first appearance in the play, he calls Luka, the servant of Popova, fool and ass. Popova tells him that her steward is not present and so she cannot pay the money that day but Smirnov does not listen to her. When Popova tells him that she is in a state of mind, Smirnov makes fun of her state of mind. He even makes fun of her mourning. He makes fun of her wearing lipstick and powdering her face.
Then he talks against women. Popova is right when she says that he does not know how to behave before women. When Luka asks him to leave, he gets angry and threatens him. He says, “Shut up! Who are you talking to? I’ll chop you into pieces!” these words spoken by Smirnov clearly show how bad-tempered he is.
He is so rude that he challenges Popova to fight a duel. Now it is very rude to challenge a woman to fight a duel. He is ready to kill her and says, “I’ll bring her down like a chicken! I’m not a little boy or a sentimental puppy; I don’t care about this “softer sex.”
Therefore, from the above discussion we can conclude that the title of the play is quite justified. It suggests the attitude of Smirnov who is just like a bear in his attitude. (280)

Justify the end of the play “The Bear”.

No doubt, the end of the play “The Bear” is very sudden and unexpected. We see that both Smirnov and Popova have revolvers in their hands. They are going to fight a duel and to kill each other but suddenly they decide to marry. This is unexpected. However, when we go through the play, we find that this sudden and unexpected end has many reasons. We shall discuss them one by one.
The reason of Popova’s change of mind was that Popova had been mourning the death of her husband for the last seven months. She had been leading a lonely and sad life since then. Seven months was a long period. Now time had conquered her grief. Inwardly, she wanted some change in her life. She did not want to continue this mourning any more. Besides, it is human psychology that man gets sick and tired of doing the same thing for a long time.
The second reason may be the advice of Luka, her servant. He shocked her by telling her that in ten year’s time, she would not be beautiful anymore and no man would look at her. It was shocking for Popova. The third reason was that Popova had a very romantic nature. When Smirnov assured her of his love, she was greatly moved. It was all according to her romantic nature.
Smirnov decide to marry Popova because he fell in love with her. He was greatly impressed by her beauty. When Popova accepted his challenge of fighting a duel, he was greatly impressed by her boldness too. So, he changed his mind and decided to marry her.
The most important point in that it is a comedy and the end of a comedy cannot be serious. Its end must be funny and pleasant.
Therefore, we can conclude that although the end of the play is sudden and unexpected, yet it is quite justified. (318)

Both Smirnov and Popova have the same qualities of character. Discuss.

Both Popova and Smirnov are the chips off the same block. Discuss.
It is quite right to say that both Smirnov and Popova have the same qualities of character.
When we go through the play “The Bear” carefully, we find that both are rude, romantic, quarrelsome and hot-tempered. Both swear not to marry all their lives, but they change their decision.
When the play starts, we see that Smirnov comes right in without getting any permission. He calls Luka fool and ass. Later, he makes fun of Popova’s mourning and her state of mind. He speaks against women and uses insulting words. It is also very rude to challenge a woman to fight a duel. He threatens that he will chop Luka into pieces. He is romantic by nature. He falls in love with Popova. He tells Popova that he had fought duels three times because of women. He changes his decision and decides to marry Popova.
Popova is also just like Smirnov. She is rude too. She abuses Smirnov. She talks against men. When Smirnov challenges her to fight a duel, she at once accepts the challenge. She goes and brings revolvers. Smirnov wants to avoid the duel, but she insists on fighting it. This shows how quarrelsome and hot-tempered she is.
She is romantic by nature. She mourns the death of her husband for seven months. She talks to his photograph and promises to continue mourning until her death. This is romantic but she also changes her decision of mourning until her death and decides to marry Smirnov.
Therefore, we can conclude that both Smirnov and Popova are the chips off the same block and they have the same qualities of character. (272)

Farrukh Aziz · #18 Thursday, February 07, 2013

2)THE BOY COMES HOME
A. A. Milne

Question# 1
Discuss the title of the play?

A. A. Milne, was a journalist, and became the editor of “Punch” at the age of twenty-four. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he entered the Army. In his leisure time he used to write lighthearted comic one-act plays.
The present one-act comedy is named “The Boy Comes Home”. The title refers to a boy who has come back to his home after some years. This boy happens to be a young British soldier called Philip, who has been fighting in France. He is a young promising boy with a strong and pleasant personality. He is twenty-three years old and has learnt a lot from his experience in the war. His personality has become mature and he is unruffled by any sort of situation. His reaction to different situations and characters is quite impressive and self- assured.

He comes home to find himself in a conflict with his guardian’s strict personality and his unbending rules at home. The whole action revolves around the way in which he handles the discussion with his uncle. Amusingly this discussion goes on as much in reality as in the dream of uncle James. Uncle James’s insecurity and sense of incapability before a young man compel him enough that he readily accedes to the demands of his nephew.

Question# 2
Discuss the breakfast episode?

Philip gets up late in the morning because he has just come home the previous night. He calls the parlour maid Marry and asks her to bring breakfast for him. Marry tells him that the breakfast has been cleared away an hour before. Philip says that he knows it that’s why he has called her. He gives orders for two eggs and ham and coffee not tea… Marry hesitates and says she doesn’t know what Mrs. Higgins will say. Marry tells him that breakfast at sharp eight is still the rule of this home as it had been before he went to war. Philip smilingly says that he has been doing a lot of silly things before going to war. Marry goes and Aunt Emily comes in. She is a subdued lady who never asserts her self. She talks to Philip on general topics. Marry comes in again and says to aunt Emily that Mrs. Higgins wants to see her. Philip at once intervenes and asks Marry to tell Mrs. Higgins to come there. Aunt Emily hesitates and says, “I don’t know what Mrs. Higgins will say”. Philip pleasantly says that he wants to know once and for all, what will she say.
An extremely aggressive lady comes in and talks in a domineering style to Philip and tells him that she will not make any breakfast after 8 o’clock. Philip talks to her in an authoritative style and tells her to make breakfast. On that she demands that she should be given a notice for introduction of a new rule in the home. Philip gives her wages to her instead of a notice and tells her that she may go at once. This proves a successful strategy and she is much intimidated. At last she says,” if it’s only a bit of breakfast, I don’t say but what I mightn’t get it, if asked decent.”
This episode sets the tone of the whole play because it indicates the strength of Philip’s personality. And it further shows that nobody will be able to make him agree to his or her wishes.

Question# 3
Describe the dream of uncle James?

Philip comes back to his uncle’s home after a period of four years. There he is received by the strict practices of his uncle’s irrational rules. Philip’s father has died and Uncle James is his guardian. On the very first morning after his arrival uncle James wants to discuss Philip’s future with him.
Uncle is an old fashioned man and he holds orthodox views about treating young kids. He thinks that he can dictate Philip to do whatever he wants. He is a short statured man with an unimpressive physical appearance but he has closed himself in the cocoon of severity. His inner weakness collides with his outward severity and this conflict induces him to dream a strange thing. His unconscious fear and insecurity make him view Philip as a rude and bullying boy who tries to get his demands fulfilled on the point of gun. His dream is full of violence and threats. He sees himself completely subjugated before the terrorization and use of weapons by his insolent nephew. He dreams Philip as a headstrong and impertinent guy who can go to any limit.
The dream is so forceful that uncle James is unable to know that it isn’t reality but only a dream. Uncle is badly influenced by the dream and when Philip talks to him in reality he behaves in very kind and considerate way to avoid the menacing situation of his dream. Uncle James’s conscious and unconscious blend together to constitute his dream and then it directs his consequent real attitude.

Question# 4
What was the main conflict of the play?

The play revolves around the two main characters, uncle James and Philip. They represent different ages and different generations. Their ways of thinking and outlook about life are at cross-purposes. Their assessment and their motives are different.
The main conflict in the play is the future profession of the boy, Philip, who has recently left the army and is free now. The boy is energetic and is ready to do anything while uncle is orthodox and wants to lead the boy by nose. The boy and uncle both want to have their own will in this matter. The boy wants to have a bold decision and wants to become an architect while his uncle likes to follow the same beaten path and offers him to join his business. Here starts a heated and violent dispute... The boy uses the power of weapon while uncle proposes to use the power of purse. The boy threatens and bluffs his uncle. He uses revolver and bombs to assert his point and finally he manages to make his uncle listen to his point of view too. Subsequently uncle assents to boy’s desire and the boy subscribes to his uncle’s wish.
The whole dream is infact a psychological study of a middle aged man who goes through a conflict in his own mind. His unconscious makes him have a dream that weakens him and he yields before the boy.

Question# 5
What where the expectations of the uncle about boy?

Uncle James is the guardian of Philip and he tries to dictate him in his decision about his future. Uncle James is an old fashioned man and he does not let others to have their say. His servants and his wife all have completely given in to his commands. That’s why he expects Philip to behave in the same way. The boy is very strong and decisive person and he cannot be led by nose. So his uncle’s expectations about him are baseless. This is the fact that he knows unconsciously because in his dream he sees Philip as a rude and violent boy but infact the boy is not like this. His uncle dreams him as a stubborn and haughty man but in reality he at once agrees to his uncle’s suggestion. So the expectations of uncle James are flimsy and baseless and they all prove to be wrong. All these expectations basically show his own mental tangles and frailties. He bullies Philip to enter into his business and thinks that he will refuse. Then he dreams him to be a violent rogue. But infact Philip is not according to any of his anticipations and he proves to be a sensible boy with proper manners.

Question# 6
Draw the character sketches of:
Uncle James
Philip

UNCLE JAMES

Uncle James is a very successful businessman who has been making pots of money even in the 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 at 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 of 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 intension 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 any thing. 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.

Farrukh Aziz · #19 Thursday, February 07, 2013

3)Something To Talk About
Eden Phillpotts

Question# 1
Discuss the title of the play?

This play is basically a clever piece of writing that displays modern mentality. It represents the modern attitude towards different events. The pace of modern life has increased tremendously and nothing seems novel today. The blessed faculty to “wonder” has been snatched away from the modern man. He has become reckless and bold.
A well-bred family has been shown in this one-act play that deals with the unexpected situation in an unexpected manner. They claim to be the dullest family of the county. Nothing ever happens to them, they never have accidents or any other event that can be reported to a newspaper. Their family motto is “nec elata, nec dejecta” which means neither happy nor dejected. In this situation when a famous burglar comes to their home they call it, “manna in the wilderness”. The head of the family Lord Redchester exclaims that at last it is something that they can talk about. So the title shows the importance of something new in life that one can talk to other people about. It also indicates towards the modern life that lacks adventure and novelty

Question# 2
How do they behave with the Wolf?

It is three o’ clock at Christmas morning when the most famous burglar of England enters into the Tudor Manor Redchester. He is dressed in black and is fully equipped for his difficult task of burglary. He is fumbling at the safe when Guy Sydney enters…. He has come to have some soda water but is confronted with a crook who asks him to put his hands up. He is not at all ruffled or confused to see the Wolf there. He behaves in a proper manner and asks him to trust him and let him put his hands down. He offers him a drink and shows great surprise and a sense of being honoured by Wolf because of his expedition into their home. He repeatedly assures him of the straightforward and trust-worthy conduct of the Sydney family. When the Wolf starts his work, he asks him to let his sister come who is much interested in the Wolf and his exploits. Lettice is a nice looking girl and her manners and attitude too set the Wolf on ease. She shows great interest in him and his tools of burglary. Then there comes their butler, Preston who is however not able to act in accordance with the attitude of rest of the Sydney family. Lord Redchester, Lady Redchester and Bishop all come one by one and express their pleasure and surprise at the Wolf’s presence in their home. They cunningly win the trust of the burglar and later they manage to turn the table through the positive impression that they have cast on him.

Some critics have considered the attitude of the Sydney family as incredible. But they only represent the working of nice breeding that enables them to behave in an ideal manner. They treat the burglar without tremors and flaws. They do not lose their balance thus controlling not only the situation but also the burglar himself.

Question# 3
How do they turn the table?

The Wolf tries hard to enter into the family safe of Redchester family but can’t do so because the safe is made of a new metal and is crook-proof. The Wolf is disappointed but to his surprise, Lord Redchester tells him the password and he gets the safe open in a second. The safe contains Lord Redchester’s Christmas gifts that he has bought for his family. They are very expensive and the Wolf is very happy to see them.
The Sydney family has treated Wolf in a decent manner and they have carefully managed to make him believe in any word spoken by any one of them. They have assured him that they are a very simple family whose strongest suit is the rectitude. They successfully manage the propaganda and get their desired results. When the Wolf is ready to depart with their valuable gifts, Bishop indirectly talks to him and says that if he takes their presents, he will regret because in this way he may lose a far superior advantage. This arouses the Wolf’s curiosity and he gets interested. Guy and Bishop cunningly portray Lord Wallaby’s wealth. They exploit the Wolf’s greedy nature and tell him about the expensive things present in Lord Wallaby’s home. They tell him the way to enter in that home easily. Thus they make him accept all that they say. The Wolf naively believes in them and decides to give their presents back to them. Thus they turn the table by wisely proceeding step by step. Their repeated assurance of their honourable character befools the Wolf and he is dodged successfully.

Question# 4
Why does Bishop want him to turn a new leaf from that day?

Charles is Lord Redchester’s brother and is the bishop of the Redchester Cathedral. He is a clever man and can handle people easily. At the end of the play when the Wolf relents the Christmas presents of Sydney family and is ready to rob the Wallaby’s. At this point Bishop says that the Wolf should turn a new leaf from that night. This is a very crucial remark because the Sydney family has successfully saved itself from a burglar and the burglar is planning to invade some other home the next night. In this way they have provided him a chance to reconsider his trade of robbing others. They want to give him time. It may be possible that they report about all of this to police and the police may arrest him. When a simple family has befooled the Wolf, he has opened the door of his destruction. The Wolf has been considered as the greatest burglar of England and all the police in England is after him… but he has been dodged by a common family. Thus he has proved himself vulnerable and this may prove to be his last adventure. So the reader can expect a new leaf to be turned over in his life at that night.

Question# 5
This play shows the mental state of modern people. Illustrate.

The Sydneys are a well-bred modern family who behave in an appropriate way when confronted with an unexpected situation. They don’t get confused and hold the situation in their own hands. They try to feel the pleasure in a dramatic situation. They are not worried at the Wolf’s presence in their home rather they are jubilated to have something to talk about. Like anyone else they too don’t want to be dispossessed of their valuable gifts but they act in a sensibly different manner.

Thus they represent the mental state and attitude of the modern people who are badly bored because of their monotonous everyday life. They want to have a break from the tedious routine of life and want to revel in any adventure. They want something different and dramatic. This play of course is an exaggeration but it indicates towards a growing trend of modern life. The stale day-to-day routine has made their senses numb and some break from it is always welcome. So the family in the story presents the modern bent of mind as well as the modern rational attitude in any unforeseen situation.

Question# 6
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 of 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 behaviour 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 any one 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 honourable, 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 trust worthy 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.

Farrukh Aziz · #20 Thursday, February 07, 2013

[SIZE="4"]Smoke Screen
Harold Brighouse

Question# 1
Discuss the title of the play?

Smoke screen is a strategy generally used by the armies who generate a lot of smoke around their area to hide their movements from the enemy sight. Thus they shift from one place to another without being detected by the enemy forces. Another parallel of this phenomenon is seen in a marine creature, cuttlefish…the one that squirts out a flood of ink to hide itself from attack. Different people often use the smoke screen to present their deceptive image before the world. Simulation and dissimulation are the tools that help a man to envelop himself in a “smoke screen”. The present play too is about the inter-play of different feelings and attitudes of some characters at a critical point of their lives. In the play everyone is trying to hide his true stance under the cover of an artificial reaction. Nobody is ready to show his true emotions.
The mother in the play behaves as if she has no concern for her daughter and her business of taxicabs holds more importance for her. Her reaction at her daughter’s sudden decision of getting married to an ugly rugby player shocks her but she pretends to have no effect at all. The daughter knows everything about the troubled marriage of her parents but she never shows it. She knows the rotten nature of her otherwise handsome father and opts for a husband who is quite contrary to her father. Aunt Susan hides Primrose’s bag and tries to hold her at home but infact she wants her sister to realize that too much freedom has spoiled her daughter and as a payback she should dispossess her daughter as her heiress, leaving all her money to the International Peace Society. So, we see all the characters are trying to give a false picture of their real personality and hiding the truth behind one or the other smoke screen.

Question# 2
What type of the girl primrose was?

Primrose, the heroine of the play is a free and liberal girl. She is young, pretty and stylish. She likes to hangout with her friends in parks and nightclubs. She is a perfect London-girl…very modern in thoughts and actions. She behaves very rudely to her aunt who contrives a plan to stop her from going out at night. She even remains indifferent to her aunt’s headache. Her actions show her as an irresponsible and unsympathetic girl but in fact it is not true. Her parent’s broken marriage has a deep impact on her personality and decisions. She has always seen her mother struggling hard in her life and she is fully conscious of her mother’s achievements. She admits that she isn’t a brainy person like her mother, declaring herself “ a marrying women like aunt Susan”. She chooses an ugly man for her husband because she looks at his inner beauty only, thus giving a proof of her mature mind. So Primrose is a nice kid from inside with a hard surface.

Question# 3
Why does Susan hide her bag?

Susan Merridew is Lucy’s sister and Primrose’s aunt. She comes from a village to see her sister in London. She is old fashioned and likes to interfere in other people’s life. She has observed Primrose as an autonomous girl who is not in her mother’s control. Being an orthodox lady she is shocked to see her activities. She remarks adversely on everything that Primrose does; she has objections on her smoking, her lipstick and her routine of life. She tries to stop Primrose from going out at night and hides her bag. Primrose is frantically trying to find it but Susan never gives any inkling to her. After upending the room upside down, Primrose comes to know of her aunt’s brilliant plan. She threatens to spill her down on the floor and takes her bag that contains her only lipstick and her three-pound cash. So aunt Susan’s plan fails badly because she can’t detain Primrose from “going to the devil”.

Question# 4
Describe the ways of the Victorian parents?

Victorian parents were very strict with their children because they wanted to train them for the troubles of future. In those times marriages were not so uncertain and the parents stayed with their kids. The economic security was present forever and the kids were going to be rich when they grew up. They treated their young kids harshly so that they should be able to face all the harsh situations later in life. But the modern parents live an uncertain life; there is no surety of marital relationship. The economic conditions are uncertain. That’s why they give every facility and freedom to their kids as long as the going is good. They treat their children lovingly because they don’t know what their kid would come across in their future. So the technique of these two parents is quite different from each other corresponding to their subjective social conditions.

Question# 5
What is the difference between a career woman and a marrying woman?

Primrose gives a very significant statement about career and marrying women. She says that she is not a career woman like her mother but is a marrying woman like her aunt Susan. A career woman is one who likes to lead her life independently. She doesn’t want to become a burden on anyone else like Lucy who is cheated and divorced by her handsome husband. She refused to take alimony from her husband. Instead of marrying another man she came out of her home and struggled hard to achieve a sound economic base and respectable status in the society. A career woman is a living protest against the necessity of marriage. While a marrying woman is one who doesn’t want to work independently. She wants to be protected economically and socially by a man like aunt Susan who has a peaceful family with her caring husband and two obedient sons. Primrose decides to be a marrying woman because she has found the man of her dreams and looks forward to a hassle-free married life.

Question# 6
Why is Lucy so bitter about life?

Lucy Aston was a young energetic lady. She worked her way through life with extreme hard work and conviction in her own abilities. She married a handsome man who cheated her. She divorced him and was left alone with her little baby. She worked very hard to earn for herself and her little daughter. She had to perform dual duties; at home as well as in her business. Her experience with the world wasn’t straightforward and pleasant. She went through many crises but managed to sustain herself honourably. Her young daughter was a constant reason of tension for Lucy. She said that she fought life heroically but life fought back through Primrose. The tough conditions of her life, her unhappy marriage and her apparently spoiled daughter were the cause of her bitter tone.

Question# 7
What is the conflict between Lucy and Primrose?

Lucy was a successful career woman who had given every type of freedom to her daughter. Lucy had a bitter experience with marriage and she wasn’t in favour of her daughter’s marriage within her heart. She was apprehensive about the future of any marriage. She didn’t say it outright but her attitude showed her displeasure. Her daughter, Primrose decided to marry her friend Clarice’s brother who was an ugly rugby player. He was as different from her father Charles as two men could be. Her father was a lady killer but John wasn’t. She disclosed her intention of marrying him quite unexpectedly. Thus started the conflict between the mother and daughter. Lucy didn’t give vent to her displeasure rather she assumed an indifferent attitude. She tried to conceal her true feelings of concern and exaggerated about the importance of her taxicabs. Her daughter was much disappointed because she had been worrying about her mother’s reaction and asked disgustingly, “ They mean more to you than I do”?
So the distance and the difference of the basic principles of life brought the two main characters in conflict. Lucy wanted Primrose to remain unmarried while Primrose wanted to marry because she didn’t share her mother’s anti-marriage views.

Question# 8
Draw character sketches of Primrose, Susan, and Lucy.

Primrose

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 every thing; 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 the 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 smoke screen 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.[/SIZE]

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