Advertisements
Advertisements
प्रश्न
Answer the following in detail:
Bring out the irony in the title of the play.
उत्तर
The title of the play ‘The Dear Departed’ literally means that somebody dear has departed/ died and is no more with us. It makes everyone closely connected with the departed person sad and upset. Everyone is at a loss and tries to cope up with the situation. In this case, the title is ironical because nobody in the family loved grandfather. He was dear to no one. They all are relieved that he is no more. They talk of everything from mourning outfit to what all he has left behind but nobody is in a hurry to even go and see him. He is supposed to be dead and lying in his room. They all decide to have tea, discuss the obituary that should go in the newspapers but no one either has tears in his/ her eyes or is missing the grandfather. They are very businesslike and their business seems to be what each one of them will get now that the old man is dead. In no way was he ‘dear’ to his daughters or their husbands. Mrs Jordan had not even visited her father in the last three years since the time he had moved to Mrs Slater’s home. So much for a dear father! If she was there today, it was to show off in the society and to ensure that she gets her share of whatever he has left behind. Ironical, isn’t it?
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
Read an excerpt from the diary of a 72 year old man :
As I sit here alone and waiting
I gaze at people passing me by.
I try to smile and reach out to them
But no one notices; no one waits.
They look to me like I am nothingAre they afraid to be seen saying "Hi" to an old
man like me?
Once my life, it's like a flower,
I had bloomed into a child.
Now, like the dying flower
Waiting for my one day to comeIt will be then that I am gone,
And yet, I still would not have heard that simple word, "Hi"
That for so long my heart had desired.
• What do you think is he feeling?
• What situation do you think leads people to feel so?
• Can such people be helped? How?
Read the news story given below.
|
India's elderly face growing neglect Traditionally older people have been revered in India, signified by the touching |
Discuss in groups:
a) What are the reasons for the old people being "abused, harassed and
abandoned" in India?
b) What are the problems faced by the old people as a result?
Given below are the main incidents in the play. They are in a jumbled order. Arrange them in the sequence in which they occur in the play.
1. Victoria is asked to fetch the bunch of keys to the bureau to look for the insurance
receipt.
2. Mrs. Slater instructs Victoria to put her white frock on with a black sash.
3. Mrs Slater discovers that grandfather is 'dead'.
4. The Slaters fetch the bureau and the clock from upstairs.
5. The family sits down to have tea.
6. Henry wears the new slippers of grandfather's
7. Grandfather comes to know how his daughters have been in a hurry to divide his
things between them.
8. Grandfather announces his intention to change his will and to marry Mrs.
Shorrocks.
9. Grandfather comes down and is surprised to find the Jordans.
10. They discuss the obituary announcement in the papers and the insurance
premium payment.
11. The Jordans arrive and learn the details of grandfather's 'demise'from the Slaters.
Answer the following question briefly.
What is the reason for the Jordans taking a long time to get to the house of the Slaters? What does it show about the two sisters' attitude towards each other?
Answer the following in detail:
How does the spat between his daughters lead to grandfather discovering the truth?
Bring out the traits in Mrs. Slater's personality quoting evidence from the play.
| Trait | Evidence from the play |
| Greedy | |
| Overpowering/ dominating | |
| Blunt/ straight talking | |
| Impolite | |
| Insensitive |
Answer the following with reference to the context.
"Are we pinching it before Aunt Elizabeth comes?"
a) What does 'it' refer to here?
b) How does Vicky conclude that her parents are 'pinching it'?
c) Mention the two reasons that Mrs. Slater gives for her action.
d) What does it reveal about the difference between the attitude of the elders and that of Vicky?
Answer the following with reference to the context.
"I don't call that delicate stepping into a dead man's shoes in such haste."
a) Who makes this comment?
b) What prompts the speaker to say this?
c) Bring out the significance of this statement.
Answer the following with reference to the context.
"Now, Amelia, you mustn't give way. We've all got to die some time or other. It might have been worse."
b) Who is the speaker of these lines?
c) What prompts the speaker to say these words?
d) What does he mean when he says 'It might have been worse'?
e) What does it reveal about the speaker's character?
Grandfather says, "It seems to me that neither of you has any cause to feel proud about
the way you've treated me.'' While it is true that the daughters disregard modesty,
decency and filial obligation, grandfather cannot be fully justified in practically
disowning his family. Besides, Victoria loves him and he seems to have spared no
thought for her feelings.
Divide yourselves into groups of four or five and discuss the statement: Grandfather is not entirely right in moving away from his daughters.
After the discussion, a representative from each group will present the views of her/ his group to the class in about 3 minutes.
