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प्रश्न
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.
उत्तर
Topic: Grandfather is not entirely right in moving away from his daughters.
View 1: Grandpa in the play ‘The Dear Departed’ was considered dead by family members. Instead of mourning, they got engaged in arguments over the belongings of Mr Abel. The discovery that Mr Abel was ‘hale and hearty’ was a bolt from the blue. The old man was aghast to see them in mourning dresses and I think it was natural on his part. It did not take him long to realise their true motives. He played a joke that he would leave all his belongings to whoever he was living with when he died. In fact, that was just a trick to unveil their greedy nature. At that very moment, Abel made a shocking announcement that he would alter his will and get married to Mrs. Shorrock. But, if we look at the matter from a practical point of view, we will realise that Mr. Abel was not fully justified in breaking all ties with his family. He should have behaved in a mature way and spared some thoughts for her granddaughter Victoria who loved him too much. He could even try to make his daughter realize their mistake.
(Students are free to express their views in opposition to the statements also.)
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?
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.
Why does Mrs. Slater decide to shift the bureau from grandfather's room before the arrival of the Jordans? How does Henry react to the suggestion?
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 question briefly
What does Mrs. Jordan describe as 'a fatal mistake'? What is the irony in the comment she makes on Mrs. Slater's defense?
Answer the following question briefly.
Ben appreciates grandfather saying 'its' a good thing he did'. Later he calls him a 'drunken old beggar'. Why does he change his opinion about grandfather?
Answer the following question briefly.
What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next?
Answer the following in detail:
How does the spat between his daughters lead to grandfather discovering the truth?
Answer the following in detail:
Compare and contrast Henry's character with that of his wife. Support your answer with evidence from the play.
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?
