madhya pradesh bhoj (open) university
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Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University
B.A. Part II (English Literature) Paper II READING OF FICTION AND DRAMA
2012-13
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Strictly According to the Syllabus of Madhya Pradesh -Bhoj (Open) University
B.A. Part II (English Literature) Paper II READING OF FICTION AND DRAMA
2012-13
Dr. [Smt.] Savitri Tripathi
Professor of English
(Post Graduate Department Of English &
Research Centre)
Govt.J.P.V. P.G. Arts and Commerce College
Bilaspur(C.G.)
Phone &Fax 07752-228225
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B.A. PART II -ENGLISH LITERATURE PAPER-II READING OF FICTION AND DRAMA
SCHEME OF THE UNITS
Unit 1 Annotations: 1.0 Objectives
1.1 Annotations: Unit IV-William Shakespeare-Macbeth
1.2 Annotations: Unit V- J.M. Synge-Riders to the Sea
1.3 Annotations: Unit VI- H.H. Munro-The Miracle Merchant
Section A-Fiction Unit II Thomas Hardy-Far From the Madding Crowd
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Definition and development of the novel
2.3 Thomas Hardy - Life and works
2.4 Characters in the Novel
2.5 Summary of the Novel
2.6 Important Questions with Answers
2.7 University questions
2.8 Bibliography
Unit III – Oscar Wilde- The Happy Prince
3.0 Objectives
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Biographical sketches of the author and survey of his works
3.3 Detailed summary of the story
3.4 Question – answer
3.5 University questions
3.6 Bibliography
O. Henry- The Gift of the Magi
3.7 Objectives
3.8 Introduction
3.9 Origin and development of short story:
3.10 Biographical sketch of the author and survey of his works:
3.11 Critical Summary
3.12 Questions - Answer
3.13 University Questions
3.14 Bibliography
Section B-Drama
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Unit IV- William Shakespeare - Macbeth
4.0 Objectives
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Origin and development of English Drama
4.3 Biographical sketch and survey of his works
4.4 Act wise summary of the play
4.5 Question – Answer
4.6 University questions
4.7 Bibliography
Unit V- J. M. Synge – Riders to the Sea
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Biographical sketch of the author and survey of his works
5.3 Detailed critical summary of the play
5.4 Question – answer
5.5 University questions
5.6 Bibliography
Unit VI H. H. Munro-The Miracle Merchant
6.0 Objectives
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Biographical sketch of the author and survey of his works
6.3 Detailed summary of the play
6.4 Question – answer
6.5 University questions
6.6 Annotations
6.7 Bibliography
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PAPER-II READING OF FICTION AND DRAMA UNIT I- Annotations
This particular unit will give a detailed and in-depth study of the author‟s text and
knowledge of the style, diction, language and technique of the author. Along with this
the unit will prepare a background for the other units.
Section-A-Fiction UNIT II: Thomas Hardy- Far From the Madding Crowd
This unit will give special knowledge about Thomas Hardy, his age and his novels,
especially of “Far From the Madding Crowd:” It will prepare a fictional background;
such as characterization, plot and action. .
UNIT III: Oscar Wilde-The Happy Prince & O‟Henry-The Gift of the Magi
This unit of short stories gives us a glimpse of the famous short story writers, their
style and language. With this it will show the difference between the American and
British writers..
Section B-Drama
Unit IV-William Shakespeare –Macbeth
William Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers of world literature. This unit will
specify the qualities of William Shakespeare along with the background of his age
and a specific study of one of his best tragedies “Macbeth”. Moreover the study of
Shakespeare‟s play Macbeth will create a platform for the next units which also carry
out the study of drama of the modern age.
Unit V: J.M. Synge-Riders to the Sea
Unit fifth will do an in-depth study of the Irish dramatist J.M. Singe, his age and his
play- Riders to the Sea. This will prepare a background for comparative study of the
tragic and comic drama in the next unit.
Unit VI: H.H. Munro-The Miracle Merchant
The Miracle Merchant is a one act comic play. By studying this play we can compare
it with the preceding play. Here students will study the modern age also.
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Contents Unit I Annotations 7-24
Unit II Thomas Hardy-Far From the Madding Crowd 25-49
Unit III Oscar Wilde- The Happy Prince 50-58
O‟ Henry- The Gift of the Magi 59-65
Unit IV William Shakespeare – Macbeth 66-87
Unit V J. M. Synge – Riders to the Sea 88-92
Unit VI H. H. Munro-The Miracle Merchant 93-99
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Unit I Annotations:
1.0 Objectives
This particular unit will give a detailed and in-depth study of the author‟s text and
knowledge about the style, diction, language and technique of the author. Along with
this the unit will prepare a background for other units.
1.1 Annotations: Unit IV-William Shakespeare-Macbeth
1.1.1 “Fair is foul, and foul is fair;
Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (I, i, 10-12)
These lines have been taken from the opening scene of Shakespeare‟s play, Macbeth.
These lines are spoken by the witches. Three witches know that Macbeth is engaged
in a battle against Macdonwald and the King of Norway. They know that Macbeth is
returning from the battlefield; so they decide to meet him on the heath.
Here, in these lines, the three witches tell us about their nature and character. They do
not believe in good things. For them, only evil things exist. They say that what is
good to others is evil or foul to them. In the same way, what is good to them is foul to
others. In other words, they love what other hate and they hate what others love.
After expressing these words the three witches fly through the foggy and murky air.
They prefer the dark atmosphere which is suitable for evil doing.
Critical Comments:
These lines throw light on the character of the witches and also symbolize that
outward fairness of Macbeth‟s character is deceptive.
1.1.2
“Till that Bellona‟s bridegroom lapped in proof,
Confronted him with self-comparisons
Point against point, rebellious arm against arm,
Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to console
The victory fell on us”. (I, ii, 54-55)
These lines are spoken by Ross who describes Macbeth‟s fight with the King of
Norway. Ross, as an eye witness of the fight, pays a tribute to Macbeth‟s bravery and
courage. He calls Macbeth the bridegroom of Bellona, or the chosen favourite of the
Roman Goddess of War. Macbeth was clad in armour which couldn‟t be pierced by
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any weapon. He gave the King blow after blow. In other words, Macbeth won a
complete victory by defeating the Sweno.
Critical Comments:
Bellona was regarded as the Goddess of War in ancient Roman mythology. This
phrase has been used by Ross to express his very great admiration for Macbeth‟s
heroism.
1.1.3
“Present fears
Are less than horrible imagination;
My thoughts, whose murder yet is but fantastical.
Shakes so my single state of man that function
Is smother‟d in surmise,‟ and nothing is
But what is not. {I, iii, 137-142}
In this brief soliloquy, Macbeth reflects on the third prophecy of the witches. Two of
their prophecies have already been fulfilled. He is the Thane of Glamis as well as the
Thane of Cawdor. He thinks that fulfilment of these two prophecies is prologue to the
honour of kingship. He also discusses the two aspects of the prophecies.
After considering the two aspects of the prophecies, Macbeth makes a general
statement about fears and dangers. He says that the actual dangers are less terrifying
than the terror which the imagination creates. In other words, the presence of actual
danger moves one less than the terrible forebodings of the imagination.
Critical Comments:
Macbeth applies this statement to himself. His thoughts of murdering Duncan exist
only in his imagination till now; but it disturbs the balance of his being. In fact he sees
nothing but what is unreal.
1.1.4
“ Come, you spirits
That tend a mortal thoughts unsex me here
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood.
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
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The effect and it.” (I, v, 38-45)
These lines express the thoughts of Lady Macbeth, about Duncan‟s murder when she
is informed about the coming of Duncan to her castle.
Lady Macbeth has settled her mind to murder King Duncan in her castle, and now she
calls upon the spirits to strengthen the thoughts and frame her mind. They should
bring out complete change in her nature and mind. She wants to remove all womanly
tenderness and gain manly cruelty. She wants that her heart, soul and mind should be
filled with terrible cruelty. The evil spirit should stop the natural flow of her blood by
making it thick. It should blunt her womanly sensibilities so that all pity may be
driven out of her heart.
Critical Comments:
These lines reveal Lady Macbeth‟s firm determination to murder King Duncan.
1.1.5
Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the „dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven keep through the blanket of the dark,
To cry “Hold, hold!” (I, v, 48-51)
These lines are from a famous soliloquy of Lady Macbeth. In these lines she invokes
the evil spirit to help her in murdering King Duncan. She urges the spirit to darken
the night because the foul deed cannot be done in day light. She calls the spirit to
cover the whole earth. She calls the spirit to cover the night and make it dark that
even the knife may not see the wounds or even the heaven may not see the dreadful
deed of Lady Macbeth.
Critical Comments:
Lady Macbeth, being a lady, finds herself unable to commit the murder in bright light,
so she wants complete darkness. Even stars and the Moon. should not see the act.
1.1.6
“If it were done when it is done then „twere well
If were done quickly: if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
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With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We‟ld jump the life to come.” (I, vii, 1-7)
These lines have been taken from a famous soliloquy of Macbeth. Macbeth has made
up his mind to murder Duncan, but he hesitates at the last moment and deeply thinks
over the murder and its consequences. He does not think about the guilt but thinks
about the penalties after the deed which he may have to face in this very life.
Macbeth says if everything related to the murder is over as soon as the murder is
committed, it would be better it, should be done quickly. Macbeth means to say that
if it were possible that in this life the murder would produce no evil consequences –
everything would be over with the completion of the deed – then one could take a
bold jump and face the punishment of an after-life.
Critical Comments:
These lines reveal the feelings of Macbeth‟s heart for and against crime. He thinks
about the consequences of murder.
1.1.7
“And pity, like a naked new born babe
Striding the blast of heaven‟s cherubin horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eyes
That tears shall drown the wind.” (I, vii, 21-25)
Lady Macbeth entertains the royal guest. Macbeth in a room of his castle soliloquies
on the nature of the crime he is about to commit. He has very strong reasons against
the murder of the King. He counts the qualities of Duncan and is against the terrible
sin of his murder.
Macbeth is very imaginative and now his imagination is on fire. He thinks about the
consequences of Duncan‟s murder. He believes that the horrible deed will evoke
universal pity. There will be universal horror against the crime. The wind which is
invincible to us, being ridden by pity incarnate in the shape of a naked, newborn baby,
and driven by the angelic messengers of heaven will carry news to all corners of the
world.
It means that there will be universal horror against the commission of crime and the
news being spread over all parts of the land, universal sympathy will be felt for the
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murdered king who has always been a good king in his royal functions for the well-
being of his subjects.
Critical Comments:
Macbeth thinks that the murder of old innocent Duncan will be as pitiful as that of a
new born, innocent baby.
1.1.8
Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself ? heath, it slept since?
And wakes, it now to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? (I, vii, 35-38)
Macbeth expresses his hesitation to kill the King. He says to his wife that he has been
recently honoured by Duncan. At the same time, he has won good opinion of people,
which he does not want to lose. Hence, he advises his wife not to proceed further in
the matter of Duncan‟s murder. But these arguments fail to convince Lady Macbeth.
She reminds him that it was he who fed her with the ambition of kingship and talked
about Duncan‟s murder. Why did he cherish the hope of becoming king by
murdering Duncan, if he was not serious about it. He was certainly in an unsettled
state of mind like that of a drunkard. Macbeth, too, has changed and he is not willing
to fulfil his plan as he has recovered his sense.
Critical Comments :Lady Macbeth, in sarcastic way, ridicules her husband for his
cowardly nature, stupidity and sentimentality.
1.1.9
“And „tis not done : the attempt and not the deed
Comfound us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss‟em. Had he not resembled.
My father as he slept, I had done‟t.” (II, ii, 10-14)
In these lines Lady Macbeth expresses her thoughts about the anticipated murder of
Duncan. Macbeth has gone to murder King Duncan and Lady Macbeth is waiting in
the courtyard for her husband‟s return. She is terribly upset and is disturbed by the
slightest noise. When Macbeth comes out of Duncan‟s room after doing the deed, he
cries within – “Who‟s there?” Hearing these words, Lady Macbeth is frightened.
She thinks that the King‟s attendants have awakened and murder has not been
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accomplished. She is afraid that not the deed of murder, but the failure to accomplish
it will prove fatal to them. Lady Macbeth has set the stage ready for Duncan‟s murder.
She would have murdered Duncan herself but her courage failed at the last moment
because the sleeping King looked like her father and this affection stopped her from
doing the deed herself.
Critical Comments:
These lines give a glimpse of Lady Macbeth‟s feminine nature. Though she is a
monster in human form, still she has some womanly feelings and tenderness. It also
shows that she is not a witch as some critics call her.
1.1.10
“Methought I heard a voice cry. “Sleep no more !
Macbeth does murder sleep”, - the innocent sleep.
Sleep that knits up the ravell‟d sleave of care,
The death of each days‟ life, sore labour‟s bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature‟s second course,
Chief nourisher in life‟s feast”. (II, ii, 35-40)
These lyrical lines are about the value of sleep. Macbeth meets his wife just after
murdering Duncan. The murder has awakened his moral sense. He realizes his guilt
and his guilty imagination presents a hallucination before him. He imagines that he
has heard one man laugh and another cry „murder‟ in sleep. He relates this thought to
Lady Macbeth and becomes much excited. His imagination takes him from horror to
the value of sleep. After this, Macbeth expresses his feelings in beautiful lines on
sleep.
Sleep is an innocent thing. From the innocent babes to the guilty criminals all are
equally harmless while sleeping. It banishes all the cores and anxieties and brings
relief to the disturbed and tired minds. It puts an end for the time being to the life of
each day of our existence and serves as a soothing and refreshing balm to men and
women after their hard labour. It soothes the agitated mind and drives away all the
worries from it. It gives strength and energy to the mind and body. After the first
course, i.e. food, it is nature‟s second most important course which nourishes the
body.
Critical Comments:
Macbeth‟s conscious and moral sense has awakened and he feels guilty of his deeds.
The passage is remarkable for its poetic expression.
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1.1.11
“Will all great Neptune‟s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making, the green one red.” (II, ii, 60-63)
This is Macbeth‟s soliloquy on hearing the knock. He has murdered Duncan. Lady
Macbeth goes to put the dagger which was brought by Macbeth after Duncan‟s
murder. Macbeth is left alone and is terrified by the least sound because of his guilty
mind. In his quiet and terror-stricken state, Macbeth looks at his blood-stained hands
and cries: “What hands are here?” In this frenzy, it seems to him that the hands are
ready to take out her eyes from their socket, as they belonged to someone else. But,
after a moment, he recognizes them to be his own. But, being blood-stained, they
appear horrifying by their sight. He says that all the water of all the seas will not
wash away the blood from his hands. On the contrary if he washes his hands in the
sea, the green water of sea will turn into red.
1.1.12
“ I have lived a blessed time; for, from this instant,
There‟s nothing serious in mortality:
All is but toys, renown and grace is dead;
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees,
Is left this vault to brag of.” (III, iii, 74-78)
This is Macbeth‟s speech after the recovery of Duncan‟s murder. Macbeth feigns to
be severely shocked and gives the impression of being violently shaken by a real
remorse. Macbeth expresses his wish not have lived to hear of such horrible deed.
For him life has no charm and interest. It is a thing of no value. He says that Duncan
possessed goodness as well as good name. Yet, they awarded him naught. Why then
should men trouble any more about them? Duncan‟s death is their death-blow. They
have disappeared from the world. Duncan‟s death has made world and life empty of
all joys. For Macbeth, only bitterness is left in the world.
Critical Comments:
Macbeth is expressing false grief though afterwards he repents his deed and feels
that joy and happiness have no meaning for him.
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1.1.13
Better be with the dead
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,
Than on the torture of the mind to lie,
In restless ecstasy. (III, ii, 19-22)
In these lines, Macbeth depicts the uncertainty of his position as King. He fears the
loss of his throne because Duncan‟s son may come back to claim it. He is determined
to murder Banquo and Fleance. He is prepared to do the most dreadful things. In
spite of his determination, Macbeth is worried about the uncertainty of life. He
suffers from endless mental agony. Macbeth envies the lot of Duncan, who is now
dead and is enjoying the eternal peace of the grave. He is suffering from mental
agony but Duncan is beyond the reach of fever and fret, restlessness and excitement
of life. He is enjoying permanent sleep. Nothing can affect the eternal peace of
Duncan. Nothing and no one can destroy his peace which he is enjoying.
Critical Comments: Here in these lines Shakespeare expresses the mental agony of
Macbeth. He murdered King Duncan for happiness but where is this happiness? He
thinks that Duncan is enjoying permanent bliss.
1.1.14
Light thickens, and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood:
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
While night‟s black agents to their preys do rouse.
Thou marvell‟st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. (III, ii, 54-55)
In these lines, Macbeth gives hint to his wife about Banquo‟s murder. Lady Macbeth
expresses her curiosity to know about the deed. But, Macbeth asks her to remain
ignorant. After this, Macbeth‟s imagination takes fire and he begins to speak.
Macbeth is speaking to his wife in the sunlight. He says to his wife that day light is
growing dimmer. In growing darkness, the crow is flying towards its nest in the
forest. Good and innocent people being tired by their day‟s activity are preparing
themselves for sleep. Contrary to them, the evil and wicked creatures that live and
move in darkness of the night are waking up to hunt their respective preys. Lady
Macbeth is very much surprised on hearing Macbeth‟s speech. But, Macbeth asks her
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not to be surprised but to be calm and patient without being nervous. He tells her that
evil things once begun must become more evil with the passage of time.
Critical Comments: It means “A career of crime once begun has to gather strength
by repetition of crime.”
1.1.15
Here‟s the smell of the blood still.
All the perfume of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.
Oh, oh, oh ! (V, i, 48-50)
These pathetic words are spoken by Lady Macbeth in the sleep-walking scene. She is
haunted by the guilt of her past crimes. Her talks are soaked in horror and anguish.
After Duncan‟s murder, the sight of blood on her husband‟s hand could not disturb
her self-control. She had asked him to wash them with a little water. But now her
mind is over-burdened with crime and she loses her self-control. She is very much
disturbed by the smell of blood that she sees on her hand. She wants to get rid of it.
In a deep and dejected mood she says that all the sweet perfume of Arabia cannot
sweeten her hand. She is over-loaded with grief and cries, oh, oh, oh.
Critical Comments:
The passage gives a deep insight of the character of Lady Macbeth. Here we find a
glimpse of real woman. It proves that it is unfair to call her a witch.
Bibliography:
1. Macbeth, Complete Works of William Shakespeare
2. Compton Ricskett -- History of English Literature
1.2 Annotations: Unit V- J.M. Synge-Riders to the Sea
1.2.1
“The young priest says he's known the like of it "If it's
Michael's they are," says he, "you can tell herself he's got a
clean burial by the grace of God, and if they're not his, let
no one say a word about them, for she'll be getting her death,"
says he, "with crying and lamenting."
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These lines have been taken from the one act play “The Riders to the Sea” written by
J. M. Synge and published in 1903. In these lines Nora the daughter of Mourya speaks
to her sister Cathleen about the death of their brother Michael and their grief stricken
mother Mourya.
Nora says that the young priest assumed the death of Michael. If the clothes they have
got belong to him then there is a favour done to him by God that he would get a
ceremonial burial which others have not found due to their drowning in the sea and
loss of body. Nora tells Cathleen that if the clothes do not belong to Michael then the
young priest says that there is no need of saying anything to Mourya because she will
be killing herself by bewailing the death of her last son. She has already lost almost
all the male members of her family and it will be unbearable for her to tolerate the
death of the last son.
These lines of Synge express the superstition of the people prevailing in the society.
The sorrow and the suffering of the poor mother have been shown pathetically by the
conversation between her two daughters.
Critical comment: These lines show Synge‟s quality of expressing human sorrow
in words. Man is helpless in the hands of cruel fate.
1.2.2
“In the big world the old people do be leaving things after them
for their sons and children, but in this place it is the young
men do be leaving things behind for them that do be old.”
These lines are spoken by Mourya, the heroine of the play “Riders to the Sea” written
by J. M. Synge. In this play the life of the people of Aran Island who live on the shore
has been depicted .Their life is dependent on the sea. The sea or nature has been
shown hostile towards man.
These lines express the utter sorrow of the old people who have lost their children at a
very young age. The old ones depend on young people for their life but if young die
an early death then there is nobody left to support them. Old parents live in sorrow
throughout their life. Mourya lost her son Michael so she says that normally old
people leave behind property for the youngsters but her case is just opposite to it, she
has been left behind a property by her son.
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When Mourya decided to go behind her son Bartley to give her bread and blessings,
her daughters asked her to take the stick for support which was brought by her son
Michael for her. Then Mourya, the mother speaks in deep sorrow that the world is
very big but all over the custom is the same -- the old persons leave behind them their
belongings as the property for their next generation who is younger than them. But as
far as her case is concerned, her situation is opposite. Her son Michael has left the
property for her because he died before her. She is still living to inherit the things left
away by her son.
Critical comment:
Through these lines we become acquainted with the mental condition of Mourya, the
mother who has lost almost all the male members of her family and her last son also
staking his life by going on a sea voyage. This dialogue of Mourya adds more sadness
to the atmosphere of the drama.
1.2.3
“ I‟m after seeing him this day, and he riding and galloping.
Bartley came first on the red mare; and I tried to say "God
speed you," but something choked the words in my throat. He
went by quickly; and "the blessing of God on you," says he, and
I could say nothing. I looked up then, and I crying, at the
gray pony, and there was Michael upon it -- with fine clothes
on him, and new shoes on his feet.”
These lines spoken by Mourya, the main character, have been taken from the one act
play “Riders to the Sea”, written by Irish playwright J. M. Synge. This play presents
the life of the people living on Aran Island by the sea. The theme of this play is nature
versus man. It shows the hardships of life of this particular place.
Mourya, who has recently lost her son Michael, goes behind the last son Bartley to
give him bread and to bless him which she didn‟t do at the time he was departing
from home for a sea voyage against her wish. She sees Michael and Bartley in her
vision on her way to sea which she takes as bad omen and comes back home broken
hearted.
When her daughter inquired of her early return, Mourya said that she saw Bartley
riding on his pony on this day when he left home for his voyage and informs them of
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her vision. She tells them that she first saw Bartly on his red mare and she tried to
bless him by saying,‟ May god soon bring you back home.‟ But she could not do so
because she felt as if something had choked her throat from uttering these words.
Bartley passed quickly and said to her, „God bless you‟ but she could not respond to
him. Instead she realised that she was crying. As she looked up she found out that
Michael who died recently was riding on his grey pony with fine clothes and new
shoes.
Mourya was very much perturbed to see her two sons in her vision because she had
already lost many family members and her heart was full of suspicions about Bartley.
Somewhere she was assuming the death of her last son Bartley because she had seen
him with Michael who had already died.
Critical Comment:
Through this dialogue Synge not only shows the feeling of a mother but also throws
light on the superstitions prevailing in the society.
1.2.4
“They're all gone now, and there isn't anything more the sea can
do to me. . . . I'll have no call now to be up crying and
praying when the wind breaks from the south, and you can hear the surf is the
east, and the surf is in the west, making a
great stir with the two noises, and they hitting one on the
other. I'll have no call now to be going down and getting Holy
Water in the dark nights after Samhain, and I won't care what
way the sea is when the other women will be keening.”
These lines are dialogue of Mourya who is the central character of the play, written by
J. M. Synge, “Riders to the sea.” When she hears the news of Bartley‟s death then
these words automatically come out of her mouth. It not only refers to the hardships in
her life but also indicates that she is ready to embrace challenges imposed by life for
her.
She says that the sea has taken everything from her. Now there is no male member
alive in the home who can go for sea voyage and whom the sea can snatch from her.
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In her utter grief Mourya expresses that nobody is left in her family. She says that
now she has no reason to be afraid of the storm from south wind or to lament about
the loss of dear ones. Now there will be no more praying for the family members
surrounded by sea storms. No more fear of killing of them by the sea will haunt her.
Now she doesn‟t need to go for the holy water for the family members because she
has nothing to lose. Now on wards she doesn‟t require to take care of the temperament
of the sea when other women will be eagerly cautious of it for the well being of their
family members.
Now what Mourya means to say that she has no connection with the sea as she has no
one in home who can go for sea voyage again. She is free from the tortures of the sea.
Critical Comment:
These lines are the nucleus of the play. Mourya has lost the happiness of her life by
losing almost all her family members but she accepts her lot and shows courage to
start a new life that is why she discards the nature which is hostile towards man.
1.2.5
“Michael has a clean burial in the far north, by the grace of
the Almighty God. Bartley will have a fine coffin out of the
white boards, and a deep grave surely. What more can we
want than that? No man at all can be living for ever, and we
must be satisfied.”
This dialogue is spoken by Mourya, the central figure in the play of J. M. Synge
“Riders to the Sea”. In these lines Mourya who recently lost her two sons shows the
courage to accept the truth which is a universal law that nobody is immortal in this
world. Sorrows and sufferings teach her the most valuable lesson of life.
After she receives the news of the death of her last son Bartley, all of a sudden her
insight develops and she accepts the lot of her life that she has lost all the male
members of her family. He comes out of her sorrow to accept the challenge of life that
even after losing everyone dear to her she has to live, she could not die with them.
She decides to come out of the sad demise of her sons to start life again and says that
this is the blessing of God that her son Michael has got a ceremonial burial and
Bartley will be buried in a fine coffin and in a finally dig up grave. These are her
motherly feelings that her sons were not drowned in the cruel sea; at least they will be
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getting a loving and caring cremation. Secondly she has the satisfaction that the sea
could not destroy the bodies of her sons as he does in his hostility. Above all she
accepts the law of nature that nobody is immortal in this world. One who is born has
to die one day. She says that they must be satisfied that whatever happened it was due
to law of nature not the injustice done to them by God or anybody else.
Critical Comment: In this particular dialogue of Mourya, Synge shows that man is
the most powerful entity of the world that is why Mourya accepts the reality of death
and accepts the challenges of life. This world continues its course due to man‟s
courage to live and fight. It shows the warrior like character of old lady Mourya.
Bibliography:
1. Hudson, Wiliam Henry, An outline History of English Literature (Quality
Publishing Company, Bhopal, 1999)
2. Synge J. M., Riders to the Sea (Kessinger Publishing, 2004)
1.3 Annotations: Unit VI- H.H.Munro-The Miracle Merchant
1.3.1
“Used to be, yes; that is what makes them such bitter enemies now. Each
feels that she has nursed a viper in her bosom. Nothing fans the flame of
human resentment so much as the discovery that one‟s bosom has been
utilized as a snake – sanatorium.”
These lines have been taken from the one act play “The Miracle Merchant” by Hector
Hugh Munro, a modern writer. These lines describe the life in an Edwardian society.
“The Miracle Merchant” was written in the year 1934. In this drama only one single
incident has been depicted in a comic way but it reveals the basic qualities of the each
of the character.
Above mentioned lines are spoken by Louis the nephew of Mrs. Beauwhistle while he
was mentioning the reason of the quarrel between Jane and Dora, the two guests of
Mrs. Beauwhisle. He tells her the basic human instinct which guides everyone.
According to him enemies always assume that they have bitter feeling for their rival
that feeling makes them bitter enemies without any serious reason.
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When Mrs. Beauwhistle wanted to know the reason of the tussle between Jane and
Dora then he told her that they were good friends but now they were turned into foes.
Before telling the exact incident he told her the psychological cause of their fight. He
said that their friendship only made them enemies. Each one of the two ladies thought
that she had vicious feeling for the other and that realization turned them into foes. He
further said that this realization of hatred in one‟s heart was more than enough to
inflame the indignation in human heart. What he means to say that our feelings are the
real cause of our action and reaction rather than circumstances or conditions.
This dialogue not only throws the light on the reason of the quarrel of the two ladies
but it high lights the character of Louis. Through this Dialogue we can understand that
Louis is a good judge of human psyche.
Critical comment:
In the minimum possible words H. H. Munro has not only revealed the situation but
flashed out the character of Louis‟ heroic qualities. This dialogue gives a hint on the
further development of the story that being a good judge of human characters Louis
will utilize other characters for his purpose.
1.3.2
“It would have been rather like composing the storm music of a Wagner opera.
Jane was willing to take back some of her most libelous remarks if Dora would
take back the hen.”
These lines have been extracted from the one act drama “The Miracle Merchant”,
written by H. H. Munro the modern writer who depicted Edwardian life in his plays.
This one act comic play not only displays one single event but analyses the human
character also.
Above lines are spoken by Louis, the hero of the play. He explains the actual position
of Jane and Dora‟s quarrel and their demands of reconciliation. Both were rigid on
their stand and didn‟t want to retreat back. They wanted other to rectify the mistake.
When Mrs. Beauwhistle inquired Louis that if there was no friend of Jane and Dora
who could pacify their quarrel then Louis said that to intervene between them means
intensifying their dispute. Both of them were vocal and abusive so if their matter
would be raised by anybody they again start fighting vigorously like the Wilhelm
Richard Wagner‟s dramatic musical composition turned into a stormy one. He said
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that Jane was eager to take back her some comments which injured the reputation of
Dora but the condition was that she should take back her hen which turned into an
abstainer.
Louis wanted to tell his aunt that the solution of dispute between Dora and Jane was
almost impossible. He presented the dispute in an aggravated form. By manipulating
her aunt in this way he wanted to extract money from her by presenting himself as a
problem solver.
Critical Comment:
H. H. Munro has used the simile for showing the graveness of the quarrel between
Jane and Dora.
1.3.3
“Servants a nuisance! I should think they are! The trouble I have in getting suited
you would hardly believe. But I don‟t see what you have to complaint of – your
aunt is so wonderfully lucky in her servants. Sturridge for instance - he‟s been
with her for years and I‟am sure he‟s a jewel as butlers go.”
These lines have been extracted from one act play “The Miracle Merchant” by H. H.
Munro, a modern writer who describes men and manners of the Edwardian society.
When Louis told Jane of the nuisance of servants, Jane without understanding his
selfish intentions appreciates Sturridge who was a sincere butler of Mrs. Beauwhistle.
When Louis criticizes attitudes of servants, Jane expresses her personal opinion about
them. She says that the servants may be irritating. The inconvenience which she faces
in adjusting with them is beyond his understanding. But as far as Louis is concerned
he might not be having any trouble with servants because his aunt Mrs. Beauwhistle
has a wonderful servant like Sturridge. She praises Sturridge by calling him a jewel.
While Louis wants to criticize Sturridge, Jane keeps a good opinion about Sturridge.
This statement of Jane tells the characteristic of Sturridge as a servant. As a servant he
is extraordinary that is why Mrs. Beauwhistle is lucky having him as a servant.
Critical Comment:
H. H. Munro makes us acquainted with Sturridge as a man of quality through the
dialogue of Jane in simple and direct words.
1.3.4
“Poor Louis! I‟am afraid Jane‟s staying powers are superior to any amount of
hustling that you can bring to bear. [Enter Sturridge left; he begins clearing
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breakfast thing.] I could have told you from the first that you were engaged to
wild – goose – chase.”
This passage has been taken from H. H, Munro‟s one act play “The Miracle
Merchant” which describes one single incident. In these lines Mrs. Beauwhistle
discourages the efforts of Louis who tries to turn Jane out of house to get his twenty
pounds.
When Louis told Mrs. Beauwhistle about his failure to turn Jane out of the house she
said to Louis that your trials to expel her were not as powerful as her staying power.
Mrs. Beauwhistle satirizes Louis for his failure to extract twenty pounds from her.
She said that to change the mentality of Jane is like a fruitless effort because it is
difficult to catch a wild goose and when caught, it is of no use. She points out Jane‟s
adamant nature.
Through the dialogue of Mrs. Beauwhistle H. H. Munro tells us of Jane‟s character.
She is very firm on her decisions. It is not easy for anybody to deviate her from her
stands.
Critical Comments:
H. H. Munro makes use of the metaphor of goose to show the real character of Jane
and Louis‟ futile efforts.
1.3.5
“Yes. All his life he has been accustomed to look on Queen Anne as the
personification of everything that is dead and done with „as dead as Queen Anne‟,
you know and now he has to fill your glass at lunch and dinner and listen to your
account of the gay time you had at the Dublin Horse Show, and naturally he feels
that there is something scandalously wrong somewhere.”
These lines have been taken from the one act play “The Miracle Merchant” written by
H. H. Munro who is a modern writer and pains an exclusive picture of Edwardian
society. In these lines Louis describes the whims which Sturridge nurtures about Jane.
According to Louis Sturridge thinks that Jane is Queen Anne who is dead. Sturridge
watches every action of Jane carefully.
Louis says that Sturridge has been accustomed to look at the dead things as Queen
Anne because Queen Anne died years ago. Sturridge listens carefully everything Jane
says and watches all the actions of Jane carefully because he thinks that something is
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wrong with Jane because he assumes her as Queen Anne who is dead. What Louis
means to say that Louis perceives her as the ghost of Queen Anne.
By telling all false things about Sturridge, Louis wants to terrify Jane whom he wants
to turn out of the house to take twenty pounds from his aunt. In his effort he spoils the
good image of Sturridge which Jane has.
Critical Comment:
Through this dialogue H. H. Munro throws the light on the cunning and crafty
character of Louis who spoils the image of Sturride to horrify Jane. Louis uses the
psychological technique to turn Jane out of the house of his aunt.
Bibliography
1. Mundra J. N., Mundra S. C., A History of English Literature (Prakash Book
Depot, Bareilly, 1987)
2. Abrams M. H., A Glossary of Literary Terms (Macmillan India Ltd., Delhi,
1998)
3. H.H.Munro : The Miracle Merchant
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Section A –Fiction
UNIT 2: Thomas Hardy-Far From the Madding Crowd
2.0 Objectives:
This unit is meant to enhance the knowledge of students about the genre of novel.
Along with this it will acquaint students with Thomas hardy‟s life, works and style. A
special study of Hardy‟s “Far From the Madding Crowd” will enhance their
knowledge about Hardy and genre of rustic novel.
2.1 Introduction
Since its origination, novel has been the most popular genre among the readers of all
periods because it covers vaster panorama of the society than other genres. It mirrors
the society of the age, it has been written in.. Hardy is one of those writers who made
this genre popular. His Wessex novels not only entertained Victorian people but
educated them of human nature and still doing the same. That is the reason Hardy is
the main part of every English Literature curriculum.
2.2 Definition and development of the novel:
The novel established itself as a distinct genre in English in the 18th
century. By
definition, novel is a long story written in prose. It depicts the realistic picture of life.
Novel can have anything as its subject: contemporary life, its problems, history,
philosophy, sociology etc. A novel covers a wide range of characters and experiences,
so it differs from story.
Definition:
The word novel is derived from the Italian word „novella‟ which means „a fresh
story‟. Later it meant „a story in prose‟.
The novel has been variously defined and described:
F. Marian Crawford:
“A pocket theatre containing all the accessories of drama without requiring to be
staged, before an audience”
W.F. William:
“A long narrative in prose dealing with the action of fictitious people”
George Meridish:
“Summary of actual life, including hurts, within and without of us”
Henry Fielding:
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“A comic epic in prose”
It means novel is a fuller presentation of life and characters. It is a very effective
medium for the portrayal of human thought and action.
Structure of a Novel
Plot Character Dialogue
Setting or Background of the Novel
Present Past Future
The novel may have its setting or background anywhere in the world, in the present,
past and future.
Beginning of Novel:
There are certain names whose works are romances and have realistic vein and are
related to the novel proper in many ways. They are: John Lyly, Robert Greene,
Thomas Lodge, Thomas Nashe and Thomas Deloney. Thomas Nashe created a new
„genre‟ in prose - „the picturesque romance‟.
The Seventeenth Century:
French Heroic Romances (translated into English) gained popularity in this age.
The Restoration Age saw the beginning of the real English novel. John Bunyan‟s
Pilgrim‟s Progress is considered by George Saintsbury as the first English novel.
During the Restoration period the novel passed through various changes and forms
because of the evolution of prose. But the novel attained its proper form in the hands
of Defoe and Swift in 18th Century.
Eighteenth Century:
The contribution of Bunyan, Defoe, Swift and Addison and Steele are significant in
the development of English prose fiction.
Bunyan‟s power of characterization touches the readers. Realism achieved its height
and triumph in Defoe and Swift. Technically, they are not novelists, yet their power
of realistic narrative, story interest, good dialogues are important contributions.
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Four wheels of the English Novel
Samuel Henry Tobias Lawrence
Richardson Fielding Smollett Stern
Samuel Richardson (1689-1761): regarded as first English novelist. The novels are
Pamela and Clarissa. Pamela – It is the first „real‟ novel of the English language.
Henry Fielding (1707-54): He is accepted by most of the critics as the „Father of
English Novel‟. He formulated the theory of the novel and called it “Comic-epic in
Prose‟. His famous novels are Joseph Andrews and Tom Jones.
Tobias Smollett (1721-71): He introduced new background in novel. His famous
novels are Roderick Random, Humphrey Clinker etc.
Lawrence Sterne (1713-68): is the strangest and most variously judged man of his
time. His best book is – Life and Opinion of Tristram Shandey. The book is
something unique in the history of English novels.
Richardson, Fielding, Smollett and Stern are called the „Four Wheels of English
Novel”. On these wheels the novel moved triumphantly onward.
Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774): The famous poet, dramatist, essayist was a novelist
also. He wrote only one novel – The Vicar of Wakefield.
Horace Walpole (1717-1797): He is the founder of Gothic Novels in English. Such
novels are full of horror and dread.
Nineteenth Century:
This century is as rich in novel as it is in poetry. It can boast of some of the greatest
novels and novelists of English language. The novels written during the period
include historical, social, domestic, economic etc. Besides men, a number of women
fiction writers, flourished during the century. With emergence of a prosperous middle
class and with the increase in literacy, the novel became the most popular genre,
especially among women. The eminent writers of the period are:
Jane Austen (1775-1817): Her novels are remarkable for their compact plot, realism,
comic spirit and dramatic qualities.
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832): He is called the “Father of Historical Novel”.
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Charles Dickens (1772-1870): He is one of the greatest novelists of English
language. He wrote about the burning problems of the day which he had to face in his
early life. His novels are remarkable for their humour, pathos and characterization.
He has written many novels.
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-63): Born in Calcutta, was contemporary of
Dickens though poles apart from him in every other respect. Dickens was poor, ill-
educated but energetic, on the contrary Thackeray, was well-educated but lethargic.
Dickens wrote about the lower class; Thackeray - about the middle and upper class.
Dickens relied on humour and pathos and Thackeray on satire.
Wilkie Collins (1824-89): He is a novelist of sensation and mystery. In his novels,
there is an intricate plot and a love story. His novels are like modern detective novels.
Charlotte Brontee (1816-55): She is the eldest among the Brontee sisters. The
others being Emily and Anne.
Emily Brontee (1818-48): She is the most talented among the Brontee sisters. She
became immortal by only one novel that is Wuthering Heights.
George Eliot (1819-90): It is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans. Of all the women
novelists of the 19th century, she is the most learned and in her creative achievement,
most adult.
George Meredith (1828-1909): He wrote difficult novels but they show his sensitive
mind.
Oscar Wilde (1856-1900): He is a famous poet and dramatist who wrote some
novels also.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928): He is one of the greatest novelists of English literature.
His novels are called Wessex novels. There is a tragic note in his novels and he
questions to establish order.
2.3 Thomas hardy - Life and works
Thomas Hardy was born on 2nd
June 1840 in Higher Brockhamp-ton, Dorchester in
the south-west of England. This famous port in the famous “Wessex” county formed
the background of most of his fiction and poetry. His father was a builder.
Thomas Hardy was sent to village school three miles away from his village. His
father was very fond of music. He was a violinist and a singer and was much
demanded in the school functions. His mother was an ambitious woman, she was
fond of reading. She had better stock of memories than her parents. Hardy inherited
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the love of music and county (village) from his father and love of reading from his
mother. His mother used to tell him about past and old traditions. He was extremely
emotional and he often used to shed tears listening to folk dance tunes.
He was educated in his own village school, but later on shifted to the High School at
Dorchester. It is a saying: “Coming events cast their shadows before.” Hardy always
felt lonely and was meditative. His long, solitary walks in the days or in the night left
a good store of memories in his mind, which is reflected in his writings. He was fully
aware of local hearts and heads. He had profound intimacy with village life. His
thoughtfulness and contact with nature helped him, prepared him to be the poet and
novelist of „Wessex‟.
After attending the grammar school at Dorchestershire the „Casterbridge‟ of his
novels, he was apprenticed to a local architect. He put much of his spare time into the
study of „Latin and Greek‟. He also became acquainted with William Barnes (1800-
1886), the poet of local dialect. The company also gave inspiration and love of
literature. He used to solve the intellectual problems of the poet.
At the same time Horace Moule, a classical scholar, his friend also told him much
about the contemporary thoughts and problems. At the age of twenty-two he left for
London but returned soon and started writing. He wrote poetry and after that started
prose writing in his native place. His career got its peak with the publication of
Desperate Remedies in 1871.
The list of his famous novels:
1. Desperate Remedies (1871): It is story of mystery, murder and sensational
incidents. It shows the influence of Collins.
2. Under the Greenwood Tree (1872): It is a slight tale of rural courtship.
3. A Pair of Blue Eyes (1873): It is a romantic tragedy. Hardy‟s merit
as a novelist was recognized through this particular novel.
4. Far From the Madding Crowd (1874): It is Hardy‟s first masterpiece written
about Wessex.
5. The Return of the Native (1878): It is considered by many to be the best novel
of Hardy.
6. The Trumpet Major (1880): It was received by the readers with great
enthusiasm.
7. The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886): It is the most ambitious novel of Hardy and
was appreciated in England and America.
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8. The Woodlanders (1887): In this book Hardy has shown remarkable narrative
ability.
9. Tess of the d‟Urbervilles (1891): It is the most famous novel of Hardy It has
the dignity of a Greek tragedy.
10. Jude the Obscure (1895): It is the last novel of Hardy. In this particular novel,
Hardy has questioned everything, religious, social and matrimonial order.
His Marriage:
Hardy married Emma Gifford in August 1874. Emma loved London and he loved
native village. This resulted in estranged relation between them. His life became
quite unhappy due to his differences with his wife. Emma loved city life while Hardy
liked rural life. They travelled to Italy. In July 1912, Emma died and Hardy became
alone. Hardy‟s pessimism deepened and he composed many elegies. He composed
some poems on his wife. He, however, married for the second time in 1914. Hardy
died in 1928. He gave us tragic vision of life. His works are the best example of
human suffering, human endurance and sympathy. He has taught through his novels
that every heart has to suffer due to fate/destiny.
Far from the Madding Crowd
2.4 Characters in the Novel:
Major characters:
1. Bathsheba Everdene - Main female character of the novel (heroine)
2. Fanny Robin - Second most important female character
of the novel. She was a maid servant in
Bathsheba‟s household.
3. Gabriel Oak - Most important male character of the
novel. (Hero)
4. Farmer Boldwood - He is the second most important character
of the novel.
5. Francis Troy - Sergeant Troy is an important male
character of Far from the Madding Crowd
Minor characters: Mrs. Hurst Liddy Smallbury, Morgann Money, Mrs. Coggan,
Penny Ways, Henry Fray, Joseph Progress, Cain Ball, George etc.
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2.5 Summary of the Novel - Far from the Madding Crowd:
Gabriel Oak was a young farmer of a very good moral character. He was a bachelor
and slightly old fashioned. He saw Bathsheba Everdene, a charming young lady. He
met Bathsheba one morning when she was sitting alone on a wagon. After a few
days, he met her again, when she had come to milk a cow in cattle shed with her aunt.
Then onwards Gabriel used to observe her every morning. One day Bathsheba saved
Oak‟s life so he became extremely grateful to her.
Now, Oak started loving Bathsheba. Oak went to her aunt‟s house and expressed his
love for Bathsheba before her aunt and desired to marry her. At that time Bathsheba
was not present at home and her aunt told him that she had many suitors. This
information made Oak deeply discouraged.
After Oak‟s departure from her aunt‟s house Bathsheba returned. The aunt told her
about Oak‟s visit. She immediately went to Oak and told him what her aunt had said
was wrong. She had no admirer or lover. Oak declared his love and desired to marry
her but Bathsheba said that she never wanted to marry any man because she did not
like the idea of being possessed by man and to make her life a long property. Oak
again and again forced her by saying “I love you and long for you and will keep
wanting till I die.” But, Bathsheba was not convinced. Oak also got very much
annoyed and told Bathsheba that he would never force his proposal any further.
After seven days Bathsheba‟s visit to her aunt came to an end. She went to
Weatherbury, a place twenty miles away from Horcombe.
Through an accident by mischief of his dogs Oak almost lost all his sheep. This
tragedy ruined him and he thanked his star that he had not married Bathsheba.
Just a couple of months after the tragedy of the two hundred sheep, Gabriel went to
attend a fair in the town of Casterbridge in order to get a job. He reached
Weatherbury as he could not get a job anywhere. He stayed there at night and helped
in controlling a huge fire. The owner of the farm thanked him very much. He was
surprised when he came to know that owner was a woman and she was none other
than Bathsheba. She behaved as a strange person but offered him a job.
Here, under strange circumstances, Bathsheba and Gabriel were brought together.
She offered him a job of a shepherd in her establishment. Oak happily accepted this
offer as it gave him opportunity to be near Bathsheba, his beloved.
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Oak was very kind hearted also. He helped a young woman in distress by offering her
his last shilling. The woman was grateful and requested Oak to keep this meeting a
secret. The woman was Fanny Robin who belonged to Bathsheba household
management. Bathsheba‟s uncle had died and Bathsheba inherited the ownership.
One day Fanny Robin, the maid of Bathsheba, disappeared and there was a theft in the
granary of Bathsheba by her own bailiff. Now she dismissed the bailiff and decided
not to have any bailiff. The news of Fanny‟s elopement with her lover, a soldier, was
spread.
Bathsheba decided to be a complete farmer herself. She started visiting weekly corn
market. Presence of a young beautiful woman was a point of attraction for the public.
Fanny Robin, the maid of Bathsheba was brought up by „Boldwood‟, a rich middle-
aged bachelor farmer of Weatherbury. He did not take any interest in Bathsheba
either in market or anywhere else. This wounded Bathsheba‟s vanity and pride. She,
therefore, agreed the suggestion of Liddy and sent a valentine to Boldwood with a
seal on the card bearing motto – “Marry me”.
This valentine which Bathsheba had sent to Boldwood was absolutely a joke but for
Bodlwood it was more than a joke. He took it seriously. Next day, Boldwood also
got a letter for Oak and he went to give it to him. This letter was from Fanny Robbin
who had helped Oak in return of his kind help. She had informed him about her plan
to marry Sergeant Troy, her soldier lover. Boldwood also wanted to know who had
sent him the Valentine letter. Oak immediately recognized the handwriting of
Bathsheba so Boldwood took the message seriously. The letter stirred the passion of
Boldwood and he started thinking about Bathsheba.
Here, chance plays an important role in the life of Fanny and Troy. Fanny misses the
marriage. As decided earlier, Francis goes to All Saints Church and waits for a long
time but Fanny does not turn up. Francis Troy, at last, leaves the church in great
shame and disappointment. Fanny meets him outside the church and tells him that
she had been waiting for him at the All Soul‟s Church mistaking it for All Saints.
She is not very serious about her mistake and says that they can be married the next
day. But Francis Troy has been boiling with anger, and says, “I don‟t go through that
experience again for some time, I warrant you”.
Boldwood was now madly in love with Bathsheba. He declared it but was rejected by
Bathsheba. Bathsheba repents for her letter, begs his pardon and requests him to be
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natural. She discussed the situation with Oak who chided her for her disgraceful
behaviour. In her anger, Bathsheba threatened to dismiss Oak from service. Oak left
the job at once but was persuaded to return a day later to save Bathsheba‟s sheep-
flock from death and destruction.
Boldwood again proposes to Bathsheba. She begs for six weeks to make her mind
and adds that she may not marry him even after that.
It has been Bathsheba‟s habit to make a round of her farm at night. One night she
happens to come across Sergeant Francis Troy, a gallant soldier and Fanny‟s former
lover. Bathsheba falls a victim to the wile of Sergeant Troy. His flattery,
swordsmanship and gallantry win her heart. He gave his golden watch as a present to
Bathsheba. Now, she was madly in love with Sergeant Troy. Oak‟s warning even
angered her and she asks him to leave her farm. He accepts it with dignity.
Bathsheba decides not to marry Boldwood, so to avoid Boldwood she decides to go to
her maid Liddy‟s home for spmel days. But she meets Boldwood in the way. He was
mad with disappointment and threatened to take revenge on Sergeant Troy, the person
responsible for Bathsheba‟s change of heart. Bathsheba is now worried about the
safety of Troy. She decides to go to explain the situation to Troy and to break-off her
relationship. But she stays there and marries Troy. Afterwards she returns. As the
events prove later, Troy does not prove to be a worthy husband. Boldwood, who is
not aware of the marriage, asks Troy to marry Fanny Robin. Troy mockingly shows
him the wedding photographs. Next day, everyone comes to know that Bathsheba has
been married to Troy. The greatest sufferers, of course, are Boldwood and Gabriel.
At Harvest Supper Troy and workmen of Bathsheba‟s farm drank too much brandy
and became unconscious. At this hour, Gabriel comes and informs of the rain.
Bathsheba asks Troy to take care of the farm, but Troy takes no notice of her words.
Gabriel protects the wheat and barley. Bathsheba was grateful to Oak and ashamed of
her husband‟s worthlessness and irresponsibility. For the first time, Bathsheba really
begins to feel for Gabriel. She narrates how she married Troy. Boldwood made
efforts to save his stock from thunder-storm. He had lost interest in his work.
Bathsheba is very angry with Troy for his horse-racing. He has lost one hundred
pounds. One day they were returning from the weekly corn market at Casterbridge.
They met a young woman. She was Fanny Robin. She had become very weak and
was going to Casterbridge Union House. Troy recognizes her and talks to her.
Bathsheba wants to know about the lady and their talk but he does not tell her.
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Fanny had become very weak and dies after reaching Caster-bridge in child birth.
Gabriel and others come to know about her death. Bathsheba is also informed. Troy
anyhow manages to reach Fanny but could not meet her as she had already died. Troy
was unaware of the fact about the child. Bathsheba learns about Fanny‟s death and
arrangees to bring her coffin to Weatherburry from Casterbridge.
Bathsheba anyhow knows about the truth and opens the coffin to confirm and comes
to know that her husband Troy was the father of Fanny‟s illegitimate child.
Bathsheba was naturally angry at Troy‟s betrayal. Troy kissed dead Fanny and told
Bathsheba that he actually loved Fanny. Bathsheba left the house in anger and
humiliation when Troy says, “You are nothing to me – nothing. A ceremony before a
priest doesn‟t make a marriage. I am not really yours”.
After this, Troy goes to a tomb maker and orders for a tomb-stone urgently. The tomb
contains – “Erected by Francis Troy in Beloved Memory of Fanny Robbin”. Troy is
greatly disturbed and finds no rest at all. He leaves Weatherbury. He is repentant for
his cruelty to Fanny. He rambles aimlessly. In this disturbed state of mind he goes to
swim in the sea. He was carried away by a strong current while he was taking a bath.
Fortunately, a sailing boat passes by him and rescues him. He did not return to the
shore and went away to America on a long voyage. He was taken to be drowned and
dead.
Bathsheba appoints Gabriel Oak as her Bailiff. Boldwood made fresh approach to
win Bathsheba‟s heart and was ready to wait for some years for her.
Troy, after his rescue, leaves England for U.S.A. where he becomes Professor of
fencing, sword exercise and gymnastics. But, as per his nature, he gets tired with his
present occupation and joins a circus company. The company has a show at the
Green hill Sheep fair which is very near to Weatherbury. Some of the people of
Weatherbury recognize him but Bathsheba did not notice that her husband was
playing a leading part in the dramatic performance.
Boldwood and Bathsheba return from the fair. In the way, he proposes to marry her.
Bathsheba promised to give a definite reply by Christmas. Christmas arrives.
Boldwood gives a party to Bathsheba at the end of Christmas. Troy comes to know
about it. On the advice of Penny-ways, Troy goes to Boldwood‟s party. His sudden
appearance is a great shock to the farmer. So shocking is the sudden appearance of
Troy that when he pulls her, she gives a low scream, perhaps out of pain. Boldwood,
unable to tolerate this kind of behaviour with his sweetheart, shoots Troy. Troy dies
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and later Boldwood wanted to kill himself but was prevented by his own servant from
doing so. Boldwood then, in fit of agony and despair, kissed the hand of Bathsheba
for a moment and then disappeared in the dark.
Boldwood went to Casterbridge in order to surrender himself to the jail authorities.
Bathsheba did not lose the balance of mind at all. She was calm and composed, but,
after sometime she faints due to anxiety, and long tension. After sometime,
Bathsheba recovered from tension.
Boldwood, after due trial in a Court of Law, was sentenced to death. But, then, all
people, including Bathsheba submitted a petition to the Judicial Authorities and it was
changed into life imprisonment. After the great shock Bathsheba is desolate and
melancholy. Oak was still her bailiff. But they rarely met. Oak avoided her
purposely. One day, Gabriel met Bathsheba and informed her that he would soon
leave her service because he intended to go to America. This is another great shock to
Bathsheba. Gabriel had been her friend and guide. She feels helpless. After a few
days she received a formal notice to this effect. This shattered her and she realized
his importance in her life. She goes to the house of Gabriel alone and talks and
requests him to stay with her. Gabriel is very much delighted to see her. They talk
for some time and during the conversation he tells her that he still loves her and
intends to marry her. Bathsheba is delighted at the proposal. A few days later they
were married at a simple ceremony.
2.6 Important Questions with Answers
Q. 1 Write a note on Hardy‟s philosophy of life.
Hardy represents Victorian pessimism. His vision of life is tragic. Almost all his
famous novels excepting Far from the Madding Crowd end in the death of the hero or
heroine. The Mayor of Casterbridge has the sentence, “Happiness is but an
occasional episode in the general drama of pain.” Tess of the „Urbervilles ends with
the sentence – “Justice was done, and the president of Immortals had ended his sport
with Tess”. In Jude the Obscure, we have the famous line of Browning modified “
“God is not in His Heaven
And all is wrong with the world”.
Above lines show that Hardy had pessimistic note. Why did Hardy have this note?
Because he had seen the life of Wessex labourers, their poverty and passion. He saw
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man‟s helplessness in the face of circumstances. Hardy was sensitive and tender-
hearted so he could not remain untouched by the condition of life. Hardy sees man
struggling against an omnipotent and indifferent fate. In all his novels there is a
conflict between man and fate. Characters have their own defects, limits, prejudices
and weaknesses, but they are not wicked; they are puppets in the hands of Fate. From
the beginning to the end of the present novel there are nothing but accidents,
misunderstanding, failure or ruin of crops, sheep, agriculture produce, disappointment
in love, betrayal of innocence, mental and physical agonies and deaths which certify
that Hardy had a very dark view of human life and also that human destiny is
governed by some other supreme cruel power. For example, he speaks of Gabriel
Oak - “It is only fate that is responsible for the tragic death of his sheep. Fate made
him a servant in the house of a woman whom he loved and intended to marry‟. His
life story clearly tells that he suffers for the mistake of his own throughout the novel.
Similar is the case with Bathsheba. Though she is the mistress of a rich farm, she is
not happy till the end of the novel. It is fate that made her send Valentine with the
words, „Marry me‟ to Boldwood. Due to this simple joke she suffers till the end of
the novel.
It is also fate that brings Bathsheba near to Troy and ultimately he marries her and
suffers a lot. Fanny Robbin suffers due to fate because her marriage couldn‟t take
place with Francis Troy who loved her deeply due to some confusion regarding the
correct name of the Church. Ultimately she meets tragic end.
Troy also suffers. Though he marries Bathsheba, he is not happy. He also meets a
tragic death.
Boldwood perhaps is the worst sufferer. A simple joke of Bathsheba turned his life.
He started loving her from the core of his heart, waits for her so many years. His life
became full of pain, misery and agony. Troy becomes free from the pain of life after
his death; but Boldwood suffers and gets life imprisonment.
Unlike other novels of Hardy, the end of this novel is happy; still it reflects Hardy‟s
philosophy of life. This novel proves that Fate and Chance play an important role in
the life of human beings. Destiny decides what man will do. Man cannot modify the
will of destiny. Love is a pleasure and persever of life but here in this novel love is an
agonizing force.
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To conclude we should say that if we consider all these facts of the novel we regard
Hardy as both pessimistic and tragic in his view of life. The philosophy of Hardy can
be summarized by the lines of Ramcharita Manasa :
gksbgSa lksb tks jke jfp jk[kk]
dks dfj rdZ c<+kofga ’kk[kkAA
Hoisain soi jo Ram Rachi Rakha,
Ko kari Tark Badhavahi Shakha.
Sanskrit says –
Bhagyam falati sarvatra na vidya na cha paurusham.
HkkX;a Qyfr loZ= u fo|k u p ikS# ke~AA
Q. 2 Justify the title of the novel Far from the Madding Crowd :
The title of the play, novel or a story is usually after the main character of events in it.
Shakespeare has named his plays after the hero or the most important event. Hardy
also has done it in his three most mature novels – The Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess
and Jude. But in Far from the Madding Crowd he has taken the lines from Gray‟s
famous „Elegy Written in Country Churchyard”. Gray, in his Elegy describes the life
of his father, forefathers with sympathetic understanding. They were very pure,
simple and pious. Hardy also has described the life of Wessex people who were still
untouched from the urban civilization, Far from the Madding Crowd.
In the novel, Hardy has painted the life of the Weatherbury people, who are simple,
passionate and innocent. All the characters of the novel are simple, happy in rural life
in their farms and away from the city life. Gabriel Oak, a simple man falls in love
with Bathsheba and suffers the whole life for love, Bathsheba Everden a simple girl
who is also away from the cunning of the city life always guided by her passion,
becomes victim of the flattery of Troy, ultimately marries him, but longs for real love.
Boldwood, whom Bathsheba sends Valentine “Marry me” is also a simple village
farmer. Troy, Fanny,Liddy and other workers are also happy in their village life.
Liddy,Bathsheba‟s maid,is really a true maid. She was with Bathsheba till her marri-
ge with Gabriel. She was very innocent like her mistress. They had nothing to do
with the life of London.
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Not only characters are rustic, but the whole atmosphere is also rustic. In the whole
novel we find village scenes – sowing, harvesting, hay-making, bee- hiving,
pasturing, sheep-rearing and cow-milking. It is during cow-milking that Bathsheba
used to come with her aunt when Gabriel saw her and fell in love. Agricultural life
dominated and there was no machine. People lived a leisurely life. They used to go to
church on Sundays and village-market on market-days. Gabriel was expert in sheep-
rearing. So, Mrs. Hurst and her niece, Bathsheba, took the help of Gabriel when their
sheep became ill. Gabriel gets job in Bathsheba‟s house because he helped her to
save her crops and hay from fire. She marries Gabriel because for her he was a most
valuable man. He had great knowledge of agriculture. All the people of Weatherbury
are simple and honest. They resemble truly God‟s creations. Gabriel is honest towards
Bathsheba. Bathsheba is also a simple girl. Just to make fun she sends Valentine
message to Boldwood without thinking of the consequences. She was so innocent
that she became a victim at the hands of cruel fate, because she marries Sergeant
Troy, moved by his flattery.
Farmer Boldwood was also very innocent and simple. He also proves himself as a
true lover. He wants Bathsheba for a long time. He had no malice for her. He cannot
be blamed for his love for Bathsheba.
Fanny Robin is also a simple and innocent girl. She goes to church to get married
with Troy, but her simplicity and ignorance take her to some other church. Some
critics call Troy villain, but I should say that Troy was not a crooked man. He wanted
to get married with Fanny, but because of Fanny‟s confusion and misunderstanding
regarding the name of the church their marriage couldn‟t be performed. He also
becomes deeply disturbed when he sees the dead body of Fanny. He kisses her in
presence of everybody. It proves how pious by heart he was. He becomes upset and
leaves the place.
Thus, the title of the novel is appropriate; because it depicts the lives of the people
who are simple, innocent and very far away from the villainy of the world.
Q. 3: Write a note on the plot construction of the novel Far from the Madding
Crowd.
By „plot‟ we mean - “The organization of incidents in a narrative (prose or poetry) or
play. According to Aristotle, “A good plot has a beginning, a middle and an end. It
is an organic whole ie. the middle coming out of the beginning and end out of the
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middle”. Plot construction is a technique of joining one event with the other so that a
piece of work may look a coherent whole.
As compared to Henry Fielding and Jane Austen, Hardy‟s plot- construction is not so
strong. But, Far from the Madding Crowd has a coherent plot.
The plot of Far from the Madding Crowd is simple. It is a simple story of simple and
innocent people. It is a story of love triangle; but originally, it is a story of Gabriel‟s
love for Bathsheba and his marriage with her in the end.. Bathsheba comes in cattle
shed with her aunt and Gabriel sees her and falls in love with her. Bathsheba, the
heroine of this novel, is simple but proud and naughty girl, rejects the proposal of
Gabriel. Later, chance plays an important role and Gabriel has to work as a servant of
Bathsheba to look after her work. In this way, he got an opportunity to live near her
beloved. Bathsheba has no feeling for Gabriel so she does not pay attention to him.
Boldwood was a former in Weatherbury. He never paid any attention, any glance at
Bathsheba; so she, with the help of her maid servant Liddy plays a joke with
Boldwood. He takes it seriously and becomes mad in her love. Bathsheba begs
pardon to Boldwood. Once she meets Francis Troy who admires her beauty, she is
moved by his words, falls in love and marries him.
Sargeant Troy is a romantic soldier. He loves Fanny Robin and wanted to marry her.
But their marriage could not be performed due to some confusion and
misunderstanding regarding the name of the church. After his marriage with
Bathsheba, he meets Fanny who was dead. He is very upset and feels guilty. When
Bathsheba comes to know that Troy still loves Fanny, she was shocked and leaves
Troy. Troy also disappears from the scene.
Again, Boldwood proposes to Bathsheba and Bathsheba needs some time to decide
about it. Boldwood arranges a party on the eve of Christmas for Bathsheba, but
chance plays an important role and Troy appears on the scene and wants to take
Bathsheba back. Bathsheba screams. Boldwood as a true lover of Bathsheba could
not control himself and shoots Troy dead. Boldwood surrenders to the judicial
authorities and gets life imprisonment. Gabriel wants to leave Bathsheba‟s service so
he informs formally. Bathsheba now realizes his importance and requests him not to
leave her alone. She goes to her home and they talk like lovers again. After a few
days they are married in a church.
Hardy is a man of brilliant imagination. For some time he actively did the work of
architect. His knowledge of architecture is reflected in his works. With a main plot
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he also weaves a sub-plot; the story of Sergeant Troy and Fanny Robin. Troy loved
Fanny and they were about to marry but this marriage couldn‟t be performed, as said
earlier, due to some confusion on Fanny‟s part. Troy marries Bathsheba But in the
meantime Fanny dies delivering a baby. Troy comes to know about the tragic and
painful death of Fanny. He feels guilty. Here is a turn in the story. Bathsheba comes
to know about the past of Troy and Fanny. She couldn‟t tolerate and the situation
becomes different. Troy in upset and gloomy mood leaves the place and it is
misunderstood that he is drowned. After a few days, Troy appears on the scene in a
dramatic way and his appearance helped the marriage of Bathsheba and Gabriel;
which Gabriel deserves.
The complete novel is full of incidents and all the incidents are connected. We never
feel any break or boredom in the story. The depiction of Gabriel, Bathsheba,
Boldwood or ever gallantry of Troy – everything is well-knitted. The last journey of
Fanny Robbin at the gate of work-house is also pathetic. Here we are compelled to
say that Fate orders all.
All the descriptions, situations, imagination of the novelist are coherent. Thus, we
can say that this novel has strong plot, a well-knitted plot.
Q. 4 Describe in brief the chief characteristics of the novel, Far from the
Madding Crowd.
OR
Write a note on Hardy as a novelist with special reference to the novel, Far from
the Madding Crowd.
Hardy is a great architect. His present novel, Far from the Madding Crowd, is very
mature and well-woven.
The novel depicts the life of the simple villagers, i.e. Wessex people, far from the
hustle and bustle of the cities. Almost all the characters in the novel are simple and
innocent. Bathsheba, Gabriel, Boldwood and some minor characters, all are
dependent on agriculture. Only Troy is a military man. Fanny is also an innocent girl
and due to her innocence she suffers.
In Hardy‟s novel man suffers due to destiny. In this novel also all the characters
suffer due to chance or fate. Though they are much ambitious yet they are happy in
their own domain, i.e. village life. But it does not mean that they are lethargic or dull.
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They have their own desires, own problems, and own work. Some characters are
simple and noble like Gabriel and Boldwood.
Hardy‟s art of characterization comes best in this novel. There are characters that can
be called round characters – always changing and developing. Gabriel Oak, a farmer,
becomes poor because of tragedy with his sheep. He becomes servant in Bathsheba‟s
farm. After a lot of struggle at last, he becomes Bathsheba‟s husband. So, from
servant he becomes master. Bathsheba was a proud, naughty, innocent and simple
girl, turns towards maturity. She becomes calm, wise and marries Gabriel- a true
lover. A woman always prefers a person who is not only loving but also caring .
Here Bathsheba shows maturity by marrying Gabriel.
Troy earlier had somehow the quality of a villain because by flirting Bathsheba he
deceived both Bathsheba and Fanny. He ultimately marries Bathsheba but changes at
last when he sees the suffering of Fanny, his former beloved. His heart changes and
in front of his wife, Bathsheba, kisses the dead body of Fanny like a mad lover. We
have pity for Boldwood and Fanny.
Hardy describes the situation in detail. He gives a vivid picture of everything. He has
pictorial quality. He has described everything in minute detail. The burning episode
of Bathsheba‟s farm, the great storm, Fanny‟s death, Troy‟s bath in sea, everywhere
he has adopted the pictorial method.
All the incidents in the novel show that driving force behind every action is fate.
There are so many accidents i.e. death of Gabriel‟s sheep, Gabriel‟s love for
Bathsheba, Bathsheba‟s joke to Boldwood “Marry me”, confusion between Troy and
Fanny, all are accidents which happen in the novel. They lead the story towards
perfection. Gabriel is the true lover of Bathsheba. He is very caring, like a true
friend. Like a trustworthy friend he was always with Bathsheba. Hardy has given a
strange turn in the story by the death of Troy. Here virtue is rewarded. Ultimately
Gabriel gets the reward of his deeds and novel ends happily. The rustics of
Weatherbury and the readers have relief.
Q. 5 Write in brief a character-sketch of Gabriel Oak in the novel Far from
the Madding Crowd.
The novel Far from the Madding Crowd is a mature novel of Hardy. It is free from
any weakness of the author. It can be called pastoral romance. Gabriel Oak is one of
the most important characters of the novel. Though rustic he is the real hero of the
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novel. The novel begins with him and ends with him. Gabriel loved Bathsheba. It is
love at first sight.
Gabriel is a typical Hardy‟s lover; he possesses some exceptional qualities. He comes
before us as an ideal lover who has special qualities like patience and endurance. He
comes before us as a farmer who has a flock of two hundred ewes. In the novel he
has been described as a young man of sound judgment, easy notion, proper dress and
general good character. In spite of his age, he is as simple and innocent as a child.
He is so simple and so honest that sometimes he is misunderstood.
Oak is a handsome villager; but he is not fashionable type of hero. He is
straightforward and has no cunning. He loves Bathsheba, but doesn‟t know the trick
to win the heart of women.Once Bathsheba saved his life. The innocence and honesty
of Gabriel is noteworthy. Bathsheba offers her hand to Gabriel and says that he can
kiss it if he likes. Gabriel says like a child that he was not thinking of kissing it. This
is not the way of a lover. No woman likes the man who does not take the initiative to
kiss or to embrace her. Gabriel does not know that woman is always passive; so she
never takes the initiative herself; and yet she wants to be possessed by her lover. As
compared with Gabriel, Troy is a master in the art of making love. He wins the heart
of Bathsheba either by fair means or foul means.
Gabriel is an ordinary man, but has great patience. When his 200 sheep die, he is
stunned but endures it and says, “Thank God, I am not married.” His fighting
qualities are revealed in Bathsheba‟s farm. He bravely fights against the fire which
has caught Bathsheba‟s farm. Though Bathsheba rejects him, still he takes care of her
farm. He is so simple that when he goes to Bathsheba‟s house as a servant; he says to
her that he wanted to marry a woman who is more moneyed and who possess bigger
farm than his own. In Bathsheba‟s love he suffers humiliation of being her servant.
He is expelled twice from her farm for no fault of his. He bears all the humiliations
calmly and makes no complaint.
Gabriel Oak‟s stoicism is remarkable in adversity. He has infinite capacity to suffer.
He suffers from beginning to the end. He is very kind at heart. His sympathy for his
animals is great. When his ewes die, he does not think of its loss, at first he feels pity
for them. He feels pity for the gentle ewes and then unborn lambs. He has sympathy
even for a small creature. He helps Fanny in her distress. He is with Bathsheba at the
time sheep-rearing, sheep-washing.
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Gabriel is a true Wessex man. Unlike Troy who loves Fanny but deserts her and
ultimately marries Bathsheba by trick, Gabriel is with Bathsheba in each and every
situation. Bathsheba is compelled to call and take help of Gabriel in worse situations.
Gabriel is something like a Platonic lover and does not believe in physical union. He
believes in loving, admiring, helping and caring. It is because of his simplicity,
honesty and noble qualities that he wins our sympathy. We feel pity for him. He
comes before us as traditional lovers who always help their beloved in hours of need.
He wants to leave her farm but when Bathsheba says, “Do not desert me, Gabriel”, he
doesn‟t leave her. He suffers silently and his suffering is rewarded in the end. He
wins the heart of Bathsheba and the novel ends with their marriage.
Q.6 Give a character-sketch of Bathsheba Everdene in the novel Far from the
Madding Crowd.
A. Bathsheba is the heroine of the novel Far from the Madding Crowd. She is the
most unpredictable character in the novel. Hardy is master of the art of
characterization. His characters are not wooden. His characters belong to his native
place – Wessex. Bathsheba, like other common characters, has common qualities of
human beings – strong points and weak points.
She is a bold and daring lady. She was young and beautiful. She was very active and
loved horse-riding and physical exercise. She is matter-of-fact lady. On the sudden
death of her uncle, Bathsheba inherited his property in Weatherbury village. She lost
her parents when she was quite young, but having great talent, established herself as a
successful farmer. Gabriel saw her first time during cow-milking in cattle shed. She
had come there with her aunt. It was love at first sight. Since then Gabriel everyday
used to behold her; and when he comes to know that she was going out of
Weatherbury for a week, he becomes restless and goes to meet her aunt‟s home.
Bathsheba was not at home. Her aunt says to Gabriel that she has many admirers.
Hearing this Gabriel becomes disappointed, but in the meantime Bathsheba, like a
bold city girl rushes to Gabriel and says that whatever her aunt said was wrong.
Gabriel was relieved. But when Gabriel proposes for marriage, she refuses. Here
Hardy comes before us as a great feminist. Though female, Bathsheba reacts and
rejects Gabriel‟s proposal because she does not want to be the property of any man.
She did not like the idea to be possessed by any male. She wanted to live her life
according to herself.
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She had control over her property and servants. Even she used to look after the whole
establishment before going to bed. She did not hesitate to detect thieves. She had
complete control and command over the property, servants and all the workers in her
farm. She visits weekly corn-market.
Bathsheba may be called management Guru. She manages all the things wisely. She
keeps Gabriel as a servant in her farm house. When Gabriel wants to leave her
service, she persuades him to stay there.
She was charming and beautiful. When farmer Boldwood did not pay attention to her,
she makes a joke by sending a Valentine letter to Boldwood – “Marry me”. Though
she was sober and simple but she plays this trick and Boldwood takes this message
seriously. Similarly, during her walk in the farms she suddenly meets Troy. When
Troy says that he is going to marry a more beautiful girl, her mind changes and she
says, “And then between jealousy and distraction, I married him”.
Bathsheba had not only many strong qualities but also feminine qualities. She helps
Fanny. When Fanny disappears she makes the enquiry. Again, she manages to bring
her dead body back. When she comes to know about the illegitimate relation of her
husband, she is angry and full of hatred, but very soon, controls herself and thinks
about the poor Fanny. She decorates Fanny‟s head with flowers.
Bathsheba is a lady of great talent. She wins the heart of Gabriel which is love at first
sight. Some critics say that Bathsheba has the qualities of a flirt; but we see that she
had informed Gabriel clearly that she did not want to be the property of any man. She
is fascinated by Troy and marries him. She never encourages anybody by giving
response either to Boldwood or Gabriel.
She is a tragic figure. Gabriel loves her, but she doesn‟t. She commits mistakes by
sending a Valentine letter to Boldwood just for joke and suffers. She marries Troy
just out of jealousy and finds he is not an ideal husband at all. Her misery ends when
she marries in the end Gabriel, her Platonic lover.
In spite of these weaknesses she has many noble qualities. Therefore she is a
memorable character.
Q.7 Draw a character sketch of farmer Boldwood.
A. Former Boldwood is a typical Wessex man. He plays an important role in the
development of the novel. He is a middle aged bachelor. He is handsome. He is a
rich farmer of Weathrbury. Like other farmers of the surrounding area, he regularly
visits the weekly corn market of Casterbury on every Sunday.
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He is a dignified man and he never notices about any man or woman. He never
notices or takes interest in Bathsheba even when he meets her in weekly corn-market
or in church. Everyone takes notice and interest in Boldwood because of his
charming personality. He was a calm and quiet man. He seems a man of iron, self-
control and discipline. Negligence of Boldwood for Bathsheba wounded her vanity
and pride. So, on the advice of her maid, Liddy, sends a Valentine message to
Boldwood, „Marry me‟, just to play joke. Boldwood, a simple and straight forward
farmer got disturbed and took this message seriously. Now a perfect and ideal farmer
changes and neglects his farms. Valentine message really touches the secret spring of
his heart. The most deep-rooted emotion of heart, mind, soul and body stirs him. He
becomes mad in her love and anyhow wants her company. Like Gabriel, he is true
lover but till the end of the novel, he suffers and gets life imprisonment.
Like a true lover he is well-wisher of her. He thinks about Bathsheba whenever left
alone. He tries to dissuade Troy from marrying Bathsheba but when he sees that
Bathsheba loves Troy he withdraws himself. He does not know flattery or art of
making love, expressing love. He does not know how to attract or fascinate a woman.
In spite of his virtues, good nature, good heart and soul he is unable to win the heart
of Bathsheba.
He loves her so much that he cannot bear the thought of Bathsheba in parts or misery.
When Troy wants to take Bathsheba she screams with pain. So like a true lover he is
unable to control himself and shoots Troy dead.
Thomas Hardy believes that love is the most powerful weapon with which fate
destroys men and women. Boldwood and Fenny Robin both got tragic end. He waits
patiently for Bathsheba and after disappearance of Troy from the scene after Fanny‟s
death he becomes more hopeful for marriage. He is totally like a toy in the hands of
cruel fate. When Bathsheba was about to give her reply regarding marriage on
Christmas eve, the sudden appearance of Troy changes his destiny.
He gets life imprisonment.
Farmer Boldwood suffers for no fault of his own. Bathsheba‟s cruel joke changed his
life and led him towards destruction. So he comes before us as the most unfortunate
man and he has gained everyone‟s sympathy.
Q.8 Write a note on the character sketch of Sergeant Troy.
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Far from the Madding Crowd is one of the most popular novels of the great 19th
Century novelist, Thomas Hardy. Francis Troy is one of the major characters in the
novel. The novel is purely Wessex novel. It has peaceful atmosphere; but the entry
of this foreign element disturbs the life of the peasants. He is altogether different
from other characters in the novel. He may be called half-rural and half-urban so he
is misfit in the society of Weatherbury. He is a man who lives in present; so he is a
man of practical wisdom. He is neither philosopher like Boldwood nor a man of
world like Gabriel. He is also not a dreamer. So he leaves Fanny and marries
Bathsheba.
He is the illegitimate son of Lord Severn and a French governess. In this way he had
an aristocratic blood in his veins and is very proud of it. He was sent to a good school
but due to the death of Lord Severn he had to discontinue his studies. Forced by
circumstances he becomes a lawyer‟s clerk; then he joins army and gets the rank of
Sergeant.
He is a handsome young man and has knowledge of English and French. He had
capability to attract people and to win heart of women. He comes before us as a
romantic hero. He loves wine and spends his earning on wine and fine dresses. He is
not calculative at all. He is very practical and has no hesitation to express his sudden
feelings. He falls in love with Fanny Robin and wants to marry her. As per plan he
decides to marry in a church and waits for Fanny whole day in the church. But here
chance plays an important role and he could not marry Fanny because of some
confusion and misunderstanding regarding the name of the church. When Fanny does
not turn up, he is terribly angry and deserts her without thinking about Fanny. But
when he knows about the death of Fanny and her child he gets very upset and in front
of everybody, he kisses Fanny without caring even about Bathsheba, his wife. This
shows he always lived in the present. He never thought about past or future. He
blames himself for Fanny‟s death. He does not care for his legal wife; leaves her and
goes to America.
In the same way, when he couldn‟t marry Fanny, he is angry but very soon becomes
normal. He is perfect in winning the heart of ladies. He is expert in pleasing others.
When he meets Bathsheba he woos her. He praises her beauty and calls her, “Queen
of the corn-market”. Bathsheba is trapped by the words of Troy. He says, “You are
the most beautiful ever I saw”. These words are sufficient to win the heart of any
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simple and innocent lady. Bathsheba sees in him the prince of her dreams and they
marry.
Troy cannot face the situation. He has not that patience or endurance which Gabriel
or Boldwood have. When he sees Fanny‟s dead body he becomes emotional and
upset, and finds himself unable to face the situation. So he leaves Weatherbury
without caring about Bathsheba who is his legal wife. Gabriel is platonic lover,
Boldwood is ideal lover but Troy is very practical lover. He never cared either about
beloved or wife. He did whatever he wanted.
Troy is neither a villain nor a hero. Some critics say that he spoils the life of two
women. But this blame cannot be accepted. He waited the whole day for Fanny to
get married but she didn‟t turn up. In anger he deserts her. He likes Bathsheba when
he sees her. They both fascinate each other. It is very natural and emotional
phenomenon. He marries her. But sudden death of Fanny reveals that he was not a
cheater. He is really a sensible man who is a puppet in the hands of chance and fate.
He is a tragic figure who, in spite of many good qualities, remains misfit in
Weatherbury society.
Q.9- Write a note on the character sketch of Fanny Robin.
Hardy is a great novelist. He has created two major female characters in the novel.
Her role in the novel is very brief but vital. She is the most pathetic character in the
novel. Gabriel suffers but at last he is rewarded. Boldwood suffers after his half life.
Troy suffers for a short time. Bathsheba also suffers but for a short period; but Fanny
is a poor creature. She suffers a lot till the end of her life.
We come to know about Fanny Robin in the novel when she was running from
Bathsheba‟s house in darkness to meet her lover, Troy. She is a beautiful and sweet
girl. She meets Gabriel near the Church. Gabriel feels pity for her even without
knowing her because she did not have proper clothes even in chilly weather. Gabriel
gives her some money and she feels grateful for that. Though she is a mere servant in
the house of Bathsheba, she is very simple, decent and innocent.
Fanny suffers because of cruel fate. She is an example of true beloved. She takes risk
to meet Troy even in chilly weather. She does not care for Bathsheba (her mistress)
or even society and her safety. She forgets everything by the words of Troy. Fanny
has full trust in Troy. She surrenders herself to Troy who enjoys her youth and
beauty. She was not educated like Bathsheba, so she becomes a victim of Troy‟s lust.
Of course, Fanny pays a great penalty of her innocence, ignorance and folly.
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Fanny was an orphan. She was brought up in her childhood by farmer Boldwood.
She is slim and thin but she has courage. She goes all alone to marry Troy.
Sometimes she travels on foot. She is virtuous girl. She doesn‟t go to any man when
her marriage is broken. She dies of starvation but doesn‟t sell her body. Troy seduces
Fanny and marries Bathsheba. She was carrying the illegitimate child of Troy. She
suffered a great mental agony. In her advance pregnancy she walked and crawled to
reach the Casterbridge Union House – a place for the poor but unfortunately only to
die in child birth. Here she suffers a great mental agony when she sees Troy walking
comfortably with Bathsheba. Bathsheba couldn‟t recognize her but Troy did. Troy
secretly promises her to meet after two days, but she died and Troy couldn‟t fulfil his
promise.
Throughout the novel, Fanny suffers. She has no fault of her own. She comes before
us as a true lover and pure woman, a complete woman. She suffered for no fault of
her own. Her tragedy and death play very important role in the novel. After her death
Troy was exposed and this helped the marriage of Bathsheba and Gabriel.
Fanny‟s life is the story of the girls who are tempted by the educated strangers and
meet their tragic end when they are betrayed by their lovers.
2.7 University Questions
Q.1 Explain the role of chance and fate in “Far From the Madding Crowd.”
Q.2 Who is the hero of the novel?
Q.3 Describe the scene in Green Hill Sheep Fair?
Q.4 Describe the pathos in the novel.
Q.5 Analyse in detail the love story of Sergeant Troy and Fanny?
Q.6 What is the relationship between Gabriel Oak and Fanny?
Q.7 Analyse the novel as a romantic story?
Q.8 Describe the scene of Fanny‟s death?
Q.9 Describe the scene of Sergeant Troy‟s death?
Q.10 Justify the end of the novel.
2.8 Bibliography:
1. Compton Rickett-History of English Literature
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2. Abrams M. H., A Glossary of Literary terms (Macmillian India Ltd., Delhi,
1998).
3. Prasad b., A Background to the Study of English Literature (Macmillian India
Ltd.,Delhi, 1997).
4. Tilak Raghukul: History of English Literature: Chaucer to the Present Day
(Rajhans Prakashan Mandir, Merrut, 1989).
5. Long J. William: English Literature Its History And Its Significance (Kalyani
Publishers, Ludhiyana, 1987)
6. Hardy Thomas, Far From The Madding Crowd
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UNIT III – Oscar Wilde- The Happy Prince
3.0 Objective:
The main objective of this section is to introduce students with Oscar Wilde through
his short story “The Happy Prince.” Students will get acquainted with the qualities of
the author by the analysis of the story.
3.1 Introduction:
Oscar Wilde was a famous writer of the late Victorian era. He was a novelist,
dramatist and a short story writer. His short stories brought him immense popularity.
The allegorical presentation of the stories made them readable for not only children
but for elders also. “The Happy Prince” is one such story which attracts grown- ups
and critics also. Its allegorical description is the main fascination of the story.
3.2 Biographical sketch of the author and survey of his
works:
Oscar Wilde was an Irish man, born on 16 October 1854 and died on 30 November
1900. He was a novelist, dramatist, poet and a short story writer. In 1890s he turned
into a great playwright of London. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde grew under
the influence of his intellectual parents. His father William Wilde was an acclaimed
doctor of Dublin, Ireland who did charity by his medical profession and his mother
Jane Francesca Elgee who was a poet and linguist, closely associated with the Young
Irelander Rebellion of 1848. He was very intelligent and a voracious reader. He
started writing since his student life and won prizes also.
Wilde„s famous works include “Lady Windermere‟s Fan” (1893), “The Importance of
Being Earnest” (1899), “The Picture of Dorian Gray” ((1890), “The Happy Prince
and Other Tales” (1888) and “Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories”(1891).
Wilde followed the theory of “Art for Art‟s sake” in his writings. He tried his skill in
various genres by using his wit and cleverness. He used all kinds of literary devices
such as imagery, irony, allusion, symbolism, metaphor, personification, etc. Though
there was a purely aesthetic sense behind his writings, there was always a hidden
massage in his stories for the purpose of social reform.
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3.3 Detailed summary of the story:
Oscar‟s one of the most famous stories “Happy prince” was published in the year
1888. This fairy tale is a sentimental story of a statue of a prince whose soul resides
in it and of a swallow. When the Prince was alive he lived in the palace where
sorrows and sufferings were not allowed. He was so happy that people used to call
him “Happy Prince”. When he was alive he never went out of the palace hence never
knew the plight of his subjects. When he died his courtiers built his statue made of
gold and other valuable jewels. The statue was erected at a high place in the city
where the Prince could see the plight of his people but was unable to do anything.
His helplessness to help his people was his greatest sorrow.
The second protagonist, the sparrow was smitten by a Reed. All his friends moved to
Egypt while he was flirting with a Reed. When Reed refused to go with sparrow,
heartbroken and anguished, he left towards Egypt. In the way took shelter beneath a
statue of the Happy Prince. As he was ready to sleep he found Happy Prince
weeping. His heart was filled with pity for the Prince. Distressed with the plight of
his subjects, prince asked sparrow to give the ruby fixed on the hilt of his sword to
the poor tailor preparing the gown for Queen‟s maid. Tailor little child was suffering
from fever. Seeing the tender heart of the prince swallow helped the poor tailor and
nursed her child. After helping them he felt quite warm though the weather was quite
cold. Prince told him that it was the warmth of charity he did. Next day the bird
visited the city and found that rich people were busy in their own life without any
care for the poor.
Next day again the Swallow was ready to fly but Prince again requested to help a
poor student playwright who did not have a single penny to buy wood and save
himself from cold and hunger. Prince asked the Swallow to pick out one of the
sapphires and give it to the student. Swallow cried out of love for Prince and
reluctantly did likewise. It made the student happy. Next day again Swallow was
ready to depart but Prince again requested him to stay for one more night and asked
him to help match-girl who was weeping out of poverty. He commanded him to
pluck out remaining sapphire from another eye. Swallow resisted for it would make
Prince blind but unwillingly did it and made the girl happy.
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After the Prince became blind Swallow resolved to stay with him forever though
Prince insisted him to go. He told the stories of mysterious lands but was asked by the
Prince to tell him the tales of the poor suffering people. The Swallow explained him
the poverty and pain of people and Happy Prince asked him to distribute the gold on
his body. The Swallow did as he was told. Though Prince‟s statue turned dull and
grey, the hungry children of the city were filled with joy to have food.
When the snow and fog covered the city Swallow could not tolerate the cold but he
didn‟t leave Prince out of true love. He struggled hard to keep himself alive but died
one day bidding farewell to Prince. Just after death of the swallow Statue‟s heart
which was made of lead broke into two. Next Day the city mayor declared that in
place of Happy Prince his statue would be erected but that created dispute among the
rich people. Happy Prince was no longer beautiful so they melted the statue in the
Furness but the leaden heart could not be melted. Workmen threw the heart of the
Prince and the dead bird in the dust. From there they were taken to God when He
demanded two most precious things. He blessed the bird to sing forever in his garden
and blessed the Prince to praise Him always in his city of gold.
This allegory teaches us a lesson of humanity. God loves those who love others and
have a kind heart.. Oscar Wilde‟s narration style is unique. He has taught morality
using irony and satire. His use of imagination and personification made the story
interesting.
3.4 Question - answer:
Q1- Write a note on the moral of the story “The Happy Prince”.
This allegory was written by Oscar Wilde in 1888. The Story is about a swallow and
statue of a prince. The Swallow was in love with a Reed. When swallow was leaving
for Egypt at onset of winter, Reed refused to come along. Heartbroken and anguished,
Swallow on his way to Egypt, took halt beneath a statue of the Happy Prince. Later in
the night swallow saw the statue crying. The statue, gilded with thin fine gold leaves,
two bright sapphire eyes and a ruby in its sword hilt, with tears in his cheekbones
made the swallow curious. It asked the reason for the same.
The Happy Prince in his primetime had never known any unhappiness. Now, standing
high above the city, able to see all the grief in the city, all he felt was sorrow. The
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statue pleaded the swallow to help the suffering peasants of the town. It asked
swallow to give away his golden leaves and beautiful stones to the needy. Even as
winter was approaching, the little bird agreed. But the common quality in both of
them- love for humanity and compassion kept the bird helping the prince. Prince gave
up everything-- Ruby to a poor woman, sapphire to a young playwright and little
match-girl. In the end prince was left looking all dull and grey. What once was the
beauty of the town was beautiful no more.
Swallow died due to cold. Once, decorated with golden leaves and precious
ornaments the Happy Prince statue was now of no use to the people of the city. The
mayor and the town councillors compared the statue to a beggar. The statue was
molten but the lead heart could not be molten. The heart and dead swallow were
thrown in the dust heap.
The value of these two protagonists was not hidden from God. Angels rightly
identified them to be the most precious things in the city. Heart of prince and the
Swallow were the two precious things in the city which found a place in Garden of
paradise.
Q 2-Write a note on the various themes found in the story.
It was the selflessness of the Happy Prince and the swallow which made them suffer.
It was the selfless service of the two protagonists which brought smile on the face of
many people. Statue of Happy prince lost its charm and the bird lost its life. The
value of the two protagonists went unnoticed by the lesser mortals. The story also tells
that no matter what, the good deeds never go unrewarded. Just because there is no one
to appreciate the efforts, doesn‟t mean that we should stop working for the greater
good. An ordinary person may judge an object or a person by the looks and
appearance but the looks may deceive. Beauty should never be the measuring
parameter for the inner qualities and virtues of a person. This is what happened when
the Mayor and the city councillors looked at shabby statue of the Happy Prince. This
story also conveys that one can only attain salvation and supreme happiness when he
renounces all the physical and material attachments. The prince had renounced all the
expensive ornaments and Swallow, who already was heartbroken, gave up the idea of
comfortable warm weather of Egypt and decided to stay back for the love of
humanity.
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Q. 2 What is the theme of the story “The Happy Prince”?
A. “The Happy Prince” is not just a story of a statue and a bird but it is a social
and moral allegory. It depicts the picture of nineteenth century England where there
was discrimination between the lives of rich and poor due to economic disparity. Rich
were enjoying a prosperous life unconcerned with plights of the poor while the poor
were leading a painful life. Even the authorities were reluctant to help the
downtrodden.
Through the Happy Prince and Bird Wilde teaches us a lesson of love and sacrifice.
He wants to convey us the message that the real purpose of life is to live and die for
others. Earlier Bird was a selfish being who only lived for his own happiness but
when he came in contact with Happy Prince and saw his selflessness then humanity
emerged in his heart also. He lived a short but purposeful life and died for the cause of
humanity. When in the end Happy Prince turned blind and wealthless by giving all his
belongings to the poor and suffering people of the city and winter was unbearable for
the Bird then Prince asked the Bird to go to the warm place where he always intended
to go for warmth. The bird refused to go out of love and pity for the Poor prince and
died out of cold. Happy Prince could not tolerate his departing and his heart broke
into two pieces. The ruthless authorities tried to melt it in the furnace but it didn‟t
melt. They threw the broken heart and dead bird into dust. The good deeds were not
overlooked by God and both found place in the Garden of Paradise. This symbolizes
that God symbolizes to love which resides in our heart for the mankind and we can
visualize him in our good deeds.
Q. 3 Discuss “The Happy Prince” as a fairy tale.
A. Oscar Wilde was a great writer He created a large bulk of literature for the
people of different age groups, including children also. “The Happy Prince” is one
such piece which is written for children in simple language but with great moral
lesson of humanity. He has chosen the form of fairy tale here so that the effect of the
story may be deep and long lasting because when children pay more attention while
reading or listening to the fairy tale. It creates a great psychological effect on them
and they learn great lessons of life easily. In a fairy tale characters are not human
beings but fairies, birds, flowers, trees and many other imaginary things. They are the
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personification of human qualities. Even the places and situations are imaginary. All
this stirs up the imagination of the children. In the story of “The Happy Prince” the
statue of the Prince has all the human faculties, he could see, hear and feel like
humans. Wilde made him the personification of humanity, love and benevolence. The
Bird could also talk, help and fall in love. It is possible only in imagination and not in
reality. Fairy tales always have a moral lesson hidden behind the story. Wilde also
teaches the lesson of divine selfless love through his beautiful fairy tale. The tale
collectively appeals to the human psyche. Sparingly it teaches the Christian principle
of divine love through fantasy and fable. He was dissatisfied with the prevailing
religious and social system of his times so through his fairy tales he not only teaches
to younger ones but to the older ones also. Prince plays the role of a teacher for the
swallow on behalf of Wilde. Prince symbolises an approach towards the personal and
social problems of Victorian era. The Swallow quietly attaches himself to Prince and
dies the death of a martyr like Prince.
Q. 4 Discuss “The Happy Prince “as an allegory.
A. “The Happy Prince” is a short story of a statue which befriended a migratory
bird and changed bird‟s character by his own selfless love for the others. They
brought happiness in the lives of the other people by self sacrificing. They together
convey the message of selfless charity, love and benevolence. They showed complete
human nature though they were not humans. The story is an allegory. An allegory is a
narrative in which characters, actions and situations not only represent themselves but
signify other correlated order of persons, things, concepts and events. Oscar Wilde
has used allegorical method to present describe human life and values. The Prince in
the story represents selfless love, benevolence and charity which are human
characteristics. He acts as a human but the fact is that he was a statue. A statue is
inanimate so is feeling less but Wilde made him alive. The Swallow was a bird who
cannot feel like humans but Wilde made him full of feelings. Earlier he has been
shown selfish like the rich people of the city but as he remained in contact with the
loving and caring Prince then the prince teaches him the lesson of selfless love. He
learns the lesson, reforms himself and dies the death of a martyr like Prince. It is a
moral and social allegory that is why social injustice, power of selfless love, character
reformation and self sacrifice are its theme.
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Q. 5 -Why do People call The Prince as the Happy Prince‟?
Happy prince was once alive and lived inside a palace. The palace had high walls
so prince could not see out of it. No sorrows and sufferings were allowed in the
palace. He had all the pleasure of the world in his palace and he had not even seen
others in suffering. In his life time he never went out of the palace so he never knew
pain and suffering.. When he was alive people called him happy prince he was the
happiest of the mortals in the world.
After his death his courtiers built his statue of gold and valuable jewels and placed it
high above the city. Now he was able to see the sorrows and the sufferings of the
people. He was very much pained to see the injustice being done to the poor people.
Rich were busy in enjoying their lives without caring about poor. He was unable to do
anything alone for them because he was a statue but when the swallow came to him
for shelter. With the help of the bird prince tried to provide desired happiness to his
poor subjects. He gave up all his jewels to the poor and made his people happy. Now
the poor persons of his city were able to live a life without pain and suffering and full
of bliss. He not only helped the people of his city but helped the Swallow also to have
the absolute happiness of life which comes only through selfless love. That‟s why in
real sense he was a happy prince. He did his duty of giving love to others without any
discrimination by self sacrifice.
Q. 6 Describe the real nature of the Swallow and how did it change?
A. The swallow was a freedom lover bird who loved to live for his own
happiness. He had a flirtatious character also. When all his friends moved to Egypt for
the winter he stayed behind because he was infatuated towards a Reed but later on he
felt bore of that flirtation. He did not have a stable nature so he thought that Reeds
have a flirtatious nature that‟s why they were not faithful to anybody. He left the Reed
and flew towards Egypt to join his friends. In between his journey he reached statue
of happy prince to take shelter for one night but when he saw Prince weeping for his
people and his helplessness then got ready to help him on his request. First night he
helped a poor tailor giving him the ruby affixed on the hilt of his sword of the Prince.
After helping the poor tailor he felt warm though it was cold. It was the inner feeling
of love which made him warm. Next day, Prince requested him to stay to help a poor
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playwright who didn‟t have a single penny to save himself from hunger and cold. Bird
helped him by giving one of the sapphires fixed on the eye of the Prince, on the
request of the prince. He felt happy by serving the people. Next day again he stayed to
help the poor match girl. The Prince asked him to give the remaining one more
sapphire to the girl but the Swallow resisted as it would make the Prince blind. On the
insistence of the Prince he unwillingly gave it to girl and made her happy. When
Prince became blind, the bird resolved to stay with him. The cold was increasing day
by day and his love for the selfless Prince was also increasing. He wanted to tell the
stories of mysterious lands but Prince asked him to tell him about his people and he
devoted all his gold to the needy ones with the help of the Swallow. Swallow
followed every command of the Prince and learned the lesson of love, charity and
sacrifice. In the end he died out of cold but proved the worth of his life.
If we look closely we find that the Swallow had a very simple and loving nature that‟s
why he loved the Reed and Prince by heart. He felt happy to help poor and needy
ones. He was courageous and that is why he died as a martyr for love. He made the
Prince to fall in his love so that when he died the heart of the prince also broke and
god accepted them in his Garden of Paradise.
3.5 University Questions:
Q. 1 Justify the end of the story.
Q. 2 How did Swallow help the people of the city?
Q. 3 How has Oscar Wilde described the hypocrisy of the people of the
city?
Q. 4 Why did the Happy Prince weep and what effect it had upon the
Swallow?
Q. 5 Discuss in detail the moral purpose of the story.
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3.6 Bibliography:
1. Wilde Oscar, The Happy Prince (Penguin Popular Classic, 2008)
2. Hudson William Henry, An Outline Of English Literature (Quality Publishing
Company, Bhopal, 1999)
3. Abrams M. H., A Glossary Of Literary Terms (Macmillan India Ltd., Delhi,
1998)
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O. Henry- The Gift of the Magi
3.7 Objective:
The objective of this special unit is to provide the knowledge of the genre of short
story to the students through O. Henery‟s story “The Gift of the Magi.”
3.8 Introduction:
O. Henry is a famous American Writer of short stories. There is always some purpose
behind his stories. “The gift of the Magi” is one such story which teaches us the
lesson of love and devotion.
3.9 Origin and development of short story:
A short story is a short work of prose fiction and different from novel in magnitude. It
may be tragic, comic, romantic or satiric. The mode of writing may be related to
fantasy, realism or naturalism. It is a recent phenomenon. Edgar Allen Poe is
considered to be the originator of short story as a specific genre. He defined the prose
tale as a narrative that can be read at one sitting of from one hour to two hours, and
that is limited to a certain unique or single effect, to which every detail is subordinate.
Short story has all the constituents of a novel like plot, character, and setting but they
have a limited canvas. The language of the short story should be economical
The Short story is a recent development. Chaucer has made use of this genre in his
“Canterbury Tales.” His Italian friend Bocassio has also used it in his “Decameron.”
In eighteenth century Addison and Steel used Tales to moralise their age. Scott‟s
“Wandering Willie‟s Tale”, written in 1824 can be considered an approach to the
modern English short story. In 1830 American writers Nathaniel Hawthorne and
Edgar Allen Poe were the first to propound the theory of short story writing. In
England R. L. Stevenson also formulated the theory of short story. In each case he
considered that an author of short story must have a communicable “impression” or
“idea” which should engage the attention of reader from first to last.
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Short story is very much popular in the modern times. Arnold Benneet, Hugh
Walpole, Elizabeth Bowen and Catherine Mansfield are some of the exponents of
short story. Rudyard Kipling gain world wide popularity through his tales from India.
H. G wells, Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle also tried their talent in short story
and became famous. Since 1900 John Galsworthy, D. H. Lawrance, Aldus Huxley
and James Joyce made memorable contribution in this field. Americans like E. A. Poe
and O. Henry are stalwarts in this genre. Still writers are fulfilling their purposes by
writing short stories.
3.10 Biographical sketch of the author and survey of his
works:
O. Henry was a famous American writer of short stories, William Sidney Porter was
his real name, he wrote under the pen name of O. Henry. He was born on September
11, 1862, at Greensboro in North America. He was the son of Dr. Algernon Sidney
Porter, a physician, and Mary Jane Virginia Swaim Porter. Among his famous
collections of short stories are “Cabbages and Kings” (1904), “The Four Million”
(1906), “The Gift of Magi” (In Full House, 1952). His other entertaining stories are
“The Furnished Room”, “The Last Leaf” and “The Third Ingredient”.
His stories run around the common events in the life of ordinary characters. The
morals of his stories are sharp and directed to the reader through humour, irony and
satire. While amusing themselves with the story readers unknowingly wipe out tears
in sympathy with the characters. The most common effect of his writings is that we
identify ourselves with his characters and situations. He is widely known for sudden
twisting of plots and surprise endings.
As far as his style is concerned it is marked by colloquialism and slang. His use of
metaphors and circumlocutions enhances the impact of his story.
3.11 - Critical summary of “The Gift of the Magi” .
“The Gift of the Magi” is a story of the life of a young middle class couple, living a
poor but loving life. The story describes their true love for each other. The hero Jim
was a poor twenty year old clerk belonging to a renowned family but now is facing
financial drawbacks. In spite of all his economic sufferings he has one beautiful asset
in his life, his wife Della who loved him equally well. His wife had to manage the
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house hold expenses only on $20 and hence could not afford the luxuries in life. Due
to their poor financial condition they had to suppress even their ordinary desires but
they compensated their materialistic desires with their love. Every day in the evening
Della eagerly waited for Jim‟s return from the office and hugged him intensely when
he entered the home after the whole day. As far as Jim is concerned he always
returned home without being late for his wife. He ever considered her beautiful
without paying any attention to outer decorations. They understood each other better
than themselves and always give priority to others needs out of love. Their love –
bond was strong enough to make them happy in their poverty.
Jim and Della wanted to give pleasant surprise on the eve of Christmas by fulfilling
the long awaited longings of each other but the shortage of money again came in their
way of happiness. There was shortage of money but there was no shortage of feelings
between them that‟s why each of them decided to sacrifice for the other. Della had
only one dollar and eighty seven cents which she saved from her daily expenses after
much bargaining with vendors. But nothing could stop her to buy a gift for Jim, she
sold her beautiful, long and lustrous hairs which could make even the queens envious
and Jim thought them to be the biggest asset of Della‟s beauty. She sold them in
twenty dollars. With that money she bought an excellent platinum chain for Jim‟s
golden watch. Similarly Jim sold his golden watch to purchase a set of tortoise – shell
comb for Della‟s beautiful hairs, which she desired for long but couldn‟t purchase out
of tight position of money. When Jim came back from the office to surprise Della by
the gift, he himself got astonished to see Della in short hair and much more stunned to
find out the gift of Della which was a platinum chain for his sold out golden watch. It
came to Della as a shock because though the gifts were expensive but they were
useless for them. It was a gift of Magi. Magi were the wise men who brought gift with
their wisdom for the new born Christ but they were useless for a child. That means
Gifts were materialistically unimportant for the particular occasion but for the sake of
love they were the most precious in the world.
This simple story is of full of deep emotions. It teaches us the lesson of love and
sacrifice. One can fight with the hardships of life if he has the strength of true love.
Jim and Della were the happiest of the mortals in the world in spite of poverty
because they had the wealth of love and the affluence of emotions compensated
worldly scarcities. They proved themselves worthy of each other by sacrificing their
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only belongings. Jim knew the fact that he could hardly manage the golden watch
again in his life but for the sake of his love for his wife he sacrificed it. On the
contrary Della sacrificed her beauty which is the ultimate asset of a lady to gain the
happiness of her husband. This is a love story of the conjugal love of husband and
wife who cared for their life partner more than themselves. The caring and sharing out
of love made their life rather more beautiful without golden watch and long, lustrous
hair. Nucleus of the story is that human emotions make life happy rather than material
wealth.
O. Henry narrated the story as an observer in a very simple manner. The plot and the
twisted end of the story is an example of situational irony. O. Henry has not used any
imagery or metaphors though he is famous for it. Instead he has used certain allusions
like Queen Sheba, King Solomon and the Magi.
3.12 Questions - Answer:
Q1. Critically examine the theme of the story.
A. “The Gift of the Magi” is a short story of famous American writer O. Henry.
This is a love story of a poor married couple Jim and Della who loved each other
deeply. Though they were poor yet there was enjoyment in their life due to their
mutual love and care. Jim earned so little that he could hardly manage the expenses of
the home. In their poverty they have two valuable assets with them, one was Jim‟s
ancestral golden watch and other was Della‟s beautiful hair. They both loved these
two assets dearly but in spite of their attachment with these assets, they sacrificed
them for each other. On the occasion of Christmas both of them wanted to make the
other happy so they decided to buy gifts for each other. Jim chose to buy tortoise shell
comb for Della‟s beautiful hair which she always desired to purchase but could not
due to shortage of money. Jim sold his only valuable asset his golden watch to
purchase the tortoise shell comb because he could not save required money despite his
all efforts. On the contrary Della also wanted to buy a gift for Jim which he desired.
She decided to buy a beautiful platinum chain for his golden watch but she was
unable to do so because she could not save enough money from her monthly
expenses. She took a firm decision to sell her hair and get money to buy the gift for
Jim. She did so without any grudges and bought a beautiful chain for him. When Jim
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came back home and they exchanged their gifts they found that they were the gifts of
Magi, at the moment useless for each other. Rather than enjoying the gift they enjoyed
the love and sacrifice for each other and this was their Christmas gift to each other.
Love and sacrifice is the theme of the story because that is the only thing remained
with them. Love and devotion was the real asset of Jim and Della.
Q. 2 Why did O. Henry named the story “The Gift Of The Magi”?
A. Jim and Della loved each other desperately despite their poverty so they always
thought of giving happiness to each other. Della sacrificed her beauty by selling her
hair for purchasing a long desired gift for Jim. Jim sacrificed his valuable family asset
to get a gift for Della. Both were not sad to be separated from their dearest assets
instead they were glad to have a desired gift for the other. Jim tried to save money
from his expenses but couldn‟t save enough to buy the tortoise shell comb for Dell‟s
hair which she very much wanted. He sold his only asset his golden watch for Della‟s
gift. On the other hand Della also tried to save money from the house expenses but
they were not enough to purchase an expensive chain for Jim‟s watch. She sold her
hair and bought a beautiful chain for him. When they exposed their gifts they found
that they were useless for them on the accession. Jim said that their gifts were the gifts
of Magi because they had used all their wisdom to buy them but at that moment they
were useless for both of them. Magi were the wise men who purchased gifts using
their wisdom but they were useless for child Christ. But the emotions behind those
gifts were useful and valuable for all the occasions.
Q. 3 Whose sacrifice was greater – Jim‟s or Della‟s?
A. Jim and Della were poor middle class married couple of America. They were
living their life in Jim‟s short earning. Their love and devotion for each other was
greater than their poverty. The intensity of their love was proved when they sacrificed
their only valuable assets for each other. Jim sold his expensive family asset his
golden watch for the tortoise shell comb for Della‟s hair which she loved dearly.
Della sold her long and lustrous hair to buy an expensive chain for Jim‟s watch which
he aspired to buy but never succeeded due to scarcity of money. Both of them
sacrificed their only asset for the sake of love but their sacrifice proved to be futile
from the materialistic point of view. Both of them kept the love above all so none was
less in his or her sacrifice. Both lost material asset and won spiritual property.
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Q. 4 How O. Henry has depicted described the middle class family life in
America?
A .O. Henry has painted the middle class life of America in his famous short story
“The Gift of the Magi.” O. Henry always makes his reader think in the end of the
story. There is often suspense in the end which is actually the beginning of a new
emotional thought. We often find common people with common problems of life in
his stories. For example in “The Gift of the Magi” he has shown the family life of the
working class people who have a very limited amount of money which is insufficient
to fulfil the daily demands of their life. They go pillar to post to earn money but their
efforts don‟t bring them all the comforts of life. Their material wealth is little but the
wealth of emotion fulfils the basic need of their life which is love. Their life is full of
love and devotion. Lack of material wealth teaches them the lessons of life. They
learn to live in closer relations. Jim and Della were economically poor but they were
emotionally rich. The difference between rich and poor ones is very clear through this
story. In contrast to rich people the poor have the wealth of unselfish love to steer
them though their lives of hardships and difficulties.
Q5 Describe the qualities of Jim and Della in brief.
A. Jim and Della were husband and wife living a middle class life with few
economic possessions. They have some common traits and some differences of
character. For example both were loving and caring. They were devoted and self
sacrificing. They have a selfless love for each other. That is why both of them happily
sacrificed their valuable assets for each other. O. Henry portrayed them very
carefully, highlighting their parallels and contrasts. Della‟s female qualities reflected
everywhere. She was quick in taking decisions while Jim as a male was rather patient.
He had more capacity of tolerance than Della. Della was more talkative than Jim.
Irrespective of the difference in their characteristics it is very clear that they were true
lovers.
3.13 University Questions:
Q. 1 How did Della save one dollar and eighty seven cents?
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Q. 2 What were the proud assets of Jim and Della?
Q. 3 What was the reaction of Jim and Della after they saw their gifts?
Q. 4 Describe the gifts of Jim and Della?
Q. 5 How did Della purchase a gift for Jim?
Q. 6 How did Jim purchase a gift for Della?
3.14 Bibliography:
1. Abrams M. H., A Glossary of Literary Terms (Macmillan India Ltd., Delhi,
1998)
2. Prasad B., A Background to the study of English Literature (Macmillan India
Ltd., Delhi, 1997)
3. David Mary S., A History of American Literature (Student Store, Bareilly,
1995)
4. Kapoor A. N., stories from Home & Abroad (Ravindra Prakashan, Gwalior,
1986)
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Section B-Drama
Unit IV- William Shakespeare - Macbeth
4.0 Objectives:
This Unit is meant to enhance the knowledge of students about the genre of drama.
Along with this it will acquaint students with Shakespeare‟s life, works and style. A
special study of Shakespeare‟s “Macbeth” will enhance their knowledge about the
qualities of Tragedy in Shakespearian drama.
4.1 Introduction
In 15th
century English Drama had no proper classical shape. English drama and
theatre are essentially Elizabethan in origin.
By definition drama: “Any work designed to be represented on the stage by actors
with the help of dialogues and acting.”
4.2 Origin and development of English Drama
Drama is a means of public recreation. In fact, drama grew out of religion. The credit
goes to Church because the main aim of church was to bring about moral and spiritual
upliftment of people. Church wanted to imbibe the mind of ordinary folk with
religious and spiritual values. In this way, presentation of stories from the Bible
became popular.
Slowly and slowly mystery and miracle plays came into existence. It was a step
ahead in the development of drama. Mysteries depicted the stories of the Bible while
the miracles were based on the lives of the saints.
From mysteries and miracle plays, the drama marched forward to moralities. These
plays were essentially religious in character. Their aim was to spread moral values.
These plays were not for ordinary folk but they were for intellectuals. There were
proper arrangements of acts and scenes. These plays were allegoric in character.
They had good deal of realism. They showed conflict between good and evil. These
plays helped in development of drama.
Along with the Morality plays, another form of drama developed. It is known as
“Interlude”. They had slight difference in theme. Morality plays were symbolic,
while Interludes were realistic in nature.
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During 16th
century plays of all types – tragedy, comedy, romance, historical etc. were
written by a number of great dramatists.
Thomas Sackville (1536-1608) and Thomas Norton (1532-1584) wrote in
collaboration Gorboduc, the first tragedy of English language. It was the first English
drama written in Blank Verse. It was written and staged in 1562.
The first comedy which was produced by Nicholas Udall is “Ralph Roister Doister”.
After this, come the plays of Christopher Marlowe. It was Christopher Marlowe who
paved way for William Shakespeare. He introduced Blank Verse in his plays. When
Shakespeare wrote his play; The Merchant of Venice, perhaps he had in his mind
Marlowe‟s The Jew of Malta.
Now comes William Shakespeare (1564-1616) who brought the English drama at its
highest peak. His place in British drama is immortal. He produced all types of
dramas.
4.3 Biographical Sketch and survey of his works (1564-
1616)
He is the greatest dramatist, not only of England but of the whole world. He wrote
each type of drama: tragedy, comedy, history, romance etc. His plays are remarkable
for their faithful delineation of characters and realistic, charming dialogues and
verses.
William Shakespeare was born on April 26, 1564 at Stratford-on-Avon in the county
of Warwickshire. He was the third child of his parents. His mother, Mary Arden
came from a good family of farmers. She got agricultural property from her father,
but she was not educated.
Shakespeare‟s father, John Shakespeare, was a prosperous man. He practiced various
occupations, such as, glover, butcher and farmer. He was also elected as an alderman
in 1565. After some time his business began to diminish. Shakespeare had his early
education at the Grammar School of Stratford. He studied Latin grammar and
literature. He also learnt French language.
As it is clear that Shakespeare‟s father‟s business and fortune declined, William‟s
time at the school was cut short. He was withdrawn from the school at the age of
thirteen. He had to help his father in his business.
William Shakespeare, in his early age, met a girl, Anne Hathaway, a daughter of
prosperous farmer. He was a young and emotional boy. He came in her contact and,
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ultimately married her. She was eight years older than her boy-husband.
Shakespeare‟s age was eighteen years and Anne Hathaway‟s age was twenty six. Six
months after their marriage their daughter, Susanna, was born. Again in 1585, they
had twins – son Hamnet and daughter Judith. Hamnet died in 1596. His married life
could not last long due to age difference. His married life was unhappy one. It is
very clear and we get its hint through his plays.
Shakespeare, after the few years of his marriage, made up his mind to leave Stratford
for London. Why he left for London; it is not very clear. Perhaps his unhappy and
mismatched married life or family‟s poor economic conditions or to secure a job and
his future, he left his native home and went to London. In London, he had record of
success and his prosperity grew. He did various jobs and ultimately began his career
as a writer. He started his career revisiting old dramas and later on started writing his
original plays. He spent the greater part of his life in London. He became prosperous
man and purchased land and property once lost by his father.
In London, Shakespeare came in contact with „The Earl of Southampton‟ who became
his patron. In London, he earned name and fame both. He became and remained a
prosperous wealthy man till his death.
Although Shakespeare spent the greater part of his life in London, he never failed to
visit his native place, at least once in a year. He finally returned to his native town in
1611. In Stratford, Shakespeare stayed at New Place, a house that he bought in 1597.
He abandoned his dramatic composition. He died on 23rd
April 1616 at the age of
fifty-two. He was buried inside Stratford church.
Shakespeare’s Career: His Major works
Shakespeare wrote several plays, sonnets and love poems. He covered almost all the
fields of drama i.e. tragedy, comedy, comic-tragedy, tragic-comedy, historical plays
and romantic plays.
His major plays are –
Romeo and Juliet (1594-95): It is the first successful love-tragedy of Shakespeare
after a number of history plays. The love of Romeo and Juliet has become immortal
and is one of the most famous love stories of the world. The lover couldn’t be united
because of family enmity and they died in tragic circumstances.
A Mid Summer Night’s Dream (1595-96): It is the first major romantic comedy
of Shakespeare, having both natural and supernatural elements. It has two
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very interesting characters: Puck, the mischievous spirit and Bottom, the ever
ready, happy go lucky buffoon.
The Merchant of Venice (1596-97):It is a famous play about a greedy and cruel
Jew, Shylock, who insisted upon his pound of flesh, which he could not get
because of cleverness of Portia.
Henry IV Part I & II (1597-98): It is a famous historical play written partly in
prose and partly in verse.
As You Like It (1598-1600):It is a famous romantic comedy set in the
enchanting and magical Arden Forest. Its theme is love and complications due
to mistaken identity. Its heroine, Rosalind, is one of the most beautiful
creations of Shakespeare.
Twelfth Night (1597-98): It is Shakespeare’s best romantic comedy based upon
mistaken identity. Its theme is love and marriage.
Julius Caesar (1600-01): It is one of the greatest play about great Roman Julius
Caesar who was murdered by his own trusted friends.
Hamlet (1600-01): It is the story of ‘Prince of Denmark’ and a great tragedy.
Hamlet is the most enigmatic character written by Shakespeare.
Othello (1604-05): It is another famous tragedy of Shakespeare. It is tragic-love
story of Othello, the Moor and his most charming and faithful wife,
Desdemona.
King Lear (1605-06): It is considered by many to be the best tragedy of
Shakespeare. Lear, a legendry King of England, met a tragic death because of
selfishness of his two daughters. The third daughter died while trying to save
her father.
Macbeth (1605-06): It is the shortest and the best constructed tragedy of
Shakespeare. It is a story of a man who falls because of his overambition.
Antony and Cleopatra (1606-07): It is a story of Antony, the Roman and
Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt.
Cymbeline (1609-10): It is one of the three plays of Shakespeare, termed as
Romance. These plays are tragic in theme but their end is happy.
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The Winter’s Tale (1610-11): It is a romance being tragic in theme with a happy
ending..
The Tempest (1611-12): It is perhaps the last play and certainly the last
important play of Shakespeare. It is a romance with the theme of revenge but
happy reconciliation.
Shakespeare’s Poetry:
Shakespeare was not only a great dramatist but also a poet. His famous poems are –
Venus and Adonis (1593): It is a romantic poem describing the love of Venus
and Adonis.
The Rape of Lucrece (1594): It is a Greek mythological story describing about
the tragedy of Lucrece.
Sonnets:
Most of the sonnets were written during 1593-96. Shakespeare modified the rhyme
scheme of Petrarchean sonnet. Therefore, his sonnets are called Shakespearean or
English sonnets.The sonnets are autobiographical. The mystery of „Mr. W. H.‟ to
whom the sonnets are dedicated and the „Dark Lady‟ who is mentioned in the sonnet
remain unsolved. The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is: a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f,
g-g
Sonnet : (A poem of 14 lines)
It has three quatrains and one couplet
a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g = 14 lines
I quatrain II quatrain III quatrain couplet
4.4 Act-wise Summary of the play
The play Macbeth is one of Shakespeare‟s best plays and one amongst his best
tragedies. It can be divided into two parts. The first part tells us about the rise of
Macbeth and the second part deals with the fall of Macbeth.
Act I - Macbeth‟s victories and the temptation to become king.
Act II - Macbeth‟s hesitation to murder Duncan and finally Duncan‟s
murder.
Act III - Macbeth‟s apparent success, reaching its climax in Banquo‟s
murder.
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Act IV - Macbeth‟s decline and murder of Macduff‟s family.
Act V - Macbeth‟s death.
Act I
It opens with the three witches who meet on a lonely heath in the midst of thunder and
lightning and to whom „fair is foul and foul is fair‟. They propose to meet Macbeth at
the close of the battle which they know by their supernatural power, is going to end
that very day.
Duncan is the King of Scotland. He has two sons. Their names are Malcolm and
Donalbain. Macbeth and Banquo are Generals of the King‟s army. Duncan, along
with his sons, is eagerly waiting in a camp near Forres for Macbeth. They are keen to
know the progress of the battle. A bleeding sergeant comes straight from the battle-
field and informs the King that the royal General, Macbeth and the rebellious thane of
Macdonald fought bravely. The two Generals (Macbeth and Banquo) defeated the
rebel. Soon after that, Sweno, the Norwegian King attacks. But, he was also defeated
by Macbeth. Duncan‟s joy knows no bounds at the news of the victory. He admires
Macbeth‟s bravery. Duncan orders immediate execution of Thane of Cawdor. He
confers Cawdor‟s land and title on Macbeth.
The three witches, according to their plan, are waiting for Macbeth and Banquo who
are returning from the battlefield. Macbeth and his friend are stopped by the witches
on the heath. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor and King
after that. They also prophesy that Banquo will be the father of kings, though he
himself will never be a king. Before they ask anything, the witches vanish. Hardly
after they vanish, Ross and Angus come to break the news of Macbeth‟s appointment
as the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth thinks little of these strange prophecies until
informed by Ross. Lust of power now swells in him. He writes a loving letter to his
wife, telling her all about the prophecies of the witches and their partial fulfilment.
Macbeth and Banquo meet King Duncan. Duncan, in his joyous mood after
Macbeth‟s return from battle, announces that he is going to establish his elder son
Malcolm as the heir to the throne and make him Prince of Cumberland. This hurts
Macbeth as he now sees how his vaulting ambition is going to be buried. Now,
Macbeth plans for something as the soliloquy shows. He wants to remove Duncan
before he bestows his estate on Malcolm. As Duncan was pleased with Macbeth he
announces his intention to be Macbeth‟s guest for a night. Macbeth informs this to
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his wife. His wife, Lady Macbeth, is a very ambitious lady. She, therefore, decides to
kill Duncan, so that her husband may become King. When Macbeth comes, she tells
him about her decision.
Duncan and his sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, come to Macbeth‟s castle to spend the
night. Lady Macbeth receives the King very warmly. The King, in a right royal
manner, excuses himself to the queen for the trouble that he may cause to her as a
guest.Lady Macbeth too very politely expresses the loyalty of herself and of her
husband in abundance. Then, the feast starts. While the feast is going on Macbeth
slips off and sits in a room meditating upon the murder. He does not bother about the
morality and future consequences. When he is not determined, Lady Macbeth taunts
him and accuses him of cowardice and weak will. Ultimately, he is prepared to
murder King Duncan that very night.
Act II
The feast is over. Duncan is gone to his chamber to sleep. Lady Macbeth carefully
plans for the action but she lacks the courage to do so because Duncan reminds her of
her own father. Macbeth also thinks a lot before committing the deed. Macbeth
enters Duncan‟s bed chamber with a view to murdering him. His brain creates an airy
drawn dagger which, with its blood-stained edge, points him to Duncan. But he
realizes that it was a hallucination. Finally he hears a bell ring. That is the signal
given by Lady Macbeth to perform the deed. In terrible fear, he slays the sleeping
King Duncan and returns to his room with bloody dagger. He informs her that the
deed has been done. He is very much agitated. His wife advises him not to think of
his crime. She takes the bloody dagger from him. She goes to the king‟s men, puts
the dagger in their hands, so that they may be suspected of killing Duncan. She also
smears their faces with blood.
Next morning, Macduff and Lennox come to Macbeth‟s house to meet the king.
Macbeth sends Macduff to king‟s room. Macduff soon returns. He tells the dreadful
news of the king‟s murder. Macbeth pretends surprise at the murder. Both, he and
his wife, join loudly in the lamentations for the dead king. Macbeth pretends to be
very angry with the guards. So he goes to kill them. Lady Macbeth appears on the
scene and faints to hear the tragedy in her house.
Malcolm and Donalbain, the two sons of the dead king, are shocked by their father‟s
murder. They fear that they too may be murdered. So, they fly from Scotland.
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Malcolm goes to England and Donalbain goes to Ireland. Macbeth now becomes
king. The prophecy of witches is fulfilled and Macbeth attains the coveted goal of his
life.
Act III
Banquo is in the King‟s palace near Forres. In a soliloquy he expresses his view
regarding the predictions of the witches, which have been so far proven true in case
of Macbeth. He remembers the prophecy of witches about his sons and for a moment,
is tempted to believe that it may prove to be true about his son too. Macbeth and lady
Macbeth, dressed as King and Queen, greet Banquo as the chief guest of the feast they
are going to give in honour of the lords of the kingdom; and ask them to be present
there in time. Macbeth now wants to defeat the prophecy of the witches regarding
Banquo. He makes a plan to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. He hires murderers to
kill them. The murderers wait for Banquo and Fleance in a park near the palace.
When Banquo and Fleance come, murderers attack them. They kill Banquo. But,
Fleance escapes. Banquo‟s murder is the last success of Macbeth. Now, fall of
Macbeth starts.
In the meantime, the banquet is arranged in the hall of the palace at Forres. Lords and
attendants enter. Macbeth is directing the guests to their seats according to their rank;
and Lady Macbeth welcoming them. Macbeth, after guests have taken their seats
approaches the door where the first murderer is waiting to speak to him. From the
murderer he comes to know that Banquo has been killed but his son, Fleance, has
escaped. Now, Macbeth is worried. Lady Macbeth reminds him to join the party.
While Macbeth is to take his seat the ghost of Banquo, visible to Macbeth but not to
the guests, occupies the seat reserved for Macbeth. Guests request Macbeth to take
the seat. But, to Macbeth, the table is full. He sees Banquo‟s ghost sitting on his
place. He is upset again. Lady Macbeth, however, controls the situation. She tells
her guests that her husband has often had such fits. She, then, requests them to leave.
Now, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are left alone. Macbeth had invited Macduff to the
banquet. But, he did not come. Macbeth feels insulted and thinks that Macduff is
disloyal. So he decides to kill Macduff. Lady Macbeth is completely upset by
bloodshed. So, she does not want to participate any more in her husband‟s crime.
Lennox and a lord meet outside the palace of Forres. They are very much disturbed
by the recent happenings in Scotland. Lennox suspects that Macbeth is the cause of
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the murder of Duncan and Banquo. Lords hope to restore peace and safety again in
Scotland.
Act IV
Macbeth is haunted by Banquo‟s ghost. So, he goes to the heath to meet the three
witches. He consults them about his future. They tell him three things :
1. They warn to be aware of Macduff.
2. None born of woman has power to harm Macbeth.
3. Macbeth will never be defeated till Birnam Wood comes to his
castle.
Macbeth is fully satisfied with what he was told. He, however, wants to know
whether Banquo‟s children will rule after him. The witches, instead of saying
anything, show him a sight. Macbeth sees a procession of eight kings. The last king
has a mirror in his hand. This king is followed by Banquo‟s ghost. Macbeth feels
disgusted with the sight. He curses the witches for showing it to him. The witches
assure him that the sight is true.
Macbeth is utterly confused and extremely touched by the strange predictions and
scenes. In the meantime, Lennox enters and informs Macbeth about Macduff‟s flight
to England. Macbeth now decides to send soldiers to Macduff‟s castle to kill his wife
and child in order that they shall never succeed him. He, shortly after this, sends
murderers to Macduff‟s house who kill the children and the mother.
In the meantime, Macduff reaches England to meet Malcolm. In the beginning,
Malcolm doubts the loyalty of Macduff. Macduff tells Malcolm that Scotland has
become a slaughter-house. Still, Malcolm suspects him to be Macbeth‟s spy. But,
after sometime, his suspicion is removed. This makes Macduff very happy.
Ross comes from Scotland. From him, Macduff comes to know about the murder of
his wife and children. This makes him very sad. Malcolm turns Macduff‟s sorrow to
revenge. Macduff vows to kill Macbeth by his own hands.
Act V
The fifth Act opens with the famous sleep-walking scene. Originally (In the
beginning Macbeth was hesitating) Macbeth was not a criminal. But Lady Macbeth is
very ambitious lady, provokes her husband to commit crimes and has helped and
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supported him . At last, her mind is overweighed with her sins. She loses her reason
and becomes mad. She walks in her sleep. She talks of blood and murder.
A doctor is called to watch Lady Macbeth in her sleep-walking. Lady Macbeth,
walking in her sleep, enters, bearing a candle, which, by her instruction, is always
placed at her bed side. In her sleep she utters all that she did and said after the
murder, and at the banquet. The doctor admits that such a disease is beyond his
power to heal.
Lady Macbeth pathetically refers to the smell of blood on her little hand which could
not be sweetened by all the perfumes of Arabia. She goes to bed remarking
pathetically that what is done cannot be undone. The doctor fully understands that her
unnatural trouble is due to her unnatural deeds.
In the meantime, Malcolm and Macduff, with the English forces, reach Scotland.
There they are joined by some noblemen of Scotland and their forces. The combined
forces are led by Malcolm. They march towards Macbeth‟s palace in Dunsinane. In
between, Macbeth hears cry of women from a room of castle. He is told that his wife
Lady Macbeth is dead.
From the conversation of the noblemen we come to know many things about
Macbeth. His moral and mental faculties have stopped functioning. His conscience is
condemning him for his evil deeds. He is building strong fortification, all around the
castle of Dunsinane. He is all alone in his palace. After his wife‟s death Macbeth
becomes weary of life and describes it as a tale told by an idiot.
Malcolm does not want that the strength of his army be known. So, he orders the
soldiers to cut and carry branches of tree in their hands. The soldiers do so. Thus,
Birnam Wood moves towards Macbeth‟s palace. Macbeth sees Birnam Wood
coming. The prophecy of the witches is becoming true. Macbeth becomes upset.
Realising danger for the first time he calls his soldiers to arm themselves to fight
against the foe. Macbeth‟s castle is surrounded by English and Scottish forces.
Macduff tells him that he was not born of a woman. He was untimely ripped (i.e.
delivered by operation) open from his mother‟s womb. On hearing this, Macbeth
becomes sure of his death. But he is a brave man. So he rejects suicide. He faces
Macduff and is killed by him.
Now, Macduff enters, carrying with him Macbeth‟s head. The victorious Macduff
hails Malcolm as King of Scotland, and the lords and soldiers re-echo the cheer for
their new sovereign. The play ends by a short speech by Malcolm in which he
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promises a new period of happiness for all people. He then invites them to be present
at his coronation.
Thus, the tragedy ends on a note of triumph of Good over Evil. Evil is expelled.
Peace is once again established. Poetic justice is done to the evil-doer.
4.5 Question-Answer:
Q. 1- Write a note on main characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy with special
reference to Macbeth.
It is very difficult to define Shakespearean tragedy, for, no writer ever wrote in
accordance with a theory.
A tragedy is essentially a story of death or suffering. The Greeks held the view that
the ultimate cause of tragedy was fate. It is fate that makes or mars a man‟s character
and leads him to his catastrophe, death or suffering. Shakespearean tragedy is
something more than a mere tale of death or suffering caused by fate. He believes
that it is not fate but character that leads man to final catastrophe. Character is a
central fact around which the theory and the theme of tragedy are woven.
To Shakespeare, character is the architect of fate. Characters and their actions shape
their destiny.
Macbeth is one of the greatest and the most classical of Shakespeare‟s tragedies. It
has the grandeur and simplicity of tragedy. It is the best example of Shakespeare‟s
genius.
The Shakespearean tragedy is pre-eminently the story of a conspicuous person, with
abnormal condition of mind.
Salient features of Shakespearean tragedy:
i) Tragic hero, ii) Tragic Flaw, iii) Suffering of Hero, iv)Abnormal condition of
mind , v)Conflict, vi)Ruin of Soul, vii)Struggle between Good & Evil,
viii)Supernatural Elements, ix)Tone or Atmosphere x) Tragic waste.
i. Tragic Hero: The hero of Shakespearean tragedy is always an exceptional
person who stands in high degree. Macbeth is such a person. He always
appears as an exalted personage. He belongs to the royal family. He gets
various titles, and at last, becomes King. He has leadership qualities.
ii. Tragic Flaw: Shakespeare‟s tragic hero has a tragic flaw which drives him to
his doom. In Macbeth, tragic flaw is his high ambition. Because of this flaw
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and ambition he commits mistakes. He wants to achieve impossible things.
This ambition ruins him.
iii. Suffering of the Hero: The suffering of the hero in a Shakespearean tragedy
is of an exceptional kind and he himself is responsible for them. In Macbeth,
after his grand victory on the battle field, honours are heaped on Macbeth.
Duncan visits his castle. Macbeth was a happy fellow. But, due to his
ambition, he murders King Duncan who loved him like a father. From this
moment, his suffering starts and ultimately he is ruined.
iv. Abnormal condition of mind: In Shakespearean tragedies heroes have some
abnormality or insanity. Macbeth suffers from hallucination and sees a dagger
drawn in the air. Lady Macbeth also suffers some mental problem and walks
in sleep.
v. Conflict: In Shakespearean tragedy, we find inner and outer conflicts. We
find both of them in Macbeth.
vi. Ruin of Soul: Shakespearean tragedy is concerned with the ruin of soul.
Though Macbeth had all the characteristics of being a hero, the character lead
itself into a tragedy with ruin of his soul.
vii. Struggle between Good & Evil: Shakespearean tragedy represents struggle
between Good and Evil in the character of hero. Earlier, Macbeth was not
ready to murder King Duncan, but when Lady Macbeth compels him, he
chooses Evil and spoils himself.
viii. Supernatural Element: In Shakespearean tragedy we see the depiction of
supernatural element. The hero is free to follow or to reject the suggestion of
supernatural element. In Macbeth, we find this element in the form of
witches. The words of the witches become fatal to Macbeth.
ix. Tone of Atmosphere: A Shakespearean tragedy has a special tone or
atmosphere of its own. In Macbeth we find the description of heath, witches,
darkness of night, moving of forest
x. Tragic Waste: The central feeling in a Shakespearean tragedy is the
impression of waste. Macbeth is a talented, genius warrior and a good man.
But, due to his ambition all his goodness is wasted.
Thus it is quite clear that in Macbeth we find most of the features of Shakespearean
tragedy.
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Q.2- Comment on the role played by the supernatural elements in
Shakespearean tragedies with special reference to Macbeth.
The supernatural elements plays an important part in Shakespearean tragedy. They
always have close relation with the hero. They reveal the future as well. In Hamlet
the King‟s Ghost appears and hints about his murder. In Macbeth too there are
witches who make prophecy. Though they make prophecy, the hero is totally free
whether to follow it or not. As we see in Shakespearean tragedy, character makes the
destiny. Character follows the circumstances or is affected by some abnormal
condition of mind. Some chance or some accident leads the hero towards destruction.
Supernatural elements only hint but they never destroy the freedom of character,
freedom of action.
The supernatural elements with which we are mainly concerned consist of ghost and
witches who possess supernatural power or knowledge. In Macbeth supernatural
elements contribute a lot to the action of the play. The witches meet Macbeth in a
heath and make prophecy. This leads the destruction of Macbeth. Similarly,
Shakespeare has created the ghost of Banquo. Some critics say it is the strong
imagination of Macbeth‟s mind.
According to Elizabethan belief, appearance of supernatural elements indicates
strange and sad events. Appearance of the ghost of Banquo begins the end of
Macbeth. These elements affect the stage and they create the appropriate atmosphere
for the tragedy.
The meeting of Macbeth with three witches tempted Macbeth and Lady Macbeth for
action. But, supernatural elements alone can‟t be blamed for this. This temptation
was already hidden in Macbeth. Witches gave them only air to burn. But it can‟t be
denied that they helped a lot in the action of tragedy.
The play opens with the witches‟ words. They say,
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
It means - all that is good for others is evil for witches.
They play an important role in development of the tragedy. The witches tell Macbeth
three things :
1. They warn him to beware of Macduff.
2. None born of woman has power to harm Macbeth.
3. Macbeth will never be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to his Castle.
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Macbeth is utterly confused. He couldn‟t interpret the meaning of the witches‟
prophecy clearly. He ignores it because of his overambitious nature. But when
Macduff says that he is not born of a woman, Macbeth understands the prophecy.
In this way supernatural elements and his own character, both are responsible for his
tragic end.
Q.3- Comment on Shakespeare‟s conception of tragic-hero with special
reference to Macbeth.
Shakespearean tragedies are concerned with the ruin or restoration of the soul, and of
the life of men. In other words, its subject is the struggle of good and evil in the
world. A play is not a tragedy merely because it tells a tale of death or suffering. The
tragic hero in Shakespeare‟s writing is generally a person of high rank or public
importance and his actions or sufferings are of an unusual kind. The calamities of
tragedy do not happen accidentally. They proceed mainly from the action of man.
These actions beget other actions and finally lead the tragic hero to a catastrophe. The
hero errs and his error brings about his doom.
Shakespeare gives Macbeth a similar trait. His ambition brings ruin upon him.
Macbeth, a great warrior, the peerless kinsman of Duncan, is a great tragic figure. His
fault, an excessive ambition, combined with his extreme imaginative power, his weak
will, his superstitious nature, the influence of the witches and the circumstances – all
these lead him to bloody crimes and ultimately to his death and doom.
Macbeth is a profound and mature creation of Shakespeare. He is a tragic hero who is
a criminal, the hero who becomes a villain.
We have sympathy for Macbeth. He is not wholly bad. The powers of evil in him he
had trusted, turn against him and betray him.
Q.4- What is poetic Justice? Do you find poetic justice in Macbeth.
„Poetic Justice‟ means that prosperity and adversity are distributed in proportion to
the merits of the agents. In Shakespeare‟s plays we find that villainy never remains
victorious and prosperous in the end. The career of Macbeth is the best example of
this justice. We see the rise and fall of Macbeth. Macbeth rises and series of success
are in his part, and this success is unbroken till the end in the murder of Banquo.
Macbeth is inspired by his ambition. Though he is aware of his wrongdoings but his
guilt is overpowered by his ambitions. He murders Duncan and Banquo. He murders
guards and then Macduff‟s family. His fear is born of guilt. Lady Macbeth, who is
called the „fourth witch‟ by critics, always helps her husband in committing crimes.
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She instigates Macbeth to murder Duncan. But, ultimately her mind and heart are
overburdened with her sins. She lacks her reason, becomes abnormal and dies. Now,
poetic justice is done.
Macbeth too became overweighted with sins. Macbeth is totally alone in his castle.
He thinks about the prophecy of witches, “Macbeth will never be defeated till Birnam
Wood comes to his castle.”
In the meantime, Malcolm and Macduff with the English forces reach Scotland.
Soldiers carry branches of trees in their hands. The Birnam Wood moves towards
Macbeth‟s castle. His castle is surrounded by the enemies. Macbeth is killed by
Macduff. Though it is a great tragedy, we feel pity for Macbeth. Ultimately the play
ends on a note of triumph of Good over Evil. Evil is expelled. Poetic justice is done
to the evil doer.
Q.5- Write a short note on the use of dramatic irony in Macbeth.
Irony is a device by which a writer expresses a meaning contradictory to the stated or
unstated one. The essential idea of „irony‟ is double dealing. In drama, „irony‟ lies in
the difference between two facts as known to the audience and as imagined by the
characters of the play, or by some of them.
In a general sense, there is irony when we expect one thing and the reverse of it
happens. Macbeth is the story of an over ambitious man. Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth do everything to become powerful but they never realize that they are
powerless before God. It is a great irony. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth love each
other. Lady Macbeth guides Macbeth. She wanted to see her husband a powerful
King. She helps her husband in murdering King Duncan. But the irony is that neither
Macbeth nor Lady Macbeth could live happily. Lady Macbeth becomes abnormal
and then Macbeth is killed by the enemies. Duncan loved Macbeth very much. He
was like his father. Lady Macbeth couldn‟t kill King Duncan as he (Duncan)
resembled her father Duncan was very much pleased with Macbeth and goes to
Macbeth‟s castle for dinner, and rests for a night. He reaches there. The irony is that
those whom Duncan loved very much and regarded his near and dear ones kill him.
When Duncan reaches in the castle of Macbeth he enjoys and feels peace because the
air, the atmosphere was quite good.
Duncan says:
“This castle hath a pleasant seat ;the air
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nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle sense.”
Duncan is unaware of what is going to happen to him but the audience understands
the hidden meaning. Duncan enjoys the exterior atmosphere while his fate was
waiting for his end. He sleeps there permanently.
Lady Macbeth comes before us as a strong lady earlier. When Macbeth was
hesitating to murder King Duncan, Lady Macbeth decides to kill Duncan. She gives
signal to murder the King Duncan. Though she shows manly character but still she
has weak heart. The crime haunts her. She is unable to bear the heavy load of the sin
and becomes abnormal. In her sleep she utters some words and their sin is revealed.
She becomes totally mad and dies. Here her daring spirit does not work. She comes
as a weak woman. She says in sleep-walking scene:
“Here is the smell of blood still ! All the perfumes of Arabia will not
sweeten this little hand.”
In Macbeth, the atmosphere of the play is packed with irony. It has echo of all forms
of irony.
Q.6 Give character-sketch of Macbeth.
Macbeth is Shakespeare‟s most profound and mature vision of evil. Macbeth is hero
of the play, who becomes a villain. He is a strong mixture of good and evil. He is
tragic hero who suffers because of his ambition. His few qualities are:
His courage and bravery: Macbeth comes before us as a competent soldier. His
courage, bravery and generalship impress us. He is life and soul of the army that he
leads to victory against Duncan‟s enemies. He saves the country from a civil and
foreign enemy and enjoys love and affection of Duncan. But his guilty ambition
inspires him for crime and this is the cause of his downfall.
His ambition: Macbeth is an example of over-ambitious hero. He believes in the
prophecy of witches and starts thinking about his success. Macbeth was loved by
Duncan because of his qualities but his wife, Lady Macbeth, who is called the fourth
witch, instigates him to murder King Duncan. She wants to see her husband as a
King. Macbeth too wanted to become king. So, when Duncan comes to his castle he
murders him when he was sleeping. He murders Duncan due to his ambition but he
murders others because of fear. In this way he ruins others as well as himself.
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His weakness: Macbeth is a man of good intention. He was living a good and
virtuous life; but he suffers because of his weaknesses. He is dominated by his wife
and is unable to suppress her thoughts. He is tempted by the prophecy of three
witches. Witches do the work of stimuli and his ambition which was lying hidden is
kindled. He does every possible thing to fulfil his ambition. If he had been a man of
strong character, he would not have been motivated by the witches.
His superstition: Macbeth comes before us as a person who is very much
superstitious. The prophecy of the witches has no effect on Banquo, but it moves
Macbeth. He believes the witches who say that „none born of woman will kill you‟
and that „he would be safe till Birnam Wood moved to him‟. His superstition brings
his tragic death.
His cruelty:
Macbeth, though a noble and patriotic man, turns into a cruel man. Enkindled by
witches he becomes over ambitious and commits crime after crime. He murders King
Duncan who loved him like his son. He manages to murder Banquo and after that
Macduff‟s children and wife. His ambition leads him towards cruelty, towards crime
and sin and then towards destruction.
His Imagination: Macbeth‟s imagination is very sharp. He is poet with his brain and
villain with his heart. Due to his imagination he becomes victim of witches‟
prophecy. His imagination to be the King makes him suspicious and insecure and he
murders Banquo and then Macduff‟s wife and children. His soliloquies are the best
examples of his imagination. Macbeth‟s imagination distinguishes him from
Shakespeare‟s other tragic heroes.
His Humanism: Basically Macbeth was a brave and noble man. Moved by the
prophecies he commits Duncan‟s murder. But no sooner his deed is done, he is filled
with remorse. He realizes his mistake at the end and says, “Life is a walking shadow .
. . a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.”
He becomes victim of his passion and evil destiny. At last he gets our sympathy.
Conclusion: Macbeth is a tragedy of an over-ambitious hero. Due to his ambition,
Macbeth trusted in power of evil but it works against his favour. His courage turns
into rage. His wife, Lady Macbeth, becomes abnormal and dies. He himself dies and
his death wakes our pity. In spite of his weakness he remains a tragic hero. When he
dies we feel a sense of waste of human talent and feel pity for him.
Q7-. Write a note on the character sketch of Lady Macbeth.
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In the character of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both we find criminal attitude and
over ambition.
Lady Macbeth, who is called the fourth witch by some critics, has both the qualities –
feminine as well as masculine.
Feminine qualities: Lady Macbeth is an over-ambitious lady. Due to her ambition
she wants to see her husband as a powerful man. She motivates him to commit the
murder of King Duncan. When Macbeth hesitates, she forces him for the bloody
crime. She has feminine characteristic like love and admiration for her husband and
due to this influence Macbeth is moved to commit the crime.
Due to her feminine qualities she couldn‟t murder King Duncan herself. Although
she goes herself for the murder but she lacks the courage to do so. She informs
Macbeth, she cannot commit the deed as Duncan reminds her of her own father. This
is her feminine characteristic.
Not only this, she becomes mad because her tender heart and brain could not tolerate
the series of killings by her husband and she becomes abnormal. A doctor and nurse
attend her. In sleep-walking scene she utters, “All the perfumes of Arabia cannot
sweeten my hands”.
Masculine qualities: In the character of Lady Macbeth we find masculine qualities
like harshness and cruelty. She had evil thoughts and wickedness. Lady Macbeth‟s
cruelty and strong will forced Macbeth to commit the first murder. Her strength and
cunning is noteworthy in Banquet Scene in distracting the guests‟ attention from her
hysterical husband.
The greatness of Lady Macbeth lies in her courage and strong will. Lady Macbeth is
more resourceful than her husband. It is actually she who takes the initiative in
Duncan‟s murder, plans it and gets executed.
Actually she is practical like men. She knows her purpose and goes straight to it by
shortest way. When Macbeth, after assassinating Duncan, comes with dagger and
shudders to keep it back, she takes the dagger herself and scolds her husband. She
goes and keeps the dagger beside the watchmen (who were unconscious) so that they
may be suspected of killing the king. It makes it clear that what alertness of brain she
*has. She is a woman with self-control. She never betrayed herself or her husband by
a single word knowingly.
Shakespeare‟s women are always more practical and matter of fact than men. So,
Lady Macbeth is also matter of fact and practical.
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If she is called the fourth witch, it is because she helped in completing the work of
„three witches. But what she did, she did because of her feminine nature, because she
wanted to see her husband as a powerful and famous man.
Q8-. Write an essay on the „soliloquies‟ of Macbeth.
Soliloquy is a dramatic device through which the dramatist reveals characters.
Soliloquy is a speech in which a character, in a play, usually all alone on the stage,
speaks out his thoughts. Through a soliloquy, the character expresses his innermost
thoughts which he cannot express before others. In this way a soliloquy enables the
audience to understand a character fully. It is used to convey to the audience
information or mood not obtained either from action or the dialogue. Shakespeare has
used soliloquies for following purposes:
i. To supply information regarding the plot.
ii. To produce a tragic or amusing effect.
iii. To explain complex characters.
iv. To explain the psychology of characters.
v. To reveal the personal thoughts and feelings of characters.
vi. To give an insight into the motives and conflict in feelings of a character
immediately before or after significant action in the play.
In Macbeth, the soliloquies give us deep insight of the characters. They draw before
us a vivid picture of Macbeth‟s character.
Macbeth‟s first soliloquy:
*Macbeth‟s first soliloquy which is „Aside‟ actually confidential and
incidental comment on the character to the audience. Macbeth‟s „Aside‟ is a
nature of „Soliloquy‟ because it reveals the secret thoughts. This soliloquy
reveals his conflict and thought over the prophecy of witches and the thought
of murdering Duncan enters in his mind.
Macbeth‟s second soliloquy:
Macbeth‟s second soliloquy also reveals his strong will and
determination to murder Duncan. So he asks the stars to hide their fires. He
does not want that light should see his black and deep desires.
Macbeth‟s third soliloquy:
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Macbeth‟s third soliloquy is spoken when Duncan is guest in his castle
and Lady Macbeth proposes his murder. Macbeth ponders over it and finds no
reason to murder Duncan. This is very famous soliloquy and reveals inner
character of Macbeth.
Macbeth‟s fourth soliloquy:
Macbeth‟s fourth soliloquy comes just before he goes to murder King
Duncan. In this soliloquy he shows no hesitation in committing the foul deed.
He suffers from hallucination. He pictures an air drawn dagger – leading
towards Duncan‟s bedroom. This shows that a conflict is still going on
between the good and the evil in his nature.
Macbeth‟s Fifth soliloquy:
This soliloquy comes in Act III Scene I. It reveals a complete change
in Macbeth. Now, criminal in him has been fully formed. He acknowledges
the superiority of Banquo‟s genius and ability. So he decides to get Banquo
murdered.
Macbeth‟s Sixth soliloquy:
This soliloquy reveals the flight of Macduff to England. This
information makes him mad with rage and he decides to get entire family of
Macduff murdered. In this way, this soliloquy reveals his complete moral
degradation.
Macbeth‟s last two soliloquies:
These reveal Macbeth‟s complete frustration. Lady Macbeth dies. He
has grown totally sick of life which, for him, is nothing more than an empty
shadow and a tale full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Besides this, we have a few soliloquies by Lady Macbeth and Banquo.
These soliloquies give the inner struggle, inner thoughts, inner conflicts and inner
feelings of the characters. They contribute to action and characterization. They tell
the audience those events which have happened off the stage. They provide key to
unlock the character of person speaking them.
Q.9 Write a note on sleep-walking scene.
The sleep-walking scene in Macbeth is superb example of Shakespeare‟s dramatic
imagination. It gives a fine psychological analysis of the mind of Lady Macbeth who
had an important role in Duncan‟s murder.
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After the banquet, Lady Macbeth is completely separated from her husband. In her
loneliness she broods over her past crimes and her wicked action. The scene depicts
the effect of sin on her. She becomes melancholic and begins to walk in her sleep. A
gentlewoman always watches on her. Macbeth has asked a doctor o study the cause
of her disease and to cure it.
Sleep-walking scene opens with the doctor and a gentlewoman who is taking care of
her. Lady Macbeth is in her bedroom. The doctor has been waiting outside it. After
waiting for two days he sees Lady Macbeth walking in sleep. The gentlewoman says
that she had seen her walking like this many times. She wakes and lights a candle.
Her eyes are open but she can see nothing. She rubs her hand as if she is washing it.
Lady Macbeth hears the clock striking. Then addressing her husband, she says that it
is the time to commit the murder. She rebukes her husband who feels afraid to go to
Duncan‟s room. She looks her hand and says that her hands were very dirty because
of blood of Duncan. She finds the smell of blood coming from them. Pathetically,
she says.
“Here‟s the smell of blood still;
all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten
this little hand, oh, oh, oh!”
After this, she requests her husband to wash his hand, to put on his night gown and
tells him that Banquo cannot come out of his grave.
“Wash your hands, put on your night gown,
Look not so pale – I tell you yet again,
Banquo‟s buried; he cannot come out of grave.”
Last of all, she goes to bed remarking that what is done cannot be undone. The doctor
fully understands that her unnatural trouble is due to her unnatural deeds.
The scene reveals the contrast in Lady Macbeth‟s character. In the previous scenes
she was a woman of dauntless courage and determination. While planning to murder
Duncan, she comes before us as a masculine figure. But now, she comes before us as
a true feminine character. She cannot bear the burden of her guilt. The guilt has
completely destroyed the guilt of her mind.*
In this way, this scene has great dramatic significance.
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4.6 University Questions:
Q. 1 What kind of atmosphere has Shakespeare created in “Macbeth”.
Q. 2 Justify the use of soliloquies in “Macbeth”.
Q. 3 Describe the “Murder scene” in “Macbeth” and comment on its
dramatic significance.
Q. 4 What is the part played by the Porter – Scene in “Macbeth”.*
Q. 5 Give a short account of the “Banquet Scene and illustrate its dramatic
significance.
Q.6 Comment on the sleep - walking scene and its dramatic significance.
Q. 7 Write a note on the Ghost of Banquo in Macbeth.
Q. 8 “Macbeth” has been termed as the tragedy of Imagination. Discuss.
Q. 9 Consider “Macbeth” as a tragedy of character.
Q. 10 What are the sources of “Macbeth”. *
4.7 Bibliography:
1. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Macbeth Alexander
2. Peter, Rupa. Co., Calcutta.
3. A.C.Bradly Shakespearean Tragedy,
4. Compton Rickett , History of English Literature.
5. Singh T,A history of English Literature Student Store, Bareily.
6. Tilak Raghukul,History of English Literature, Rama Brothers, New Delhi.
7. Dr.S.C.Mundra Ages and Movements in English Literature,Prakash Book
Depot Bareilly.
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Unit V- J. M. Synge – Riders to the sea
5.0 Objectives:
The main objective of this particular unit is to give a detailed critical analysis of
J. M. Synge‟s one act play “Riders to the Sea.” This unit also consists of a description
of the author J. M. Synge and his dramatic art.
5.1 Introduction:
J. M. Synge belongs to modern Irish stage. He is a great Irish dramatist. He shows the
seamy side of life in which man struggles against nature for existence. His drama
“Riders to the Sea” is a play which shows human helplessness before the forces of
nature. It is a play of man‟s endurance and his predicament in the world.
5.2 Biographical Sketch of the Author and Survey of his
works :
John Millington Synge is one of the greatest contributors in the rebirth the Irish
Theatre. He was son of John Hatch Synge and, Kathleen, née Traill, born in Newtown
Villas, Rathfarnham, in Dublin on 16 April 1871. Synge portrayed Irish life truthfully
with its both sides -- tragic and comic. His poetical and natural language is perfectly
fit to depict human nature in all aspects of life. His plays are written in rhymed prose
of the natural idiom of the peasants.
His main plays comprise “The Shadow of Glean”(1903), “Riders To The Sea”(1904),
“The Jiker‟s Wedding”, “The Well Of The Saints”(1907), “The Play Of The Western
World” and “Diedre Of The Sorrow”(1910).
5.3 Detailed Critical Summary of the Play
It was first published in 1903. It is a folk lore tragic drama which depicts human
struggle against natural forces for life. The location of the play is an island in the west
of Ireland. There are only four characters in the play before the audience, rest of the
characters have been introduced indirectly in dialogues. The story is of an old woman
Mourya who lost her husband, father-in-law and five sons to the sea. The sea has been
depicted hostile towards humans. The play begins with two sisters Nora and Cathleen
trying to hide a bundle of clothes from their mother. The clothes were suspected to be
of corpse of Bartley, their brother and Mourya‟s son. Mourya is in deep mourning due
to death of her son Michael in the sea. After the sea had claimed the lives of her
husband and four elder sons, Maurya tries to discourage Bartley, her last living son,
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from going to Connemara to sell a horse. It was the trip that Michael took when he
died. But Bartley insists that he will cross the mainland in spite of winds and high
seas. Nora and Cathleen persuaded their mother to go behind Bartley and give him
food which they had forgotten and her blessings which she had not delivered at the
time he was departing. After Mourya‟s departure they inspected the clothes and found
them to be of Bartley the youngest and the last son of Mourya. They consoled
themselves that at least he would get a Christian burial which other family members
who drowned in the sea were no able to get.
Mourya returns after she sees in her vision that Bartley was followed by Michael on
his horse. With this vision she realised the death of his last son and it was confirmed
when Nora and Cathleen showed her Bartley‟s clothes. She says that the coffin which
she brought for Michael will be used for Bartley. This very dialogue expresses the
utter sorrow of a mother for her son. As Maurya is speaking to the neighboring
women, few young men come with the body of Bartley who had been knocked off a
cliff into the waves by the horse he was intending to sell. The play closes on the note
of Maurya‟s accepting surrender to the sea, and to the course of life. She says that sea
has taken all of her so nothing has been left to her which the sea could snatch. She
accepted that no human being was immortal on the earth. This doesn‟t mean that she
has been defeated from life but she accepted the challenge of life to start it anew.
In this one-act-tragedy J. M. Synge describes the pathetic tragedy of the life of an
Aran old woman which creates pity and horror in the minds of the audience. It
represents Synge‟s perception of tragedy. This One-act-tragedy is characterised by
brevity of the plot, tragic atmosphere, limited characters and specific dialogues.
Single scene with no subplot enhanced the pathos which was the cause of tremendous
popularity of the play.
5.4 Question-Answer
Q. 1 Describe the tragic atmosphere of “The riders to the sea”.
The atmosphere in the play is tragic right from the beginning. A corpse has been
discovered and the clothes of it were sent to Morya‟s house for confirmation but her
daughters Nora and Cathleen were trying to hide it from their mother. They didn‟t
want to give her more pain because she has already lost her husband and five sons in
the sea. But later on she came to know that she had lost his last son also. Though the
pain was beyond tolerance, she convinced herself to spend her rest of life bearing the
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pain of the death of his family members. This horror and pain of death dominates the
whole of the drama. It has been enhanced by the vision of Mourya in which she
perceives that Bartley was followed by Michael on his horse. She realised that the
death of his last son was confirmed. She said that the coffin which was brought for
Michael would be used for Bartley. When the body of her dead son was brought she
accepts the truth that no one is mortal on this earth.
The story of death and the pain caused by it dominates the whole of the drama. The
weeping of two sisters Nora and Cathleen and their effort to hide the truth of their
brother‟s death from their mother who was her only son was one of the most pathetic
scenes in the play. Another tragic scene was of Mourya‟s acceptance of death of her
last son. Mourya‟s vision about her son was not less tragic, it enhanced the tragic
atmosphere. There is only pain and mental suffering throughout the play. Man‟s
defeat from death and nature „s hostility towards man are the crux of the story.
Q. 2 Write a character sketch of Mourya.
Mourya has lost her husband, father in law and five sons in the sea. Last son is also
dead due to hostility of the sea. Though she is in deep morning yet she accepts the
death of her last son. There is a dignity in her character. The simplicity of her dignity
is reflected in her acceptance of her fate of man. She accepts even in her utter sorrow
that death is inevitable to man so no man is mortal on this earth. Her dignity appears
in her spirit. This makes the drama the tragedy of community not the tragedy of
character.
Next notable characteristic of her is endurance. She lost most of her family members
but even after that she accepts the death of her last son with dignity by saying that no
man is mortal on earth. This doesn‟t mean that she has been defeated rather it means
she accepts the challenge to start a new life. There was a spirit of life and resiliency in
her character. She had a loving character. She not only loved humans but life also.
Q.3 What is the reaction of Mourya on the death of Bartley?
A. Mourya the mother of Cathleen and Nora was the mother of five sons also but
they all died by drowning in the sea. Her life was a constant reaction on the loss of her
beloved persons. When her last son died, her daughters tried to hide the truth from her
because she had not yet recovered from her son Michael‟s death. But when Bartley‟s
death was finally reported, it could not surprise her. She and her daughters
remembered that Mourya didn‟t bless him before he left and that set up his inevitable
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death in the same way her other family members died. Though she was in deep
morning yet she accepted the ultimate fate of humans that is death. That‟s why she
said that no man is mortal on this earth. This statement expresses her acceptance of
the challenges of life.
Q.4 What is the theme of the play?
A. The theme of the play “the Riders to the Sea” is human fate in this world, man‟s
hopeless struggle against death and his will to live.
Mourya the old lady represents the whole Aran Island which is at the shore of the sea.
Sea represents nature and nature has been presented hostile towards humans.
Characters are the victims of nature. Sea is an inevitable doom constantly hanging
over the people of Aran Island. Their fate depends on the sea. Humans are helpless
before the sea. There is an elegiac mood in the play because instead of life death
looms large over the play. There is not only a conflict of man versus sea but a conflict
between life and death that‟s why in the end Mourya accepts that no man is mortal on
this earth. This acceptance shows that she accepts not only death in a dignified way
but accepts the challenge to start anew life.
Q.5 Explain briefly the qualities of J. M. Synge as a playwright on the basis of
“The Riders of the sea”.
A. J. M. Synge is an Irish dramatist who presented Irish people and their life in his
works. He was especially interested in the west coast islands. His one act play “The
Riders of the Sea” sums up the struggle between the islanders and their relentless
enemy - the sea. It is brief but it is most famous drama of Synge in the history of
modern drama. It very well reflects Synge‟s quality as a dramatist. As usual in this
drama also he has used simple dialects and references to folklores. He is very original
in his presentation of life like in “The Riders of the Sea “he has presented the reality
of the life of the Aran people whose life is in constant threat of the sea. His dramatic
language is English based on the syntax and locutions of Irish which creates
originality in the drama of life he has presented. This shows the subjectivity of Synge
because he himself belongs to Aran and was in constant touch with nature. His play is
poetic in style and tragic in tone. As far as the plot is concerned it is a coherent whole.
And the characterisation is life like that‟s why simple and superb. On the whole we
can say he is a most acclaimed dramatist of modern era.
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5.5 University Questions:
Q.1 Give a brief description of the reactions of Nora, Cathleen and an Island
*Mourya on the death of Bartley.
Q. 2 Who is the central figure in the play and why?
Q. 3 What is the importance of the dream-vision of Mourya?
Q. 4 Justify the end of the play.
Q. 5 Write down a brief note on the element of pathos in the drama.
Q. 6 Write a on the nature versus human theme of the play.
Q. 7 Discuss the significance of the title of the play “The Riders to the Sea.”
5.6 Bibliography:
1- Hudson Wiliam Henry, An Outline History of English Literature (Quality
Publishing Company, Bhopal, 1999)
2- Synge J. M.,: Riders to the Sea (Kessinger Publishing, 2004)
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Unit VI-
H. H. Munro-The Miracle Merchant
6.0 Objective:
The objective of this unit is to enlighten students about the genre of one act
drama and make them acquainted with H. H. Munro as a dramatist through a detailed
study of his one act drama “The Miracle Merchant.”
6.1 Introduction:
Edwardian era covers a period from 1901 to 1910. In this period Edward VII, the son
of Queen Victoria reigned after her death. It was an era of novels specially. The
fiction of this period meant to be written specially for the purpose of discussing social
problems. After novel, drama became the tool of social discussion. The problems
were discussed in short form in one act dramas also. One act drama not only projected
social issues but they dealt with various other aspects of life like small comic
incidents. H. H. Munro was one such dramatist who wrote not only to mirror the
contemporary society but for sheer amusement also. His Miracle Merchant is one
such one act drama which entertains the readers without any tension.
One Act Drama:
The one act play is in similar relation to the drama as the short story to the novel. It
is not an abridged full length play but it is a form in itself with its own rules. It has a
limited scope so there are restrictions on the writer. He has no scope to show a
gradual development in fact he must the characters and the story with minimum
suggestive strokes. As far as dialogue and action are concerned each sentence and
action must contribute. Plot must also be brief; a complex one is not required. Brevity
is the soul of one act play. It is a single act play an can be either a comedy or a
tragedy. Simple design and immediate impact are the main characters of this genre.
The mystery and Miracle plays were the beginning of one act drama which were quite
brief in form in their beginning. The Interlude which developed in the fifteenth
century was also brief and may be included in the category of one act play. With the
growth of the drama proper the one act play declined. Its reappearance was in the
eighteenth century in farce and in the nineteenth century it revived again fully. At a
later stage it was supplement to the full length drama but audience‟s disinterest was
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*the main cause of its disappearance but a short play was frequent to create a variety
in musical programs. Commercially it existed for the evening entertainment
consisting three one act plays by a single dramatist for instance Sir James Barrie‟s
“The will”, “The Twelve pound look”, “The old lady shows her medals.” G. B. Shaw
and Noel Conrad were the exponents of this particular genre.
6.2 Biographical sketch of the author and a survey of his
works:
Hector Hugh Munro better known by pen name “Saki” was a British writer of short
stories, plays and novels. Though he wrote plays, two satires, and a short novel yet he
is best known for his humorous and macabre short stories. He was born in Burma now
known as Myamar, on 18 December 1870. He was son of Charles Augustus Munro
and Mary Frances Mercer. His works, include the classic stories "Tobermory” and
“The Open Window,” “Interlopers”, “The Story Teller”, “Miracle Merchant” etc.
Through his writings he satirised the Edwardian society and culture. There is beauty
and ease in Saki‟s language. He writes in a satirical tone with conversational ease.
6.3 Detailed summary of the play:
“Miracle Merchant” is a one-act-play written in the year 1934 by and edited by
*Graham Greene. Only one single incident has been acted upon the stage by only four
characters named Mrs. Beauwhstle, her nephew Louis Courset, her Guest Jane
Martlet, her butler Sturridge and Page Boy. There is only one scene in the drama
where we find dialogue, action and character in full swing. The first one is slightly
satirical with a comic vein. Scene opens with Louis‟s demand of twenty pound from
Mrs. Beauwhstle. She was totally unwilling for it but Louis picks up a chance to
extract money from her as she delivers the news of Dora‟s arrival. Dora Bittholz and
Jane Marlet are cut throat rival to each other. Louis informs Mrs. Beauwhstle that how
hazardous will be their meeting due to their dispute on a hen. He narrates the details
of their quarrel. Dora sold a hen of exotic breed to Jane at a rather exotic price but the
hen proved to be an abstainer from the egg habit. This turned them hostile towards
each other, they exchanged abuses through letters. Jane was willing to take back some
of her most libellous remarks on the condition of Dora‟s taking back of hen. But Dora
refused to do that and jane also became adamant on her stand. The narration of this
incident made to Mrs. Beauwhistle by Louis, worried her because their meeting could
turn into a bloody encounter. Mrs. Beauwhistle was perplexed to think of the
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consequences, she was unable to do anything. From here starts the comic plotting of
cunning Louis who designs to expel Jane out of the house so that when Dora comes
then there will be no meeting of the two and the dispute may be avoided. The comic
intrigue which was planned by Louis is the nucleus of the drama. It creates laughter as
well as irony for Louis in the end.
When Jane comes for breakfast Louis tells her of Sturridge‟s cynical nature and his
delusions. Louis tells that Sturridge imagines Jane as some historical character. When
Jane asked him about the idea Sturridge has taken about her then Louis tells her that
he thinks her as Queen Anne and that irritates him very much. Louis tells her that
Sturridge thinks that she should be dead. Even after listening frightful news from
Louis, Jane shows her willingness to depart. After taking her breakfast she retires to
her room to write letters and becomes alert of Sturridge. Louis Further plans to expel
Jane out of the house and get twenty pound from his aunt Mrs. Beauwhistle. He asked
Strurridge to take the sword on the wall and take it to Jane because she wants to copy
out the inscription written on it, he specially cautions him to take it without sheath. As
Sturridge enters the room with necked sword, Jane thinks that he has come to kill her,
she comes out of room screaming out of fear, shouting Louis‟s name. Louis was
keeping an eye on all the happening under the shadow of stair case and was very
happy to find out that everything is taking place according to his plan. Page comes to
inquire about the time table for trains for Jane. Louis helps Page to gather Jane‟s
belongings so that she can leave home as fast as possible. After Jane leaves the house
in hurry, Louis wants to inform Mrs. Beauwhistle about it and wants to take the
money from her for his expenses gladly but before he could deliver the news of Jane‟s
departure, Mrs. Beauwhistle Informs him that Dora has sent a letter informing that she
can‟t come that month. After hearing this news Louis collapses on the chair because
all his effort of extracting money from Mrs. Beauwhistle has been failed. The moral
of the story is that as you sow as you reap.
Question – Answer:
Q.1 Who is the central figure in the drama and why?
There are many characters in the play but Louis is considered to be the central figure
in the play because he is the centre of the action. All the activities revolve around him.
Action starts from him and ends in him. The play begins with the presence of him and
ends with his dilemma. He prepares the plan in his own interest to get money from
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Mrs. Beauwhistle. He tells her the incident of Jane and Dora‟s enmity and convinces
his aunt to turn out Jane before Dora enters the house as a guest. He uses Sturridge for
his purpose and makes Jane terrified by him. He plants the idea in Jane‟s mind that
Sturridge is a whimsical man. He assumes that a person is somebody else not one he
is and acts according to it. He thinks that Jane is Dead Queen Anne. He sends
Sturridge to Jane with a sword and to see that she becomes horrified and immediately
leaves the house. In spite of all his efforts Louis lost the game; he proved to be a fool
and makes us laugh because Mrs. Beauwhistle informs him that Dora has suspended
her visit. Now there was no need of twenty pounds to be paid to Louis by Mrs
Beauwhistle. The play ends with the bewilderment of Louis whose all efforts were
proved him a fool. But his cunning way of befooling others amused the audience in
ample measure. Most of the characters (e.g. Jane, Sturridge and Page) are passive but
Louis brings them into action.
Q.2 Discuss the quarrel between Dora and Jane.
A. Dora and Jane were the guests *of Mrs Beauwhistle who is the aunt of Louis.
Louis tells her aunt about the dispute of Jane and dora. Dora and Jane were good
friends but afterwards they turned into cut-throat rivals. The reason was a hen of some
exotic breed which was sold to Jane by Dora. The bird turned out to be an abstainer
from the egg habit. Dora didn‟t agree to the fact that the hen was non – productive.
They exchanged the most abusive letters. Jane wanted Dora to take back the hen but
Dora didn‟t agree and enmity continued between them. Louis took advantage of this
quarrel and convinced her* aunt that the two ladies could not be accommodated
together so jane must be out of house before Dora comes. He prepares a plan to turn
Jane out of the house before Dora comes in leau of twenty pounds from his aunt but in
the end all his efforts proved to be futile.
Q.3 Discuss the suitability of the title of the play.
H. H. Munro has given a very apt title to his one act play, “The Miracle Merchant.”
Louis, the hero of the play finalizes a deal with his aunt Mrs. Beauwhistle to turn Jane
out of the house to avoid the quarrel between her and Dora which was beyond Mrs.
Beauwhistle. If he succeeds in suspending the quarrel then he will get twenty pounds
for his expenditure from Mrs. Beauwhistle. He tries to manage everything in a very
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comical way which makes us laugh. The commotion created by him in the house
makes all the characters active and very dramatic but in the end all his comic efforts
bring him into a very ridiculous condition on which we smile briskly. He wanted to do
a miracle of getting twenty pounds from her aunt but his miracle miraculously proved
him a fool and hence the drama has been called “The Miracle Merchant.”
Q.4 Discuss the theme of the play.
A. The one act play “The Miracle Merchant” is unique one in its story and action.
The theme of the play is “as you sow so shall you reap.” Louis plans against Jane and
Dora for his own benefit but in the end he finds himself in the same ridiculous
condition in which he put to Jane. He wanted twenty pounds from his aunt so he took
advantage of Jane‟s coward nature and using Sturridge‟s obedient nature scared her
*up to the extent of running away. But all his efforts were without any gain and rather
proved him a fool. His greedy and plotting nature was punished naturally.
Q.5 Attempt a character sketch of Louis.
A. H. H. Munro has used four important characters in his one act play “The Miracle
Merchant – Mr. Beauwhistle, Louis, Sturridge and Jane. Every character is important
in its place but Louis is the source and the centre of the play. Louis is the hero of the
play because he only brings the drama into motion. He has vices as well as virtues in
his character. He has a greedy and plotting nature along with comic vein, good
conversation skill and a good judge of human nature. He is a good story maker also,
for instance he tells the story of Sturridge‟s cynical nature to Jane and convinces her
of its truthfulness. He has the quality of a merchant that is why he fixes a bond with
his aunt that if he succeeds in turning Jane out of home before Dora comes then he
would be provided twenty pounds. That means he was good in manipulating and
bargaining. He is a smart guy to turn the situations on his own benefit. Though in the
end he fails but he is the one who entertains us a lot.
Q. 6 Which literary device has been used in the play?
A. “Pun”, has been used as a literary device in the play. Pun is a humorous use of
words producing two meanings simultaneously. H. H. Munro has made use of pun
in a artistic manner in the play to create humour. For example “Wild goose
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chase”, “Tam O‟shanter”, “Nursed a Viper”, “ Compose a Quarrel”, “Wagner
Opera” etc
Q.7 Draw a character sketch of Jane Marlet.
A. Every play normally consists of a hero, heroine and a villain but “The Miracle
Merchant” has been written with a different comic vein. It is easy to locate that Louis
is the hero of the play but to locate the heroine is difficult. But if we look role wise
then we can consider Jane Marlet as the heroine of the play. She was one of the guests
of Mrs. Beauwhistle. Once upon a time she was a good friend of Dora but she could
not maintain the friendship because she thought that she had been deceived by Dora
as she wrongly sold her a hen. She had a bitter fight with Dora and there was an
exchange of abusive letters between them. In spite of all of this she was ready for
reconciliation if Dora takes her hen back. This shows her considerate nature. She was
innocent also that is why easily trapped by Louis in his plot. Next thing which has
been highlighted about her by the author was that she was a glutton. A great
humorous account of her eating of breakfast was given by Munro. Next characteristic
was her stubbornness so when Louis told her of Sturridge‟s cynicism she decided to
stay but when a live presentation of Sturridge was given then only she rushed to catch
a train.
Q.8 Throw light on the role of Sturridge.
A “The Miracle Merchant” is a comic play and Sturridge played a very important
role in the play without him we cannot imagine the play. He was the main actor in the
game of Louis. Louis utilizes his sincerity, simplicity, innocence and obedient nature
for his selfish purpose. When Sturridge follows the instructions of Louis exactly then
Jane who admired him very much, terrified left home immediately. Comedy created
only with the presence of Sturridge, when as per the instruction of Louis he goes to
Jane with naked sword innocently. Jane comes out of her shrieking and collecting her
belongings to leave the home then the audience burst into laughter. The importance of
his character lies in his simplicity which creates laughing slumber. He is sincere,
tolerant, obedient and a very positive character who gives twist to the play.
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6.5 University Questions
Q.1 Analyse the relationship between Mrs. Beauwhistle and Louis.
Q.2 Write a critical summary of the Play.
Q.3 Draw the importance of the character of Louis.
Q.4 Describe the scene between Sturridge and Jane.
Q.5 Throw light on the character of Mrs. Beauwhistle.
6.7 Bibliography:
1. Mundra J. N., Mundra S. C., A History of English Literature (Prakash Book
Depot, Bareilly, 1987)
2. Abrams M. H., A Glossary of Literary Terms (Macmillan India Ltd., Delhi,
1998)
3. Munro H. M., The Miracle Merchant
Address:
Office:
Dr. [Smt.] Savitri Tripathi
Professor of English
(Post Graduate Department Of English & Research Centre)
Govt.J.P.V. P.G. Arts and Commerce College Bilaspur(C.G.)
Phone &Fax 07752-228225
Residence:
Dr. [Smt.] Savitri Tripathi
Professor of English
9/79 Green Park Colony Jarhh Bhata Bilaspur(C.G.)
Mo. 09424163536