THE DEAR DEPARTED
STANLEY HOUGHTON
a) How does Mrs. Slater plan to outshine the
Jordan? What does it reveal about her character?
Ans: Mrs. Slater is
doubtful about her sister and her husband, Jordan arrival at grandfather’s
demise. Mrs. Slater is also anxious about grandfather’s insurance premium and
looks for it. She also brings grandfather’s bureau down from his room. Before
her sister arrived, she tried to have every asset of grandfather in possession.
She is a ruthless and self-centered person.
b) Why does s Mrs. Slater decide to shift the
bureau from grandfather’s room before the arrival of the Jordan? How does Henry
react to the suggestion?
Ans: Mrs. Slater
wants to shift the bureau down because this was a recent purchase and was
eye-catching. Moreover, she did not want her sister to even have a look at it.
Henry suggested that she should divide the grandfather’s assets mutually
between herself and her sister.
c) What is the reason for the Jordan taking a
long time to get to the house of the Slater? What does it show about the two
sisters’ attitude towards each other?
Ans: Jordan took a
long time in getting to reach the Slater because they had to arrange for the
mourning dresses for themselves. Since the readymade did not work for
Elizabeth, she might have to get them stitched. Both the sisters had rivalry
between them for every worthless thing. They could not stand each other.
d) What does Mrs. Jordan describe as ‘a fatal
mistake’? What is the irony in the comment she makes on Mrs. Slater’s defence?
Ans: Mrs. Jordan
meant by ‘fatal mistake’ that Slater had not called another doctor to examine
when grandfather was lying with his eyes closed. She called this as
‘professional etiquette; But Mrs. Jordan is a hypocrite as she is chiding Mrs.
Slater for not calling the doctor but her herself could not make it on time for
such a grave occasion.
e) Ben appreciates grandfather saying ‘it’s a
good thing he did’. Later he calls him ‘drunken old beggar’. Why does he change
his opinion about grandfather?
Ans: Ben learnt
that grandfather went in the morning to pay his insurance premium, he said
‘it’s a good thing he did’ but later when he came to know from Victoria that he
had not gone to pay premium but went to meet Mrs. Shorrocks, he commented that
he was a drunken beggar.
f) What change does grandfather make in his
new will? What effect does it have on his daughters?
Ans: The
grandfather announced that he would bequeath his wealth to Mrs. Shorrocks whom
he was going to marry on the coming Monday and that he would look after him in
old age. He also reminded both his daughters about how eager they were to
divide his assets when he was still alive. His daughters were aghast to hear
this.
g) What are the three things that grandfather
planned to do on Monday next?
Ans: Three things
he planned to do are that he would go to his lawyer and change his will, he
would go to insurance company and pay his premium, and he would also go to St.
Philips Church and marry Mrs. John Shorrocks.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN DETAIL.
1) Bring out the irony in the little of the
play.
Ans: The title of
the play ‘The Dear Departed’ literally means that somebody dear has departed/
died and is no more with us. It makes everyone closely connected with the
departed person sad and upset. Everyone is at a loss and tries to cope up with
the situation. In this case, the title is ironical because nobody in the family
loved grandfather. He was dear to no one. They all are relieved that he is no
more.
They talk of
everything from mourning outfit to what all he has left behind but nobody it in
a hurry to even go and see him. He is supposed to be dead and lying in his
room. They all decide to have tea, discuss the obituary that should go in the
newspapers but no one either has tears in his/ her eyes or is missing the grandfather.
They are very businesslike and their business seems to be what each one of them
will get now that the old man is dead. In no way was he ‘dear’ to his daughters
or their husbands. Mrs. Jordan had not even visited her father! If she was
there today, it was to show off in the society and to ensure that she gets her
share of whatever he has left behind. Ironical, isn’t it.
2) How does the spat between his daughters
lead to grandfather discover the truth?
Ans: Both the
sisters are discussing about their share and Mrs. Slater spills the beans when
she tells grandfather that it was her husband who was wearing his slippers and
they had brought his bureau downstairs. She also tells him that she was the one
who had declared that he was dead. Grandfather is shocked when he comes to know
all this. He is upset that his daughters want him to die. He also sees his clock
downstairs. He understands that his daughters do not love him. They only want
his wealth and belongings. He understands that his daughters do not love him.
They only want his wealth and belongings. They have no interest, whatsoever, in
his ell being. For them he is nothing more than a nuisance and thy wish that he
is out of their lives at the earliest. They are very happy that he is dead; Mrs.
Slater does not even call the doctor to confirm. She decides, informs her
sister and gives the tailor order for the mourning outfits.
3) Compare and contrast Henry’s character
with that of his wife. Support your answer with evidence from the play.
Ans: Mrs. and Mr.
Slater are seen as a couple who complement each other. But this is on the
surface. Mrs. Slater is a domineering lady and always wants to have the last
word. Henry follows her instructions diligently. When she asks him to wear the
grandfather’s slippers, as his are torn, he does not say a word. When it comes
to shifting the bureau from grandfathers’ room it is her decision. He walks
behind her like a lamb. Mrs. Slater does not allow him to give his opinion on
any issue. He is a meek character who is scared of saying anything in front of
his wife.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING WITH THE REFERENCE TO
THE CONTEXT.
1) “Are we pinching it before Aunt Elizabeth
comes?”
a) What does ‘it’ refer to here?
Ans: ‘It’ here refers to grandfather’s bureau which Mrs. Slater plans to
keep for herself.
b) How does Vicky conclude that her parents
are ‘pinching it’?
Ans: Vicky’s parents wanted to get the bureau before Mrs. Slater’s
sister arrived for the funeral.
c) Mention the two reasons that Mrs. Slater
gives for her action.
Ans: According to
her, she wanted the bureau because she liked it very much. Second reasons for wanting
it were out of jealousy. She did not want her sister to get it.
d) What does it reveal about the difference
between the attitude of the elders and that of Vicky?
Ans: Vicky
genuinely loved her grandfather. She did not like the way elders are fighting
over petty things. They are all money-minded and there is no sensitivity.
2) “I don’t call that delicate, stepping into
a dead man’s shoes in such haste.”
a) Who makes this comment?
Ans: Mrs. Jordan makes this comment.
b) What prompts the speaker to say this?
Ans: She says this
because Henry had started wearing grandfather’s slippers even before he was medically
declared dead.
c) Bring out the significance of this
statement.
Ans: It reveals the
pettiness of all the adult characters. They all are trying to show the others,
in bad light. Also, here, it is truly in haste as the grandfather is very much
alive and not dead.
3) “Now, Amelia, you mustn’t give way. We’ve
all got to die some time or other. It might have been worse”.
a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
Ans: Ben is the speaker of these lines.
b) What prompts the speaker to say these
words?
Ans: The speaker says these words when he meets Mrs. Slater. He is
trying to console her.
c) What does he mean when he says ‘it might
have been worse’?
Ans: Grandfather
had died without giving any trouble to anybody. If he had been bedridden, it
would have been worse for everybody.
d) What does it reveal about the speaker’s
character?
Ans: These lines reveal that the speaker is able to talk about death
without getting upset.
