III Semester (General English Notes)

Classic Assets 

My Vision for India

Introduction:

            Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam was the President of India between 2002 and 2007.  He became the 11^th President of Indian and is one of the most distinguished scientists of India.  He was born in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.  The essay is one of the most popular speeches of Abdul Kalam. He wants the Indians to be more responsible and to take care of future India and plea to change their attitudes to feel pride of the nation and appreciate the wealth and advancements in India.

First Vision:

            Kalam has three main visions about India.  The first vision is that of ‘Freedom’.  Though many countries invaded us, captured us, conquered our minds starting from Alexander to that of British Government who came and looted us completely and yet we have not done this to any other nation since we respect the freedom of others.  That is why the vision of Kalam was that of ‘Freedom’.  He believes that India got its first vision of freedom in the year 1857 when India first started the war of Independence. We must protect and nurture our freedom otherwise no country will respect us.

Second Vision:

            The second vision of Kalam is ‘Development’.  For the past 50 years we have been a developing nation. It is time to look upon ourselves as a development nation.  We are among top 5 nations of the world in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and 10% growth in most areas.  We achieved globally in major fields but still we lack self confidence to see our nation as a developed one.  We should change this nature.

Third Vision:

            The third vision is that India must stand up to the world.  Unless we stand up to the world no one will respect.  Only strength respects strength.  We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power and both must go hand in hand.  He feels very proud to work along with great minds such as Dr. Vikram Sarabhai of the Dept. of Space, Prof. Satish Dhawan who succeeded him and Dr. Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material.

Media Exposure in India:

            We are a great nation, and we stand first in milk production, second in wheat production yet we lack to recognize our own strengths and achievements.  We have millions of such achievement, still our media is only obsessed (fixed) with bad news, failures and disasters. Kalam narrates an incident that took place in Israel.  Once he was in Tel Aviv, reading an Israeli newspaper and it was the day after lot of attacks and deaths, but the front page had the picture of Jewish gentlemen who in five years had transformed a desert into an orchid and a granary (place to store grains).  The killings, attacks and death were described in middle paper and were buried with other news.  Why Indian newspapers are so NEGATIVE?

Adapting foreign culture:

            Kalam once went to Hyderabad and he got an opportunity to meet a 14 year old girl who asked for an autograph.  He asked her what her goal in life is.  She replied that, she wanted to live in a developed India.  For her, we should build a developed nation by working together and by praising our own culture. In Singapore we don’t throw cigarette butts or eat in stores, we wouldn’t eat in public during Ramdan (festival) in Dubai, we don’t dare to drive in Washington and tell traffic police that I am so and so’s son, or chuck an empty coconut shell in the beaches of Australia and New Zealand.  We will throw cigarette butts and throw papers on the road the moment we touch Indian soil.  Why is that we can’t follow the same as we respect the foreign system?

Blaming others:

            We wanted to sit back comfortably and expecting someone to pamper us in all deeds. We expect the government to clean the garbage all over the place, but we will never stop throwing stray papers.  We blame Indian Railways and Indian Airlines to provide the best in everything but we fail to learn the proper use of Public property.  We talk about burning social issues like dowry, child marriage but we fail to follow them when it comes to our own life.  We vacate India to foreign nation in order to earn more money, if there is some problem they will plead to Indian government to save them.

Conclusion:

             “ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY”. The article was written by Kalam to create awareness amongst the Indian and a call upon to all the Indian citizens to contribute towards making our country a great one.

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On Saying Please

Introduction:

            Alfred George Gardiner was a British journalist and author.  His essay written under the pen-name called Alpha of the Plough.  In this essay Gardiner points out that good manners is essential in all human beings but not following of it is not punishable under law.  He also concentrates on the sterling character of particular bus conductor in the essay ‘On Saying Please’.

A fired Lift-man:

            A young lift-man in a city office who threw a passenger out off was fired (dismissed) as a fine for the offence he committed.  The person who entered the lift said ‘Top’, but the lift-man demanded ‘Top, Please’.  Since the passenger refused the lift-man threw him out from the lift.  Discourtesy (Rude Behavior) is not a legal offence. If a thief breaks into one’s house and he/she knocks the thief down the law will free him.  If we have the freedom to box people’s ears (punch) because we did not like their behavior, or the tone of voice, our fist would never be idle and the gutters will run with blood all day.

Law’s on Manners:

            There is no law against bad manners.  At the same time violence will not be allowed. Gardiner says that the action against the life-man was justified.  Law protects one from violence.  There is no law to force anyone to say ‘Please’ or ‘Thank you’.  It does not force any one to adjust the voice to the feelings of others. It does not also say that one should wax moustache or dye one’s hair.  No rewards through law for the wound of a person’s feeling. The lift-man brooding over the insult by the hour would visit his wife in the evening is the only way to restore the equilibrium by showing his anger to his wife.  The lift-man perhaps felt insulted and it is an insult for his self respect.  He loses his mental balance.  Thus his bad temper affects many persons.  Bad manners poison the even flow of life and there is not court that regulates the social behavior of a person.  Even the Ten Commandments do not provide for protection.

Customs sacred than law:

            Social customs made us civil and courteous in society.  ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are the first essential needs of society which keep the machine of life oiled and running sweetly.  There is no question of superior or inferior in such a case.  There is no question of getting the service done through order. 

Polite Conductor:

            Once the author jumped on to a bus and found that he had no money in his pocket and told the fact to the conductor.  The conductor works in Underground Railway Company, which also runs the buses. The conductor readily gave him the ticket and told him that he could pay the money when he had the chance to meet him. Luckily, the author found a shilling (coin) in the corner of one of his pocket and squared him (paid the amount). 

            Few days later, the author’s most sensitive toe was trampled on rather heavily as he sat reading on the top of a bus.  He looked up with some anger and more agony and saw the most cheerful conductor.  He at once said ‘Sorry, sir’; I know these are heavy boots. Hope I didn’t hurt you.  After this incident the author began to admire him whenever he boarded his bus.  He noticed that if it was raining he would run up the stairs to give someone the tip that there was a room inside.  With old people he was as considerate as a son, and with children as kind as a father. If a blind person on board he takes extra care to drop him the other side of the road.

Quoting Keats:

            What struck the author was the ease with which he got through his work.  If bad manners are infectious, so also are good manners.  ‘NOTHING CLEARS UP MY SPIRITS LIKE A FINE DAY’ said Keats.  In lightening their spirits he lightened his own task.  His liveliness and fun was not a wasteful luxury, but a sound investment.

Conclusion:

            He adds up the comment on the lift-man by narrating a story of Chesterfield.  In his time the London streets were without pavements of today, and a man who took the wall had the driest footing. ‘I never give the wall to a scoundrel’ said a man who met Chesterfield one day in the street. ‘I always do’ said Chesterfield, stepping with a bow into the road.  The author hopes that the lift-man will agree this revenge was much sweeter than to assault or harm someone.

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The Lady or the Tiger

Introduction:

            F.R. Stockton was an American humorist and writer.  He first attracted notice by his stories for children; soon he gained popularity through the story called ‘The Lady or the Tiger’.  Though it cannot be considered a model short story, it is interesting in its own way. The story revolves around a semi-barbaric king who tries to reform and refine his subjects through a special kind of punishment. The King’s peculiar way of meting out justice is narrated humorously.

Semi-barbaric king:

            The king was a semi-barbaric ruler and a man of great fancy.  He implemented his ideas using his authority.  He would think over an issue and once he was convinced, he would follow his ideas.  He had a barbaric method (cruel method) of administering justice which looked very fair.  The fate of the accused person would be decided in King’s arena.  The accused person had the choice of opening one of two similar looking doors and could be killed by a tiger or could marry a beautiful woman.  The King thought that the cruel practice will refine his subjects and culture the minds of the people who live in the kingdom. The practice is impartial and incorruptible at any chance.

Door with the Tiger:

            The accused subjects were asked to step inside the amphitheatre and directly opposite to them were two doors. The subject would walk directly to the doors and open one of them.  He could open either door he pleased. If he opens the open, there came out a hungry tiger, the fiercest and cruelest immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as punishment.  The audience in the public arena would walk slowly toward homeward mourning greatly for the dead souls.

Door with the Lady:

            If the accused person opened the other door, there came forth from it a lady.  The most suitable to his years and to this lady the accused subject was immediately married as a reward of his innocence.  Once the lady comes out, another door opens beneath the king, and a priest followed by a band of choirs and the wedding was promptly cheered.  This was the King’s semi-barbaric method of administering justice. The accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty and if innocent he was rewarded on the spot whether he liked it or not.  There was no escape from the judgment.

King’s Daughter and Her Love:

            The king had a daughter and she was the apple of his eyes and was loved by him above all humanity.  Among the subjects a man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station loved the king’s daughter.  The love affair moved on happily for many months, until one day king happened to discover it.  The youth was immediately cast into prison and a day was appointed for his trail (punishment) in the public arena.

            The tiger cages searched for the most savage and horrible beast and the hunt for the suitable lady for the marriage were on.  The appointed day arrived.  The signal was given. The youth advanced into the arena.  His eyes were fixed upon the princess (King’s daughter).  When her lover turned and looked at her, she looked pale and white.  She knew behind which door crouches the tiger and behind which door stood the lady.  Quick glances were shared and the answer reached the young maiden who loved the King’s daughter. She had a difficult decision to make, whether to save the young man from death or to allow him to another woman. She raised her hand and made a slight, quick movement towards the right.  Without slightest hesitation he went to the door on the right and opened it. Now the point of the story is this: DID THE TIGER CAME OUT OF THE DOOR OF DID THE LADY?

Conclusion:

            The writer leaves it to the imagination of the readers as to what came out of the opened door the lady of the tiger. For, how could we be sure that the princess would let the young man live and marry the lady when she loved him so much herself? Again however jealous she is, would the princess lead young man to a wrong choice and be eaten by the tiger?  The readers should settle if for them.

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How to be a Doctor

Introduction:

            Leacock published what many consider is literary masterpiece.  He wrote two excellent biographies: ‘Mark Twain’ published in 1932, and ‘Charles Dickens, His Life and Work’ in 1933. In this lesson, he discusses the advancement of the medical profession.  Yet, there are many ways by which he criticizes at the doctors and their noble profession. The large exposure to the medical treatment is what is attractive to the general public which is ridiculed by the author.

Advancement of Science:

            The progress (growth) of science is a wonderful thing.  Though he appreciates the practical benefits of science like electricity, airplane and the vacuum cleaner, he has some reservations about the progress of medicine.  A hundred year ago there were no bacilli (bacteria), no ptomaine poisoning (food poisoning), no diphtheria (throat infection) and no appendicitis. Rabies was little known.  Many diseases like psoriasis (skin disease) and parotitis (swell in salivary gland) and trypanosomiasis (sleeping disease), have been discovered and have become household names. 

Growth in the treatments:

            A hundred years ago fever could be cured by the letting of blood; even seventy years ago fever could be cured by administration of sedative drugs; thirty years ago fever could be healed by the means of low diet and application of ice and now they are absolutely of no use now.  For example, Rheumatism (painful disorder of joints) in the ancient times being cured by carrying round potatoes in the pockets of the patients as means of cure. Now they can carry absolutely anything they like.  Or, take the treatment of epilepsy (fits), the first thing we should do to a patient is to unfasten the collar buttons and let them breath,  Now a days, many doctors consider to button up collar and the patient choke as a mean of cure.

Modern and Ancient Doctors:

            In the olden days a man was turned out thoroughly equipped as a doctor after putting in two winter sessions at college and spending his summers in running logs for a sawmill.  Some of the students even turned sooner as doctors. Nowadays it takes anywhere from 5-8 years to become a doctor. 

Varied Diet charts given by a modern Doctor:

            If the patient enters the consulting room and says he have a bad pain, the doctor would ask the patient to stand up and gives a heavy blow under the heart and stomach and says there is a slight anesthesia of tympanum (loss of feeling in the ear drum).  The author criticizes the modern day doctors saying that, if the patient suffers from headache the doctor will examine the stomach. If the patient asks about the diet, the answer will be given in two different ways and it depends on how the doctor is feeling about his appetite, if he is hungry, he will ask the patient to eat plenty.  If he had a great lunch, the doctor will advise the patient not to eat much, which will certainly affect your health.  If the patient enquires about drinking, the doctor will respond in two ways, either to drink more or avoid drinking.  To create confidence in the minds and hearts of the patients, the doctors prescribe some laboratory tests.

Conclusion:

            Thus the author remarks that, though everyone is aware of this, entire people still continue to run to the doctors in case of any slight physical problems.

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The Sporting Spirit

Introduction:

            George Orwell is a famous essayist and novelist.  His frank critical satire on communism in ‘Animal Farm’ and his vision of future ‘Nineteen eighty-four’ are very interesting. In this essay ‘The Sporting Spirit’ Orwell looks at sports from a different angle. Exchange of sports teams and athletic teams is generally expected to bridge a friendly relationship between the countries concerned. But Orwell warns that, unless the players have real sporting spirit and ‘play the game’, the result of such will be bitterness rather than friendliness.

Anglo-Soviet Relationship:

            The author says he can speak very openly when many people cannot comment publicly before the arrival of the Dynamos football team from Russia.  The sports cause ill-will and the visit of Dynamo football team would not improve the relationship between Britain and Russia.  The match played between these two countries league team led to much bad feeling.  The player fought with each other or the crowd booed or it was free-for-all from the beginning.  The controversy amongst the Russian team was they said it is not the Arsenal League team, rather it comprises of all England players. But the England claims that it was just a league team of Arsenal football club.  Overall it created a bitter relationship between the two nations.

            The author often believed that sports increases good will between the nations.  He gives out an example as the 1936 Olympics under Hitler’s rule that the above opinion was wrong.  The international sporting contested lead to hatred and bitterness.

Sports are Competitive:

            Sports which are practiced today are very competitive.  They do not play for fun.  They just play to win.  Prestige issue plays a vital role even in a school football or cricket matches.  At the international level sports is frankly a mimic warfare (small battle).  More than the behavior of players the attitude of the spectators are really stunning.  Orwell gives out illustration from the Australian match being played against England in the year 1921 created controversy regarding the body line bowling.  Football is even worse, whereas Boxing is the worst of all sport.  The match played between a black and white among the mixed audience will create the most disgusting moment in boxing sport.  Women spectators are more horrible, so the army by its regulations does not permit women to watch the contest. 

Audience from different countries:

            Various countries react differently for different sports.  In England the obsession (fixation) with sports is very bad.  Countries like India and Burma should have a strong cordon of police to keep the crowd away from entering into the field during cricket and football matches.  Supporters break through the security force and disabled the goalkeeper of the opposite side at a crucial moment.  People wanted to see only one side on top and the other side to be humiliated and defeated badly.  Serious sports have nothing to do with fair play.  It is just the war without shooting.

Modern Sports:

            Most of the games played today were played in olden days too.  But they played with different spirit.  Dr. Arnold generally known as the founder of Modern Public School looked games as a waste of time.  Then cheaply in England and United States games were turned into money yielding factors by attracting vast crowds and the infection spread from country to country. Spirit of Nationalism aroused due to competitive sporting events.  The crowds feel with a group of people and imagined that their victory or defeat affected them and their nation.  Games were played in Rome and Byzantium as serious as they are played now, but they never mixed sports with politics or group hatreds.

Conclusion:

            The author says that if one wants to worsen the world condition today is one can do it by a series of football matches watched by a mixed audience.  He does not mean that a sport is one of the main causes of international rivalry.  Orwell does not want the visit of the Dynamos to be followed by the visit of a British team to Russia and worsen the relationship more than ever by encouraging young men to kick each other of shins (below knee) among the mixed audience.

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The Portrait of a Lady

Introduction:

            Kushwant Singh, journalist and writer is a prolific writer in English and has written on Indian themes.  His first novel was ‘Train to Pakistan’ written in 1956 which dealt with partition troubles.  In this essay he speaks about his memories regarding his grandmother.  He thinks about his past school and college days when his grandmother was with him. The greatness of her grandmother was brought out in this essay in a very simple manner.

Description of Grandmother:

            She was old and wrinkled for the 20 years that Kushwant Singh had known her and she had once been young and pretty.  She even had a husband that was hard to believe by him.  The grandfather’s portrait hung above the mantel piece in the drawing room.  She looked terribly old, short, fat with a stoop (slightly bend). She had criss-cross of wrinkles running from everywhere to everywhere on her face.  She hobbled (walking with an injured feet) around the house with one hand resting on her hip to balance the stoop.  She was very religious often telling her beads and prayers.  

Good Friends:

            The author and his grandmother were good friends who use to wake him up every morning and got him ready for the school.  His parents left him under the loving care the grandmother and left to the city to up bring their standards of living.  She bathed him, fetched him the wooden slate and fed him the stale chapattis with little butter and sugar spread on it.  They both went to school together, and the school was a part of the temple.  The priest taught alphabets and prayers to the children who came to school, while the grandmother would be in the temple reading the scriptures.

Kushwant Singh left the Village:

            When his parents were comfortably settled in the city they took Kushwant Singh and grandmother to their city house.  He joined the English school and travelled by motor bus.  The author and the grandmother shared the same room in the city.  As years went on, for some time the grandmother made him ready for his school and when he returns back he use to tell about the lessons being taught in the school.  She was unhappy about it, since there were no teachings about prayer and God.  Later he joined the University and the relationship began to worsen up.  She use to sit all alone at her spinning wheel throughout the day and in the afternoons she would sit on the verandah feeding the sparrows with bread crumbs which were very friendly with the old lady.

Abroad journey:

            The author decided to go abroad for further studies and he was sure that the grandmother would be upset and he will be away from her for five years.  She came to leave him at the railway station and never showed any emotions of sadness.  Her lips moved in prayer, her fingers busy telling the beads.  He was surprised when his grandmother kissed his forehead before the journey could start and cherished it thinking that he will be seeing her for the last time.

Final moments of Grandmother:

            When he returned after his higher education she was at the station to receive the author.  She comforted him and chanted a prayer.  Later in the same evening, the family members saw a sudden change in the behavior of the grandmother.  She called women from the neighborhood, started beating a drum and began to sing of the homecoming of the warrior.  The next day she was ill and the doctor examined and said she will be alright, but the grandmother said that the end has come.  She lay on bed telling her beads, suddenly the rosary fell down and they knew she was dead.

            The family members started preparing for her cremation.  The author was amazed to see thousands of sparrows gathered where the body had been kept.  Before cremating her, the author’s mother threw bread crumbs to the sparrows but no one took notice of the bread.

Conclusion:

            Later, they carried the grandmother’s corpse (dead body) to the cremation ground.  All the sparrows flew away quietly.  Next morning the sweeper swept the bread crumbs into the dust bin.  

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6 One Act Plays

The Dear Departed

Character List

ªAbel Merryweather (grandfather of the family)

ªMr. Henry Slater (Husband of Amelia)

ªMrs. Amelia (daughter of Abel)

ªVictoria (daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Slater)

ªMr. Ben Jordon (husband of Elizabeth)

ªMrs. Elizabeth (daughter of Abel)

ªJimmy (son of Mr. & Mrs. Jordon)

ªMrs. John Shorrock (widow, owner of Ring ‘o’ Bells)

William Stanley Houghton (22 February 1881–10 December 1913) was an English playwright. He was a prominent member, together with Allan Monkhouse and Harold Brighouse, of a group known as the Manchester School of dramatists. His best known play is Hindle Wakes. The play is a final portrayal of the greed, jealousy and lack of sincerity of the daughters in the case of an old father who was mistaken to be dead.

The grandfather looks dead to his daughter Mrs. Slater. She and her husband sent a telegram to her sister Elizabeth and her husband.  Before her sister could come, Mrs. Slater plans to loot whatever she wants of her father’s belongings. The play opens up with Mrs. Slater who calls her daughter Victoria and scolds her for playing when her grandfather is lying dead and she wants Victoria to change her dress into black before her aunt and uncle could come.  She asks why they are coming and her mother replied that she has sent them a telegram about father’s death.  Meanwhile, Henry enters with a parcel of food.  He asked her wife whether her sister Elizabeth would come since two sister’s quarreled so badly last time.  Amelia said, she will surely come to share her father’s property.

Amelia feels that, Henry can wear Abel’s new slippers since her husband’s slipper have become old. But her husband says they are not the right size.  Amelia said the slippers will stretch.  She also wanted to own her father’s new bureau.  She wanted Henry to help her in replacing the new bureau to their room and put her old chest of drawers in its place.  If her sister Elizabeth knows she will ask for a hard bargain said Amelia. When they both tried to replace the bureau Victoria asked her father Henry, are they going to steal the bureau before aunt Elizabeth could come?  Amelia brings clock too from Abel merryweather’s room.  She asks her child Victoria to be quiet and she must not breathe a word about the clock and bureau to her aunt. 

They heard a knock at the door while they were bringing down the bureau. Mr. and Mrs. Slater guessed it to be Elizabeth and her husband and asked Victoria not to open the door before they could signal her to open.  Later they received Elizabeth and Ben.  She asked Amelia about the details of old man’s death.  Mrs. Slater says her father had been so happy that morning and immediately after breakfast went to pay insurance premium, later he went to bed saying he does not want dinner.  Mrs. Slater went to his room with a tray after dinner and he found the old man lying cold and dead.  Then they discuss about the announcement in the newspaper obituary column, about the old man’s death.  Elizabeth insists others to take down the list of grandfather’s property.  She also says that her father had promised to give his gold watch to her son Jimmy after his death.  Amelia got shocked and surprised.  Victoria tells them that Abel didn’t go to pay his premium; instead he went to Ring ‘o’ Bells along with his friend.  Mrs. Slater wanted Victoria to bring the key bunch from grandfather’s room to check for the receipt in the bureau.

She rushes down from grandfather’s room saying the grandfather is getting up.  Everyone was shocked.  Then, a chuckling is heard outside.  It took some time for them to be sure it is him or ghost.  Abel asks Amelia what has happened to his new slippers and he finds Henry wearing it.  She explains that she asked him to wear them and stretch them for him.  Victoria was too happy to see her grandfather alive again and asked him what has happened to him.  Abel replied that he had a slight headache and he is all right now.  He suddenly looks at the bureau and clock and shouts at Henry and Amelia for moving them to their room.  They both stood speechless. 

Now grandfather knew why everyone was wearing black mourning dress.  He suspected that, two sisters have already started dividing things between them. He said that he is going to destroy the will and make a new one on the following Monday.  Later he said that he has got three duties to be fulfilled on Monday.  First one is to meet the lawyer and change the will, secondly to pay the premium and finally, to get married with Mrs. John Shorrock, the owner of Ring ‘o’ Bells at St. Philip’s Church.  He also said, his property will go to the one who takes care of him.  Since both the daughters have considered him as a burden he is going to get married a widow who looks after him with pleasure.  Finally he thanked Amelia and her husband Henry for bringing the bureau downstairs so that carrying it to the Ring ‘o’ Bells (public house) would be easy and hoping them to see them all on Monday at the church for his wedding. 

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Pie and the Tart

Gaultier: Cake shop owner

Marion: Gaultier’s wife

Jean      : Vagabonds

Pierre   :  Vagabonds (beggar)

Introduction

          The scene is laid outside Gaultier’s cake shop in Paris.  Jean is found in a dejected mood.  Pierre is walking to and fro blowing his fingers because of extreme cold.  Pierre and jean both feel the cold.  Jean is not bothered about the bad dress of Pierre.  He is concerned about his hunger.  He made no bone about to tell Judge Gaston earlier when he was arrested for begging.  Pierre agrees with Jean and tells him that he does not know what hunger is while jean prays to the great saints to overcome his while he begs that he has been starving for seven days and not three.  Pierre knocks at the cake shop and says that he had not food for a week.  Gaultier the owner turns him out.  He slams the door.  The wife opens the door when Jean invokes the names of St. Agatha, St. Nicholas and St. Crispin., she also turns out the beggar stating that her husband has gone out.  Jean is sorry.  Gaultier comes out of the shop.  Marion, his wife appears at the door.

           

Gaultier’s Dinner with Mayor

            Gaultier is to dine with the mayor.  He feels that it would be better to take the eel pie with him.  But on second thought Gaultier feels that it is beneath his dignity to carry and eel pie.  Marion agrees with him.  She is sure that her husband, Gaultier would meet someone on the way.  But Gaultier feels that the person might prove to be cheating.  He tells his wife that a messenger sent by him would kiss her hand and the eel pie could be sent through him.

Jean’s trick

 Jean overhears Gaultier’s conversation with his wife.  The conversation now is between Jean and Pierre, the vagabonds.  Jean asks Pierre to knock at the door of Gaultier and see his wife, Marion.  He should take her hand and kiss it.  She has to be told that her husband, Gaultier has sent him to fetch the eel pie.  It will end his hunger.  Pierre disabuses the fear from jean that the husband of Marion, Gaultier would appear in the process. Jean does as Pierre has instructed him.  He gets the eel pie.  Pierre hugs the eel pie as St. Ursula would have her maidens.

            Gaultier comes back because the mayor has gone out.  He has no other option but to eat at home.  But Marion, the wife of Gaultier says that there is nothing at home.  When Gaultier reminds her that the eel pie is there, Marion replies that it has been given to his messenger a quarter of an hour back.  Gaultier points out that he has never sent a messenger.

Quarrel between Gaultier and Marion      

            There is a wordy warfare between Gaultier and Marion.  The hunger of Pierre is satisfied.  His brain begins to function.  The doctor, he remembers has said that t food before digestion is bad.  Both praise Gaultier and his wife Marion for the excellent preparation of the pie. Pierre remembers the cranberry tart, which he saw on the shelf and he asks Jean to go and tell the lady that Mr. Gaultier want him to bring the tart. Jean goes to Marion again not satisfied with the eel pie alone.  He gives the impression that Gaultier, her husband has sent him to her again to fetch the cranberry tart on the kitchen shelf.  Unfortunately Gaultier is inside.  He comes out and beats jean.  Jean throws the blame on his friend, Pierre.  Jean tells Pierre that the lady would give the tart only to the same messenger who came for the pie.  Pierre goes thinking that Marion would welcome him.  Pierre explains the truth.

Conclusion

           Pierre tells the angry Gaultier that he had take n the pie to the mayor’s house and he said that the mayor was grateful for the pie and wanted Gaultier to come for dinner.  The mayor had come back.  Pierre somehow or other makes Gaultier part with the tart under the pretext of running to the mayor.  The boys enjoy the cranberry tart with great religion.  Thus the boys manage to dupe the gullible Gaultier couple.

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Refund

Introduction:

     Percival Wilde (New York City, 1 March 1887 – 19 September 1953) was an American author and playwright who wrote text books on the theater arts, novels and numerous short stories and one-act plays.  This story was adapted from Fritz Karinthy, a well know short story writer who wrote this one act play in the year 1938. This is the story of a former student who demands that his tuition should be refunded because he feels his education was worthless, but loses his bid when he is tricked by the mathematics master.  He proved that teachers are cleverer than the main character in the play named Wasserkopf.

Wasserkopf’s Education:

     He wants the refund of his tuition fees which were paid for education eighteen years ago because he didn’t get his money worth.  This idea was given to him by his Lederer while he was walking along the street after being fired from the job.  When the Lederer spoke about the speculation of Foreign exchange, Wasserkopf asked, what Foreign Exchange is? He replied according to the paper, Hungarian money is down seventy points.  Wasserkopf replied, I don’t understand. Lederer said, go to school and get your tuition fees back.

Meeting with the Principal:

     He hurried to school to get back his tuition fees after meeting Lederer.  He met the Principal and asked him to refund his tuition fee since he was not able to do anything and could not keep a job because he was taught badly.  Principal was shocked.  He further says that financially he is broken and he wants to get foreign exchange.  The Principal arranges for an urgent meeting with all his teaching staff’s about Wasserkopf’s re-examination.  The outcome of their meeting is to checkmate him by sticking together and appreciate his answers.  Mathematics teacher tells the other members of staff, that they should prevent him from failing. 

Re-examination:

     Principal asked the servant to call Wasserkopf for a re-examination.  When all the staff members greeted him, he called the staff members as ‘Loafers’.  The Mathematics teacher says that the greeting shows that he approves the way which teachers and pupils are treated on equal foots in the school.  ‘Excellent’ for manner without any examinations said the staff members.

Questions from the staff’s:

     The History master asked him how long the thirty years war last? He answered that the war lasted for Seven meters.  History master accepts it as a brilliant answer based on theories of Einstein and others.  The war took place during half of each day, three hours a day to eat, hours given up to noon day, so totally seven years.  The actual time spent in fighting was seven years and it has been by Einsteinian equivalence of seven meters.

     The Physics Master asked Wasserkopf whether clocks in church become smaller if one walks away from it because of optical illusion.  He called The Physics master as an ass.  The master says that the answer is correct because ass does not have any illusion of vision.

     The Geography Master asked Wasserkopf for the name of a city which has the same name as the capital of German Providence of Burnswick.  He replied as ‘Same’.   Master said it is the correct answer.  There was a legend that once as the emperor Barbarossa was riding in the city, he met a young peasant (farmer) girl, who was munching a bun mouthful.  He called out her God Bless you, she answered same to you sir, and Emperor laughed and said Ho, Ho! So the city is ‘Same’.

     Mathematics master said he will ask two questions to him, one will be difficult and the other is too easy.  He asked about the speed of light by x, distance of star Sirius from sun y, nine-sided regular polyhedron whose surface coincides with hip-pocket of a state railway.  Everyone was shocked. The answer came from Wasserkopf was twenty nine liters.  But the master said it a wrong one and the answer is twenty eight liters. While the other teachers are not happy, Wasserkopf now demands for his tuition fees.  Now, the teacher asked him, how much should we repay you? He replied as 6450 crowns 50 hellers exactly.  Mathematics teacher now declares him as a mathematical genius and the move defeats Wasserkopf.

Conclusion:

     The Principal presented the results of the examination and he has passed with distinction.  Thus, the teachers get rid of Wasserkopf without the refund.

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The Boy Comes Home

‘The Boy Comes Home’ is a light comedy. The main character Philip has been terminated from the army after a period of four years. He has learnt the tactics which are essential to lead a successful life. He knows how to use different policies. He compels others to accomplish his wishes. According to the will of his deceased father he can have his money at the age of twenty five and by that time uncle James will be this guardian. The play is full of amusing and witty situations.

Philip returns back from the war after a long and tough period. He is now in the mood of leisure. He gets up late and goes to the morning room for breakfast at ten o’clock. He finds nothing on the table and Orders Mary - the parlour maid to serve him with eggs and coffee. She tells him that Mrs. Higgins does not like irregularity. She is very punctual and according to Master’s rule she prepares breakfast at eight o’clock. Mary is afraid that Mrs. Higgins will annoy at her if she goes to her for breakfast. In the meantime, Aunt Emily enters and discusses some trivial matter. A few moments later Mrs. Higgins enters awfully Philip demands for breakfast. She replies firmly that breakfast is available only at eight o’clock. She refuses to obey him and talks in arrogant manner. She demands to give her one month notice. Having seen the haughtiness (arrogance) of Mrs. Higgins, Philip uses the strategy and at once orders her to leave the job and offers cheque of her wages. She does not expect such behavior of Philip; it is astounding to her. She takes her order and goes away.

            Then uncle James-enters and asks about Philip. Aunt Emily tells that he is taking his breakfast. Uncle James dislikes his slackness. He tells that he should be very punctual. He wants to discuss his future planning. He wants him to work in his office. Aunt -Emily tries to convince him that Philip is no more a boy but a man. She says that Philip will not follow his instructions Uncle James tells that he knows his Weak point, and will not give him money. Aunt Emily informs Philip that his uncle is waiting for him. Philip answers carelessly that his uncle can come to him to meet.

However Philip goes to his uncle. Uncle James rebukes him for his smoking. Uncle James advises him to learn Civility and respect for elders. He tries to impress him with his experience and awful personality. He proposes him to join into his business. But Philip wants to be an architect. They wrangle (quarrel) with each other. Uncle James threat him that he can get the payment of that amount what is for Philip, at the attainment of age of twenty five years.

On this Philip takes out His revolver. Uncle James terrifies to see the revolver in Philip’s hand. Philip said he will not hesitate to kill him, because he has already killed twenty men. Uncle James tries to dodge Philip with his oily tongue but all in vain. Philip becomes harsh. He behaves with his uncle severely. Uncle James becomes soft and yields the palm. Philip succeeds in his scheme. When he sees that Uncle James is completely in his control, he agrees to work in his uncle’s office. Uncle James too becomes friendly to him.  We see Philip’s shows his sagacity on two different occasions. He compels his opponent to bow

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The Discovery

Introduction:

            Hermand Ould is a living dramatist.  His plays are often based upon historical incidents surrounding the all time famous celebrities like Columbus, David Livingston and Joan of Arc.  His plays concentrate on lives of great men, their adventures and achievement in their lifetime. He takes real life situation and represents very interestingly to our imagination. ‘The Discovery’ describes Columbus as a man of Destiny and brings out his get great courage and fortitude at the hour of his trial. 

Summary:

            The background of the play is a ship called ‘Santa Maria’ wherein it was driven by the sailors who were governed by a Captain named Columbus in a venture of discovering a new land.  The play opens with sailors on board; Juan (sailor) was kneeling and adjusting the ropes that support the ship for sail.  Diego Garcia another seaman laughs and talks ill (bad things) about the captain. Juan now appreciates the views of Diego and says Columbus is an unfortunate captain. 40 seamen were working under Columbus and they were nudging and nagging on the captain to return home.  The seamen sing and Juan points out that the Captain will get angry. Columbus comes to the spot when the two (Pedro and Diego) talk about mutiny (fight against authority).  Columbus is a tall man who around 46 years of age and easily irritable (angry).  He suspects the conversation that takes place between Pedro and Diego.  Later Pepe (page boy) appears from the hatch. Columbus prays for good wind.  Wind is God for him. Pedro says that all the seamen think only about their children, wife, friends, and sweet hearts and they urge to return back home. 

            Pedro points out to Columbus that the seaman does not have the vision to discover a new land. Columbus confesses that he is an impatient person and gets anger very easily.  Pedro speaks on behalf of his fellow sailors stating that they were patiently waiting in the hope to discover Spain.  But we are yet to discover anything and the ill luck follows us.  Suddenly Pepe runs up to the captain and says that he hates all the seamen, since they drink and sing ill about the captain.  Pedro is now asked to stop the noise of singing but the seamen never listened.  This made Columbus more restless and angry.  Now, Francisco appears and tells Columbus that his fellow sailors are very angry on the captain and warns him that the anger of the sailors is dangerous and harmful to Columbus.

            Pedro was now asked by the captain to arrange for a meeting with the crew in the ship.  In the meeting the captain view was opposed by Francisco (head of the seamen) in discovering a new land saying that there is a limit for duty and the sailors are home sick and they wanted to meet their beloveds and children.  Again the seamen begins to sing which kindles the anger of the captain and calls the sound as the ‘snarling (growling or shouting) of angry beast’. Francisco takes up a big stick and says that the discipline is a thing of the past. Columbus now orders to meet Guillermo Ires (seamen) who makes the roar of songs.  He tries to stop them and warns them that they will spend the rest of the night in prison.  He wants Guillermo to get down. 

            Guillermo tells Columbus that they have waited long and he tried to test the patience too much and he wants the ship ‘Santa Maria’ to go back to Spain.  Captain pays high respect to Guillermo as a sailor but sometimes he couldn’t resist the tongue (speech) of Guillermo. Columbus tries to prove other sailors that he is an authoritative person and the sailors began to rebel again him. Pepe now stands between the rebellious sailors and the captain.  Pepe is the only loyal person in Columbus discovery.  Pedro tells Columbus that his loyalty has never been in question.  Juan says he and other are simple men.  Guillermo promises to wait till the next day.  Francisco proves that he is not on the side of Columbus.  Finally the next day the land is sighted (discovered).  There is happiness all around.  Finally Columbus discovered the new land and Pepe (who is the only loyal person amongst all sailors).

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The Shirt

Introduction:

            This is a satirical (comedy) play written by Francis Dillon who produced many plays for B.B.C.  The play highlights on the emptiness of modern life, where we have lost our joy and the capacity to live happily which was brought out in the most entertaining fashion in this play through the life of the King who suffers from melancholy.

Summary:

            The story takes place in King’s court where all the noble men and commoners have assembled.  Queen appears and asks the nobles to sit.  The chancellor says that the whole kingdom shares the Queen’s sorrow since the disease called melancholy (sadness) has overtaken the King drastically and the Queen want the remedy to cure the disease. She asked the court physician (doctor) to speak, and he says that the King is affected by Melancholy humor and this can be cured by developing humor and laughter.  The second Physician said he wants to examine the King of the past life events.  Now the King’s jester arrives to entertain the king.  Chancellor finds fault with the commoner Buckram who interrupted in the court. Later the Queen is stunned to see Royal Hunt Master appears at the court on horseback.   The master of Royal Hunter says that if the King comes along with them to hunt the wild beasts in the forest with this melancholy state he will be easily killed.  Queen wants the King to be tempted any way or the other to come out of the disease.  She invites the court poet to sing in praise of the King in order to bring him out from sadness since the poet was one of the most lovable poets of all time. The poet tries to cure the king’s troubled mind saying about Unicorns which should be hunted by the king.  Buckram (common man) interrupts and says that he will offer fifty thousand gold dinars for a Unicorn dead or alive. 

            Buckram says that the courts jesters (entertainers) were outdated.  Chancellor shouts at the common man and asks him not to speak in the court since he is a common man and not a noble person to speak in the court.  Buckram promises the Queen that he will bring entertainers and physicians from the neighboring states to entertain the king to cure his sadness.  Few days later the King’s court hall is filled up with Buckram’s entertainers.  Buckram introduces Crik Busby whose golden voice has conquered many hearts.  King shouts at the Crik Busby and orders the chancellor to kill him for the moaning voice.  Chancellor silences the King saying that the person is not an enemy and he is from a friendly state.  Later Crik Busby was declared free.  Followed him was Duffy and Huffy a quick fire standup comedians, Swing Swatters and Side splitting Sidney but everyone failed to impress the king.  The chancellor orders the common man Buckram to be seized and killed.  Buckram’s physician enters and examines the King.  He said that the King fears death and old age and the melancholy disease can be cured by wearing the shirt of a completely happy man for 7 days.  The king replies that every man in the kingdom is happy except him.  The Chancellor promised the King that he will bring the happiest man and leaves the court.  He asked the secretary to arrange for a selection committee to find the happy man. 

            Queen wants to know how many have screened and the Chancellor replies that he does not know the exact figure they have examined to find the happiest man.  The president replied that the selection committee is engaged in defining word ‘happiness’.  Now the Queen is desired to see the screened (selected) list.  She starts with the Merchant Princess, followed by other Merchants and Rich men in and around the kingdom.  Everyone had some problem or the other to claim that they are not happy saying indigestion, problem with daughters, son, toothless, hairless, childless, landless, and friendless. The Queen comes to the conclusion that no rich man is happy.  The Queen journeyed far over the country and nothing was heard of her for long about the happiest man.  The selection committee continued the search, and finally deriving the definition for ‘happiness’.  Brains party: happiness lies in the state of mind, Brawns party: happiness is being healthy and fit.  These were the definition derived by the committee.

            Suddenly there was a fight between the people who are armed and those who are not.  It took place between the Brain party and the Brawn party. By that time the Queen came across a beggar and she asked him whether his is a rich beggar.  He said he sings for gold, but the gold gets him misery and he has thrown it away. Singing is the hobby of the beggar and he never worries about anything in the world and feel that he is very happy. Queen decided to take him to the court.  The chancellor feels the same as the Queen that the beggar is the happiest man in the whole kingdom.  The beggar stands before the King and the king asks him to give his shirt to cure his melancholy.  The beggar says he cannot because he doesn’t have a shirt to wear since he is a poor beggar.  Finally the King laughs ‘you have no shirt’, roaring with laughter, the whole court joined him.

            

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Fiction : Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson

Introduction about the author:

      Robert Louis Stevenson, was a Scottish novelist, essayist and poet, was born in Edinburgh in 1850.  His most well known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Stevenson has been greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, and Rudyard Kipling.  Although he never enjoyed good health, he travelled widely, finally making his home in the tropical island of Samoa, where he died in 1894.

Main Characters:

Dr.  Henry Jekyll – A respected doctor and friend of Lanyon, a fellow physician, and Utterson.

Mr. Edward Hyde - a violent and cruel man and everyone who sees him describes him as ugly

Mr. Gabriel John Utterson - A prominent and upstanding lawyer, well respected in the London community

Dr. Hastie Lanyon - A reputable London doctor, friend of Dr. Jekyll

Mr. Poole - Jekyll butler.

Mr. Enfield - A distant cousin and lifelong friend of Mr. Utterson

Mr. Guest - Utterson’s clerk 

Sir Danvers Carew - A well-liked old nobleman, Member of Parliament, and a client of Utterson.

Plot Overview

On their weekly walk, an eminently sensible, trustworthy lawyer named Mr. Utterson listens as his friend Enfield tells a gruesome tale of assault. The tale describes a sinister figure named Mr. Hyde who tramples a young girl, disappears into a door on the street, and reemerges to pay off her relatives with a check signed by a respectable gentleman. Since both Utterson and Enfield disapprove of gossip, they agree to speak no further of the matter. It happens, however, that one of Utterson’s clients and close friends, Dr. Jekyll, has written a will transferring all of his property to this same Mr. Hyde. Soon, Utterson begins having dreams in which a faceless figure stalks through a nightmarish version of London.

Puzzled, the lawyer visits Jekyll and their mutual friend Dr. Lanyon to try to learn more. Lanyon reports that he no longer sees much of Jekyll, since they had a dispute over the course of Jekyll’s research, which Lanyon calls “unscientific balderdash.” Curious, Utterson stakes out a building that Hyde visits—which, it turns out, is a laboratory attached to the back of Jekyll’s home. Encountering Hyde, Utterson is amazed by how undefinably ugly the man seems, as if deformed, though Utterson cannot say exactly how. Much to Utterson’s surprise, Hyde willingly offers Utterson his address. Jekyll tells Utterson not to concern himself with the matter of Hyde.

A year passes uneventfully. Then, one night, a servant girl witnesses Hyde brutally beat to death an old man named Sir Danvers Carew, a member of Parliament and a client of Utterson. The police contact Utterson, and Utterson suspects Hyde as the murderer. He leads the officers to Hyde’s apartment, feeling a sense of foreboding amid the eerie weather—the morning is dark and wreathed in fog. When they arrive at the apartment, the murderer has vanished, and police searches prove futile. Shortly thereafter, Utterson again visits Jekyll, who now claims to have ended all relations with Hyde; he shows Utterson a note, allegedly written to Jekyll by Hyde, apologizing for the trouble he has caused him and saying goodbye. That night, however, Utterson’s clerk points out that Hyde’s handwriting bears a remarkable similarity to Jekyll’s own.

For a few months, Jekyll acts especially friendly and sociable, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. But then Jekyll suddenly begins to refuse visitors, and Lanyon dies from some kind of shock he received in connection with Jekyll. Before dying, however, Lanyon gives Utterson a letter, with instructions that he not open it until after Jekyll’s death. Meanwhile, Utterson goes out walking with Enfield, and they see Jekyll at a window of his laboratory; the three men begin to converse, but a look of horror comes over Jekyll’s face, and he slams the window and disappears. Soon afterward, Jekyll’s butler, Mr. Poole, visits Utterson in a state of desperation: Jekyll has secluded himself in his laboratory for several weeks, and now the voice that comes from the room sounds nothing like the doctor’s. Utterson and Poole travel to Jekyll’s house through empty, windswept, sinister streets; once there, they find the servants huddled together in fear. After arguing for a time, the two of them resolve to break into Jekyll’s laboratory. Inside, they find the body of Hyde, wearing Jekyll’s clothes and apparently dead by suicide—and a letter from Jekyll to Utterson promising to explain everything.

Utterson takes the document home, where first he reads Lanyon’s letter; it reveals that Lanyon’s deterioration and eventual death were caused by the shock of seeing Mr. Hyde take a potion and metamorphose into Dr. Jekyll. The second letter constitutes a testament by Jekyll. It explains how Jekyll, seeking to separate his good side from his darker impulses, discovered a way to transform himself periodically into a deformed monster free of conscience—Mr. Hyde. At first, Jekyll reports, he delighted in becoming Hyde and rejoiced in the moral freedom that the creature possessed. Eventually, however, he found that he was turning into Hyde involuntarily in his sleep, even without taking the potion. At this point, Jekyll resolved to cease becoming Hyde. One night, however, the urge gripped him too strongly, and after the transformation he immediately rushed out and violently killed Sir Danvers Carew. Horrified, Jekyll tried more adamantly to stop the transformations, and for a time he proved successful; one day, however, while sitting in a park, he suddenly turned into Hyde, the first time that an involuntary metamorphosis had happened while he was awake.

The letter continues describing Jekyll’s cry for help. Far from his laboratory and hunted by the police as a murderer, Hyde needed Lanyon’s help to get his potions and become Jekyll again—but when he undertook the transformation in Lanyon’s presence, the shock of the sight instigated Lanyon’s deterioration and death. Meanwhile, Jekyll returned to his home, only to find himself ever more helpless and trapped as the transformations increased in frequency and necessitated even larger doses of potion in order to reverse themselves. It was the onset of one of these spontaneous metamorphoses that caused Jekyll to slam his laboratory window shut in the middle of his conversation with Enfield and Utterson. Eventually, the potion began to run out, and Jekyll was unable to find a key ingredient to make more. His ability to change back from Hyde into Jekyll slowly vanished. Jekyll writes that even as he composes his letter he knows that he will soon become Hyde permanently, and he wonders if Hyde will face execution for his crimes or choose to kill himself. Jekyll notes that, in any case, the end of his letter marks the end of the life of Dr. Jekyll. With these words, both the document and the novel come to a close.

NIGHT IN THE CITY

     Mr. Richard Enfield was a large and active young man who had dined in down that night, and then gone on to dance at the Prescott house in Hampstead.  By tow clock in the morning he chose to walk back to his own room in the city.  He went on cheerful enough, swinging his stick and humming the tune of the moment. Later his mood changed and began to feel the need for a company, for the sound of a human voice.  The street was empty as a church.  All at once he saw two figures one was a little man walking in good pace, and the other was that of a girl of some ten or eleven years who was running hard. 

     He witnessed a shrunken, misshapen man crash into and tramples a young girl.  She gave a loud scream. Enfield collared the man before he could get away, and then brought him back to the girl, around whom an angry crowd had gathered. The captured man appeared so overwhelmingly ugly that the crowd immediately despised him. United, the crowd threatened to ruin the ugly man’s good name unless he did something to make amends; the man, seeing himself trapped, bought them off with one hundred pounds, which he obtained upon entering the neglected building through its only door.

THE SIGNATURE

    The child’s father later called the doctor for help.  His anger over the strange man was forgotten, and his thoughts were on his child.  He led the doctor for a quick examination.  He looked at the strange ugly guy and said “this is a bad business” and the child is not seriously but she had a shock, a very bad shock.

    Now, the strange ugly man (Mr. Hyde) turned angry and shouts, ‘the whole thing was an accident’.  Later he said that he would be willing to settle the matter without the reference to the police by expressing his sorrow for what has happened in the form of a gift of money to this poor girl’s family.  Few people applauded that.  He was asked to pay a sum of 100 pounds.  The strange men replied he have neither cash nor cheque-book with him.  Enfield along with Mr. Hyde and child’s father walked almost an hour, when Mr. Hyde turned into a quiet side street in a busy quarter of London.

     The wall was dirty and the door had neither bell nor knocker, was stained and unpainted and looked as if it was not opened for many years.  Mr. Hyde stood near the door and asked them to wait. Strangely enough, the check bore the name of a very reputable man; furthermore, and in spite of Enfield’s suspicions, it proved to be legitimate and not a forgery. Enfield hypothesizes that the ugly culprit had somehow blackmailed the man whose name appeared on the check. Spurning gossip, however, Enfield refuses to reveal that name.  Mr. Hyde promised that he will come along with them to Coutts Bank and get them the money which they asked for.  Mr. Hyde shown no sign of pity for the terrible thing that he had done.

BLACKMAIL HOUSE

     Mr. Utterson is a wealthy, well-respected London lawyer, a reserved and perhaps even boring man who nevertheless inspires a strange fondness in those who know him. Despite his eminent respectability, he never abandons a friend whose reputation has been sullied or ruined.  Utterson nurtures a close friendship with Mr. Enfield, his distant relative and likewise a respectable London gentleman. The two seem to have little in common, and when they take their weekly walk together they often go for quite a distance without saying anything to one another; nevertheless, they look forward to these strolls as one of the high points of the week. One day Utterson and Enfield are taking their regular Sunday stroll and walking down a particularly prosperous-looking street. They come upon a neglected building, which seems out of place in the neighborhood, and Enfield relates a story in connection with it. He talks about an ugly strange man who trampled a small child and later he solved the problem by providing us with a cheque for 100 pounds which bored the signature of a reputable gentleman in London. 

     Utterson then asks several pointed questions confirming the details of the incident. Enfield tries to describe the nature of the mysterious man’s ugliness but cannot express it, stating,”I never saw a man I so disliked, and yet I scarce know why.” He divulges that the culprit’s name was Hyde, and, at this point, Utterson declares that he knows the man, and notes that he can now guess the name on the check. But, as the men have just been discussing the virtue of minding one’s own business, they promptly agree never to discuss the matter again.

SEARCH FOR MR. HYDE

     Utterson, prompted by his conversation with Enfield, goes home to study a will that he drew up for his close friend Dr. Jekyll. It states that in the event of the death or disappearance of Jekyll, all of his property should be given over immediately to a Mr. Edward Hyde. This strange will had long troubled Utterson, but now that he has heard something of Hyde’s behavior, he becomes more upset and feels convinced that Hyde has some peculiar power over Jekyll. Seeking to unravel the mystery, he pays a visit to Dr. Lanyon, a friend of Jekyll’s. But Lanyon has never heard of Hyde and has fallen out of communication with Jekyll as a result of a professional dispute. Lanyon refers to Jekyll’s most recent line of research as “unscientific balderdash.”

      Later that night, Utterson is haunted by nightmares in which a faceless man runs down a small child and in which the same terrifying, faceless figure stands beside Jekyll’s bed and commands him to rise. Soon, Utterson begins to spend time around the run-down building where Enfield saw Hyde enter, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Hyde. Hyde, a small young man, finally appears, and Utterson approaches him. Utterson introduces himself as a friend of Henry Jekyll. Hyde, keeping his head down, returns his greetings. He asks Hyde to show him his face, so that he will know him if he sees him again; Hyde complies, and, like Enfield before him, Utterson feels appalled and horrified yet cannot pinpoint exactly what makes Hyde so ugly. Hyde then offers Utterson his address, which the lawyer interprets as a sign that Hyde eagerly anticipates the death of Jekyll and the execution of his will.

DR. JEKYLL

     After this encounter, Utterson pays a visit to Jekyll. At this point, we learn what Utterson himself has known all along: namely, that the run-down building that Hyde frequents is actually a laboratory attached to Jekyll’s well-kept townhouse, which faces outward on a parallel street. Utterson is admitted into Jekyll’s home by Jekyll’s butler, Mr. Poole, but Jekyll is not at home. Poole tells Utterson that Hyde has a key to the laboratory and that all the servants have orders to obey Hyde. The lawyer heads home, worrying about his friend. He assumes Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll, perhaps for some wrongdoings that Jekyll committed in his youth.

     Two weeks later, Jekyll throws a well-attended dinner party. Utterson stays late so that the two men can speak privately. Utterson mentions the will, and Jekyll begins to make a joke about it, but he turns pale when Utterson tells him that he has been “learning something of young Hyde.” Jekyll explains that the situation with Hyde is exceptional and cannot be solved by talking. He also insists that “the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.” But Jekyll emphasizes the great interest he currently takes in Hyde and his desire to continue to provide for him. He makes Utterson promise that he will carry out his will and testament.

The Carew Murder Case

     Approximately one year later, the scene opens on a maid who, sitting at her window in the wee hours of the morning, witnesses a murder take place in the street below. She sees a small, evil-looking man, whom she recognizes as Mr. Hyde, encounter a polite, aged gentleman; when the gentleman offers Hyde a greeting, Hyde suddenly turns on him with a stick, beating him to death. The police find a letter addressed to Utterson on the dead body, and they consequently summon the lawyer. He identifies the body as Sir Danvers Carew, a popular Member of Parliament and one of his clients.

     Utterson still has Hyde’s address, and he accompanies the police to a set of rooms located in a poor, evil-looking part of town. Utterson reflects on how odd it is that a man who lives in such squalor is the heir to Henry Jekyll’s fortune. Hyde’s villainous-looking landlady lets the men in, but the suspected murderer is not at home. The police find the murder weapon and the burned remains of Hyde’s checkbook. Upon a subsequent visit to the bank, the police inspector learns that Hyde still has an account there. The officer assumes that he need only wait for Hyde to go and withdraw money. In the days and weeks that follow, however, no sign of Hyde turns up; he has no family, no friends, and those who have seen him are unable to give accurate descriptions, differ on details, and agree only on the evil aspect of his appearance.

The Letter

     Utterson calls on Jekyll, whom he finds in his laboratory looking deathly ill. Jekyll feverishly claims that Hyde has left and that their relationship has ended. He also assures Utterson that the police shall never find the man. Jekyll then shows Utterson a letter and asks him what he should do with it, since he fears it could damage his reputation if he turns it over to the police. The letter is from Hyde, assuring Jekyll that he has means of escape, that Jekyll should not worry about him, and that he deems himself unworthy of Jekyll’s great generosity. Utterson asks if Hyde dictated the terms of Jekyll’s will—especially its insistence that Hyde inherit in the event of Jekyll’s -“disappearance.” Jekyll replies in the affirmative, and Utterson tells his friend that Hyde probably meant to murder him and that he has had a near escape. He takes the letter and departs.

     On his way out, Utterson runs into Poole, the butler, and asks him to describe the man who delivered the letter; Poole, taken aback, claims to have no knowledge of any letters being delivered other than the usual mail. That night, over drinks, Utterson consults his trusted clerk, Mr. Guest, who is an expert on handwriting. Guest compares Hyde’s letter with some of Jekyll’s own writing and suggests that the same hand inscribed both; Hyde’s script merely leans in the opposite direction, as if for the purpose of concealment. Utterson reacts with alarm at the thought that Jekyll would forge a letter for a murderer.

Chapter 8: The Terror of Dr. Lanyon

     As time passes, with no sign of Hyde’s reappearance, Jekyll becomes healthier-looking and more sociable, devoting himself to charity. To Utterson, it appears that the removal of Hyde’s evil influence has had a tremendously positive effect on Jekyll. After two months of this placid lifestyle, Jekyll holds a dinner party, which both Utterson and Lanyon attend, and the three talk together as old friends. But a few days later, when Utterson calls on Jekyll, Poole reports that his master is receiving no visitors.

     This scenario repeats itself for a week, so Utterson goes to visit Lanyon, hoping to learn why Jekyll has refused any company. He finds Lanyon in very poor health, pale and sickly, with a frightened look in his eyes. Lanyon explains that he has had a great shock and expects to die in a few weeks. “[L]ife has been pleasant,” he says. “I liked it; yes, sir, I used to like it.” Then he adds, “I sometimes think if we knew all, we should be gladder to get away.” When Utterson mentions that Jekyll also seems ill, Lanyon violently demands that they talk of anything but Jekyll. He promises that after his death, Utterson may learn the truth about everything, but for now he will not discuss it. Afterward, at home, Utterson writes to Jekyll, talking about being turned away from Jekyll’s house and inquiring as to what caused the break between him and Lanyon. Soon Jekyll’s written reply arrives, explaining that while he still cares for Lanyon, he understands why the doctor says they must not meet. As for Jekyll himself, he pledges his continued affection for Utterson but adds that from now on he will be maintaining a strict seclusion, seeing no one. He says that he is suffering a punishment that he cannot name.

     Lanyon dies a few weeks later, fulfilling his prophecy. After the funeral, Utterson takes from his safe a letter that Lanyon meant for him to read after he died. Inside, Utterson finds only another envelope, marked to remain sealed until Jekyll also has died. Out of professional principle, Utterson overcomes his curiosity and puts the envelope away for safekeeping. As weeks pass, he calls on Jekyll less and less frequently, and the butler continues to refuse him entry.

Chapter 9: The face at the Window

     The following Sunday, Utterson and Enfield are taking their regular stroll. Passing the door where Enfield once saw Hyde enter to retrieve Jekyll’s check, Enfield remarks on the murder case. He notes that the story that began with the trampling has reached an end, as London will never again see Mr. Hyde. Enfield mentions that in the intervening weeks he has learned that the run-down laboratory they pass is physically connected to Jekyll’s house, and they both stop to peer into the house’s windows, with Utterson noting his concern for Jekyll’s health. To their surprise, the two men find Jekyll at the window, enjoying the fresh air. Jekyll complains that he feels “very low,” and Utterson suggests that he join them for a walk, to help his circulation. Jekyll refuses, saying that he cannot go out. Then, just as they resume polite conversation, a look of terror seizes his face, and he quickly shuts the window and vanishes. Utterson and Enfield depart in shocked silence.

Chapter 10: The Last Night

     Jekyll’s butler Poole visits Utterson one night after dinner. Deeply agitated, he says only that he believes there has been some “foul play” regarding Dr. Jekyll; he quickly brings Utterson to his master’s residence. The night is dark and windy, and the streets are deserted, giving Utterson a premonition of disaster. When he reaches Jekyll’s house, he finds the servants gathered fearfully in the main hall. Poole brings Utterson to the door of Jekyll’s laboratory and calls inside, saying that Utterson has come for a visit. A strange voice responds, sounding nothing like that of Jekyll; the owner of the voice tells Poole that he can receive no visitors.

     Poole and Utterson retreat to the kitchen, where Poole insists that the voice they heard emanating from the laboratory does not belong to his master. Utterson wonders why the murderer would remain in the laboratory if he had just killed Jekyll and not simply flee. Poole describes how the mystery voice has sent him on constant errands to chemists; the man in the laboratory seems desperate for some ingredient that no drugstore in London sells. Utterson, still hopeful, asks whether the notes Poole has received are in the doctor’s hand, but Poole then reveals that he has seen the person inside the laboratory, when he came out briefly to search for something, and that the man looked nothing like Jekyll. Utterson suggests that Jekyll may have some disease that changes his voice and deforms his features, making them unrecognizable, but Poole declares that the person he saw was smaller than his master—and looked, in fact, like none other than Mr. Hyde.

Chapter 11: The disappearance

     Hearing Poole’s words, Utterson resolves that he and Poole should break into the laboratory. He sends two servants around the block the laboratory’s other door, the one that Enfield sees Hyde using at the beginning of the novel. Then, armed with a fireplace poker and an axe, Utterson and Poole return to the inner door. Utterson calls inside, demanding admittance. The voice begs for Utterson to have mercy and to leave him alone. The lawyer, however, recognizes the voice as Hyde’s and orders Poole to smash down the door.

     Once inside, the men find Hyde’s body lying on the floor, a crushed vial in his hand. He appears to have poisoned himself. Utterson notes that Hyde is wearing a suit that belongs to Jekyll and that is much too large for him. The men search the entire laboratory, as well as the surgeon’s theater below and the other rooms in the building, but they find neither a trace of Jekyll nor a corpse. They note a large mirror and think it strange to find such an item in a scientific laboratory. Then, on Jekyll’s business table, they find a large envelope addressed to Utterson that contains three items. The first is a will, much like the previous one, except that it replaces Hyde’s name with Utterson’s. The second is a note to Utterson, with the present day’s date on it. Based on this piece of evidence, Utterson surmises that Jekyll is still alive—and he wonders if Hyde really died by suicide or if Jekyll killed him. This note instructs Utterson to go home immediately and read the letter that Lanyon gave him earlier. It adds that if he desires to learn more, Utterson can read the confession of “Your worthy and unhappy friend, Henry Jekyll.” Utterson takes the third item from the envelope—a sealed packet—and promises Poole that he will return that night and send for the police. He then heads back to his office to read Lanyon’s letter and the contents of the sealed packet.

Chapter 12: Dr. Lanyon’s Statement

     This chapter constitutes a word-for-word transcription of the letter Lanyon intends Utterson to open after Lanyon’s and Jekyll’s deaths. Lanyon writes that after Jekyll’s last dinner party, he received a strange letter from Jekyll. The letter asked Lanyon to go to Jekyll’s home and, with the help of Poole, break into the upper room—or “cabinet”—of Jekyll’s laboratory. The letter instructed Lanyon then to remove a specific drawer and all its contents from the laboratory, return with this drawer to his own home, and wait for a man who would come to claim it precisely at midnight. The letter seemed to Lanyon to have been written in a mood of desperation. It offered no explanation for the orders it gave but promised Lanyon that if he did as it bade, he would soon understand everything.

     Lanyon duly went to Jekyll’s home, where Poole and a locksmith met him. The locksmith broke into the lab, and Lanyon returned home with the drawer. Within the drawer, Lanyon found several vials, one containing what seemed to be salt and another holding a peculiar red liquid. The drawer also contained a notebook recording what seemed to be years of experiments, with little notations such as “double” or “total failure!!!” scattered amid a long list of dates. However, the notebooks offered no hints as to what the experiments involved. Lanyon waited for his visitor, increasingly certain that Jekyll must be insane. As promised, at the stroke of midnight, a small, evil-looking man appeared, dressed in clothes much too large for him. It was, of course, Mr. Hyde, but Lanyon, never having seen the man before, did not recognize him. Hyde seemed nervous and excited. He avoided polite conversation, interested only in the contents of the drawer. Lanyon directed him to it, and Hyde then asked for a graduated glass. In it, he mixed the ingredients from the drawer to form a purple liquid, which then became green. Hyde paused and asked Lanyon whether he should leave and take the glass with him, or whether he should stay and drink it in front of Lanyon, allowing the doctor to witness something that he claimed would “stagger the unbelief of Satan.” Lanyon, irritated, declared that he had already become so involved in the matter that he wanted to see the end of it.

     Taking up the glass, Hyde told Lanyon that his skepticism of “transcendental medicine” would now be disproved. Before Lanyon’s eyes, the deformed man drank the glass in one gulp and then seemed to swell, his body expanding, his face melting and shifting, until, shockingly, Hyde was gone and Dr. Jekyll stood in his place. Lanyon here ends his letter, stating that what Jekyll told him afterward is too shocking to repeat and that the horror of the event has so wrecked his constitution that he will soon die.

Chapter 13: Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case

     This chapter offers a transcription of the letter Jekyll leaves for Utterson in the laboratory. Jekyll writes that upon his birth he possessed a large inheritance, a healthy body, and a hardworking, decent nature. His idealism allowed him to maintain a respectable seriousness in public while hiding his more frivolous and indecent side. By the time he was fully grown, he found himself leading a dual life, in which his better side constantly felt guilt for the transgressions of his darker side. When his scientific interests led to mystical studies as to the divided nature of man, he hoped to find some solution to his own split nature. Jekyll insists that “man is not truly one, but truly two,” and he records how he dreamed of separating the good and evil natures.

     Jekyll reports that, after much research, he eventually found a chemical solution that might serve his purposes. Buying a large quantity of salt as his last ingredient, he took the potion with the knowledge that he was risking his life, but he remained driven by the hopes of making a great discovery. At first, he experienced incredible pain and nausea. But as these symptoms subsided, he felt vigorous and filled with recklessness and sensuality. He had become the shrunken, deformed Mr. Hyde. He hypothesizes that Hyde’s small stature owed to the fact that this persona represented his evil side alone, which up to that point had been repressed.

     Upon first looking into a mirror after the transformation, Jekyll-turned-Hyde was not repulsed by his new form; instead, he experienced “a leap of welcome.” He came to delight in living as Hyde. Jekyll was becoming too old to act upon his more embarrassing impulses, but Hyde was a younger man, the personification of the evil side that emerged several years after Jekyll’s own birth. Transforming himself into Hyde became a welcome outlet for Jekyll’s passions. Jekyll furnished a home and set up a bank account for his alter ego, Hyde, who soon sunk into utter degradation. But each time he transformed back into Jekyll, he felt no guilt at Hyde’s dark exploits, though he did try to right whatever wrongs had been done.

     It was not until two months before the Carew murder that Jekyll found cause for concern. While asleep one night, he involuntarily transformed into Hyde—without the help of the potion—and awoke in the body of his darker half. This incident convinced him that he must cease with his transformations or risk being trapped in Hyde’s form forever. But after two months as Jekyll, he caved in and took the potion again. Hyde, so long repressed, emerged wild and vengefully savage, and it was in this mood that he beat Carew to death, delighting in the crime. Hyde showed no remorse for the murder, but Jekyll knelt and prayed to God for forgiveness even before his transformation back was complete. The horrifying nature of the murder convinced Jekyll never to transform himself again, and it was during the subsequent months that Utterson and others remarked that Jekyll seemed to have had a weight lifted from his shoulders, and that everything seemed well with him.

    Eventually, though, Jekyll grew weary of constant virtue and indulged some of his darker desires—in his own person, not that of Hyde. But this dip into darkness proved sufficient to cause another spontaneous transformation into Hyde, which took place one day when Jekyll was sitting in a park, far from home. As Hyde, he immediately felt brave and powerful, but he also knew that the police would seize him for his murder of Carew. He could not even return to his rooms to get his potions without a great risk of being captured. It was then that he sent word to Lanyon to break into his laboratory and get his potions for him. After that night, he had to take a double dose of the potion every six hours to avoid spontaneous transformation into Hyde. As soon as the drug began to wear off, the transformation process would begin. It was one of these spells that struck him as he spoke to Enfield and Utterson out the window, forcing him to withdraw.

     In his last, desperate hours, Hyde grew stronger as Jekyll grew weaker. Moreover, the salt necessary for the potion began to run out. Jekyll ordered more, only to discover that the mineral did not have the same effect; he realized that the original salt must have contained an impurity that made the potion work. Jekyll then anticipated the fast approach of the moment when he must become Hyde permanently. He thus used the last of the potion to buy himself time during which to compose this final letter. Jekyll writes that he does not know whether, when faced with discovery, Hyde will kill himself or be arrested and hanged—but he knows that by the time Utterson reads this letter, Henry Jekyll will be no more.