Long Answer Questions (with Solutions) Chapter 13 - The Dear Departed, Class 10, English

Q1. How does Mrs. Slater’s arrival at the home of Mrs. Jordan create chaos in the family? Explain.

Mrs. Slater’s arrival at the home of Mrs. Jordan creates chaos in the family in several ways:

1. The family is caught unawares: Mrs. Slater’s arrival is unexpected and catches the family unawares. The family is not prepared to receive her and hence is thrown into confusion.

2. Shock and disbelief: When Mrs. Slater announces that she is the sister of Mr. Jordan, the family is shocked and disbelieving. They cannot believe that Mr. Jordan had a sister and that they were not aware of it.

3. Greed and selfishness: The arrival of Mrs. Slater brings out the greed and selfishness of the family. They are more concerned about their inheritance than about the death of their relative. They are willing to lie and cheat to get their share of the inheritance.

4. Squabbling and bickering: The family starts squabbling and bickering over the inheritance. They argue over who should get what and who deserves more. The atmosphere in the house becomes tense and unpleasant.

5. Betrayal: The family betrays each other by revealing their true feelings and intentions. They are willing to sacrifice their own family members for their own benefit.

6. Lack of respect: The family shows a lack of respect for the dead. They are more concerned about their own interests than about giving a proper send-off to their dead relative.

Q2. Do you think that Mrs. Slater is a negative character? Give reasons for your answer.

Mrs. Slater is a negative character for several reasons:

1. Self-centred: Mrs. Slater is self-centred and only concerned about her own interests. She does not care about the feelings of others or the impact of her actions on them.

2. Manipulative: Mrs. Slater is manipulative and uses emotional blackmail to get what she wants. She plays on the guilt of the family and makes them feel responsible for her.

3. Dishonest: Mrs. Slater is dishonest and lies to the family about her relationship with Mr. Jordan. She pretends to be his sister when in reality she is just a distant relative.

4. Greedy: Mrs. Slater is greedy and only interested in getting her share of the inheritance. She is willing to lie and cheat to get what she wants.

5. Disrespectful: Mrs. Slater is disrespectful towards the dead. She is more concerned about the inheritance than about giving a proper send-off to her relative.

Q3. In what ways does the play ‘The Dear Departed’ highlight the theme of greed and the importance of family values?

The play ‘The Dear Departed’ highlights the theme of greed and the importance of family values in several ways:

1. Greed: The play shows how greed can bring out the worst in people. The family members are more concerned about their inheritance than about the death of their relative. They are willing to lie and cheat

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