NCERT Solutions - The Dear Departed

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

5. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) How does Mrs Slater plan to outshine the Jordans? What does it reveal about her character?

Ans: Mrs Slater has managed to obtain a black mourning dress, though it is not yet complete, and she believes this will be superior to what Mrs Jordan may wear. Her main concern is to appear better than her sister rather than to show genuine sorrow. This behaviour reveals that she is vain, pretentious and socially competitive; she values outward appearances and status more than sincere feeling for her father.

(b) Why does Mrs Slater decide to shift the bureau from grandfather's room before the arrival of the Jordans? How does Henry react to the situation?

Ans: Mrs Slater intends to take the new bureau for her own and replace it with an old chest of drawers so that she may claim the better piece before her sister arrives. Henry is uneasy and reluctant at first; he protests that they should discuss such matters with his sister and shows a sense of honesty and decency. However, he is easily dominated and finally gives in to his wife's pressure, which highlights his meek and submissive nature compared with her assertiveness.

(c) What is the reason for the Jordans taking a long time to get to the house of the Slater's? What does it show about the attitude of the two sisters towards each other?

Ans: Mrs Jordan delays her visit because she wants to procure a complete new mourning dress and present herself well before visiting. This shows that both sisters treat mourning as a matter of outward display and social competition rather than feeling. Their attitude is superficial: they compete to outshine one another in dress and manners instead of showing sincere grief or concern for their father.

(d) What does Mrs Jordan describe as 'a fatal mistake'? What is the irony on the comment she makes on Mrs Slater's defence?

Ans: Mrs Jordan calls it 'a fatal mistake' that they did not send for a doctor when their father was thought to be dying. Mrs Slater immediately defends their decision by saying that Mr Pringle, who had always attended their father, was the only proper person to call and that it would have been bad form to summon someone else. The irony lies in the triviality of this defence: while they argue about professional etiquette, they are more concerned with appearances and propriety than with the real condition of their father. Their focus on social forms exposes the shallowness of their concern.

(e) Ben appreciates grandfather saying "it's a good thing he did". Later he calls him a 'drunken old beggar'. Why does he change his opinion about grandfather?

Ans: Ben first approves when he thinks grandfather has paid the insurance premium, as that would benefit those who expect money. Later, on learning that grandfather did not go to pay the premium but instead went to the public house called 'Ring-O-Bells', Ben's opinion changes and he calls him a 'drunken old beggar'. This shift shows Ben's opportunistic and judgmental nature: his respect depends on whether grandfather's actions promise financial gain.

(f) What change does the grandfather make in his new will? What effect will it have on his daughters?

Ans: The grandfather decides to alter his will so that everything will go to whoever is living with him at the time of his death. This news agitates his daughters because it threatens their expected inheritance. As a result, both daughters compete to keep him at their own houses and vie for his favour; neither wants to lose the prospect of gaining his possessions.

(g) What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next? [C.B.S.E., 2011 (T-1)]

Ans: He plans to alter his will, to pay the insurance premium and to marry John Shorrock's widow.

6. Answer the following in detail :

(a) How does the spat between the two daughters leads to the grandfather discovering the truth?

Ans: The quarrel between Mrs Slater and Mrs Jordan centres on ownership of household items and on who has the right to mourn best. While arguing, they reveal that they believe their father to be dead and begin to appropriate his belongings. Abel Merryweather recognises his own bureau when it is being moved and his enquiries about it, together with the heated accusations between the sisters, make it plain that they thought him dead. Their loud dispute thus exposes their earlier mistake and brings about his discovery that he was being treated as if he had already died.

(b) Compare and contrast Henry's character with his wife:

Ans: Henry is mild-mannered, timid and essentially honest. He feels uncomfortable with his wife's schemes and raises objections when she proposes taking items that do not belong to them. Despite his protests, he is easily dominated and finally yields to Mrs Slater's will. Mrs Slater, by contrast, is assertive, vain and materialistic; she makes plans to improve her social standing and cares more for appearances than for familial duty. In short, Henry shows conscience and weakness, while his wife shows selfishness and forceful behaviour.

SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. Discuss the significance of the title of the play. Bring out the irony inherent in it?
 [C.B.S.E. 2011 (T-1)]

Or 

In what way is the play satirical? Comment on the nature of its characters.
 [C.B.S.E. 2011 (T-1)]

Ans: The title "The Dear Departed" is highly ironic and deliberate. The phrase suggests affection and respectful mourning, yet the behaviour of the family members shows the opposite: they treat Abel Merryweather as a burden and an opportunity rather than with love. The play satirises selfishness, hypocrisy and social pretence. Mrs Slater and Mrs Jordan compete over mourning dresses and household goods, accusing one another of theft and showing greater interest in possessions and appearances than in their father's welfare. Their conduct is comic in its exaggeration but also bitterly critical, because it exposes a moral failure - the lack of filial duty and human decency. Even secondary characters such as Ben display opportunism, changing his attitude as soon as money seems involved. Only little Victoria shows any genuine simplicity and unaffected observation. In the end, Abel outwits his daughters by arranging for a companion who will look after him, which underlines both the farcical elements and the grim social lesson: neglect and greed can destroy family bonds. The satire lies in turning a solemn domestic occasion into a petty contest for advantage, thereby exposing the characters' true, unattractive natures.