Question

Discuss how the play explores the theme of family responsibilities from the act the dear departed by Stanley Houghton

Answer 1

 

About the author



Stanley Houghton
(1881-1913)
Born at Ashton-upon-Mersey, England

 

William Stanley Houghton was a famous English dramatist. He was one of the best, of a group of realistic playwrights often called The Manchester School.In his every play he sought to present an idea.

He was a prominent member of a group of playwrights known as the Manchester School of Dramatics. He was influenced strongly by Ibsen. His plays are set locally in Northern England, but represent universal aspects of human nature.   Houghton left his office job in 1912 to become a full-time dramatist and moved to London. Here he became part of the city's dramatic and literary culture. The following year he moved to Paris where he started to write a novel e
 

Characters

Sisters ……………………………………………………   MRS. SLATER

                                                                                       MRS. JORDAN

Their Husbands ………………………………………..HENRY SLATER

                                                                                       BEN JORDAN

 

A girl of ten, daughter of Amelia and Henry Slater…… VICTORIA SLATER

Grandfather of Victoria Slater…………………………... ABEL MERRYWEATHER

 

About the Characters

 

Abel Merryweather - Mr. Merryweather is over seventy, he is bright and vigorous with a twinkle in his eye. He believes in eating, drinking and being merry he is frank and straightforward. He takes the wise decision of disowning his children and start making his life more comfortable by remarrying at the age of past seventy.

 

Amelia Slater - She is the elder daughter of Mr. Abel Merryweather. She is a greedy, stingy and materialistic woman. Mrs. Slater can stoop down to any level to satisfy her greed. She is a dominating wife and a vulgar woman, prepared to do any amount of straight talking to get her own way.  

 

Elizabeth Jordan - She is the sister of Amelia Slater and the second daughter of Mr. Abel Merryweather. Like her sister, she too has no feelings for her father nor for her sister. She is stout, complacent, impassive and has an irritating air of being always right.

 

Henry Slater - Henry Slater is Amelia’s husband and is far more scrupulous than any other person in this play. He is more sensible than the other characters of the play.Hence, he gives the logical suggestions while talking about the obituary notice to be given in the paper. He is a henpecked husband.

 

Ben Jordan - Ben Jordan is the husband of Elizabeth and he is a jolly little man with a chirpy voice. Accustomed to be humorous but at present he is trying to adapt himself to the regrettable occasion.

 

Victoria Slater - A girl of ten, Victoria is an obedient child. Very fond of her grandfather and she has genuine feelings of love towards him. She is a precocious child. The presence of this young girl in the play comes as a whiff of cool breeze in the stuffiness generated by the adults’ scheming, quarrelling and scrupulosity.

Answer 2

The Dear Departed is an one act play. This play explains an important social problem which is even practised today. It shows how the old age people are neglected by the family. Abel merry weather is an old man who is father of Amelia and Elizabeth. They were married off. Abel was neglected by her two daughters. They didnot care about their father.

Abel pays his own premium and his life insurances. His daughters were interested in the property of Abel. This play shows the exact thing which is going on in the present society. Abel doesn't know the characters of his daughters. He came to know at the last and gives his property to his newly wed wife.

This Play once again expain that not to curse old people. As, they want something which they cannot. We do not feel it as torcher. we feel it as a something good. Then they live happily for until their last breath. We should take care of them.

In this play the Writer explained the probem in the way of play. This act can change some people's mind and start caring their elders .

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU