Question

how does the playwright expose the greed and hypocracy of the children towards thier old parents? THE LESSON IS DEAR DEPARTED.

Answer 1

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Stanley Houghton uses various literary devices to criticise basic human characteristics, in “The Dear Departed”. He uses a mixture of irony, dramatic irony, sarcasm, simultaneous speech, humour and a twist in the plot to criticise human traits. The characters in the story are very two-dimensional and there is no development. This allows us to easily see through their character and understand their actions.

In this short play, Houghton manages to portray irony in many different ways. Firstly, the title is already ironic. The departed, Abel Merryweather, is not one bit dear and precious to them. The only thing the sisters are interested in is the money or valuables he owns. The ironic statements make the readers think. While the more they think the more they realise the irony criticises our basic human characteristics.

Another instance of irony is between the sisters. When they thought Abel was dead, they were complaining of what a burden he was to them. The moment Abel mentions his new will, in which he will leave everything to the person he is living with when he dies, they both fight for him to live with them. This will is a trophy that both this sisters want and will do anything to get. The irony of this shows us the shallowness of humans, the need for us to have anything that benefits us, no matter what the cost.

Houghton criticises human traits by using dramatic irony, a situation in a play or other fiction in which a character unwittingly makes a remark that the audience is intended to see as ironic, or in contradiction to the full truth. In the play, Mrs Slater comment on the ‘low, money-grubbing spirit’ of her sister. To us as the audience, we clearly see that she herself is exactly what she calls her sister. This exposes the hypocritical nature of humans, where we jump up at any situation to criticise others while failing to see similar faults in ourselves.

Houghton also uses sarcasm to criticise and bring out the faults of human characteristics. At the end of the play, Abel says he is going to get married. He says it is meant to come as a ‘pleasant surprise’. This is clearly sarcasm in action as he knows exactly what his children want, yet he is putting guilt on them. For the sisters, Abel moving away with his money is indeed a surprise, a shocking one. This insults their greed and selfishness.

In several parts of the play, people talk simultaneously. This is to increase the tension in the play. When the characters do this, it is usually to cover up some of their mistakes. This gets our attention and we see the struggle they are up against to make up a viable lie. Though this is humorous, we see truth in it. We, humans, are constantly covering up for ourselves; we lie to hide our previous lies. The sisters have a need to portray a good image to everyone else. They do not want to be second best hence the cover and hide until they give people the impression of what they want to be seen. Houghton is critical of our need for society to perceive us good human beings, an image we want to uphold, and not what we truly are.

Houghton includes a twist in the plot to surprise the audience. This brings out the characteristics of humans that he is so critical of. In light of a sudden change, we can clearly see the ways in which the characters try to make the situation bend in such a way it benefits them. When the sisters realise Abel has changed his will, they try to lie and get him to live with them. This twist in the plot is how the sisters get the lesson they deserve. They are unable to get what they want.

Victoria is an important character in the play. She is the contrast to what the older generation are; she is innocent, smart and observant. This is seen when she questions her father about ‘pinching’ the bureau. She sees what the older people block out. Her role as a foil is very important in the way in which Houghton criticises human traits. Victoria is a foil; her contrast to the others brings out the bad characteris