human beings often become dehumanized in the face of greed and minor material gains.elaborate with the reference of the play - The dear departed
Answers
Undoubtedly, Houghton’s ‘Dear Departed’ is a satire on man’s greed and hypocrisy. The vice of materialism has dehumanized human beings. According to the playwright the state of human relations in the current times is quite grim! The once quite healthy and robust relations have become quite tenuous! The canker that has undermined the strength of human relations is materialism.
The morals have gone so down that prime purpose of man's existence is pecuniary pursuits. Man has stooped so low that he sacrifices even the most sacred relations for the sake of material gains. Gone are the days of brotherly, sisterly, fatherly, or motherly love. Man can break all ties of love and respect for the sake of money and property! All ethics, etiquette, decency, and decorum have gone to dogs. Life has become merely trade, commerce and profit earning.
So wherever man finds some financial gain or advantage, he honors those relations. The rest is least said the better! The play 'Dear Departed' beautifully depicts this degradation of human moral values. The story is an apt satire on human selfishness, greed, and follies. Slaters and Jordans actually represent all the men and women of the modern society who are devoid of filial affections, and responsibilities. Abel Merryweather was wronged and hurt by the vices of his own daughters. They treated to him like a stranger! They considered him dead and rushed into division of his property with him lying asleep in his room! They neither went to his room to have a close look at him; nor sent for a doctor to have him examined! This was travesty of filial relationship. No doubt, their relationship ended so suddenly!
At the end, Abel Merryweather taught a befitting lessons to his greedy family members.