Justify the significance of the title in the play the hour of truth
Answers
Percival Wilde’s play is titled The Hour of Truth because the hour following the offer of bribe brings out the truth about the character of the Baldwin family. Mr Baldwin is considered as an honest man by all people. He also thinks that he is an upright man. From the conversation that the family has, we understand that the family members also consider him as an honest man. However when his family puts pressure on Baldwin to accept the bribe, he admits that he refused to take the bribe only because he was afraid of what others would say about him. Thus in reality Baldwin is truthful only after he is offered the bribe by Gresham. It is only then that he realizes that he is not an honest man.
Similarly, the other members of the family also realize that their honesty is lost when Mr Baldwin is offered money. They wanted to see Mr Gresham punished before he offered Baldwin money. After the offer of money they try to convince Baldwin that Gresham’s fault is minor. Similarly, Gresham who had been dishonest throughout his life, decides to confess his crime during the course of the play. Thus, the title, The Hour of Truth is very apt as the play depicts an hour of truth in the lives of some characters who have been dishonest all their lives. The belief that these characters had about their integrity, is smashed during the hour depicted in the play.